We work as a team to reach our goals. Meet our members below and learn how to apply to graduate programs here…
Dr. Jamie Cornelius
Assistant Professor
Pictured with husband Dr. Taylor Chapple, and sons Cash and Huck
Jamie loves outdoor pursuits, songwriting, traveling, soccer, woodworking and socializing with family, friends and colleagues. She is interested and involved in all Cornelius Lab projects!!!
Dr. Suzanne Austin
Research Associate
I’m an Evolutionary Ecologist. I study parental care and development in birds. I’m particularly interested in environmental influences on parental decision-making and offspring development. If you’re interested in learning more about me or my work, see https://suzanneaustin.weebly.com/
or
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-8KvFzIAAAAJ&hl=en
Jalyn Devereaux
PhD student
Jalyn obtained a bachelor’s of science in Biology and Environmental Science at Ohio Dominican University in December of 2017. Her interests lie in how climate change and the Athropocene will ultimately affect songbird systems in the United States on physiological and behavioral levels. Jalyn started her PhD in 2019 in the Cornelius Lab, studying how projected warmer, wetter winters will affect metabolic rate and winter breeding in red crossbills. In the future, Jalyn hopes to continue working in songbird systems to train undergraduates how to conduct high quality and effective research.
Valerie Brewer
PhD student
Valerie received her bachelors’ of science in Biology and Conservation Ecology from New Mexico State University in 2020. She is interested in studying anthropogenic effects on animal behavior through the application of behavioral ecology and genetics. Valerie is studying how capture-handling influences reproductive behavior and risk aversion in western bluebirds, house wrens, and house sparrows. In the future, she hopes to continue researching anthropogenic effects on animal behavior to inform the conservation of species through the conscientious planning of urban areas and human activity.
Jessie Karr
PhD Student
Jessie received her bachelor’s of science in Biology from the University of Portland in 2019. She is interested in metabolic physiology and responses to challenging conditions such as storms and wildfire. Jessie is studying how challenging conditions impact metabolic rates, stress and reproductive activity in red crossbills. In the future, she hopes to continue researching the impact of seasonal change on metabolic flexibility while teaching future undergraduate scientists about physiology and behavior.
Dot Zahor
PhD Student
Dorothy (Dot) obtained her master’s degree in Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology from Eastern Michigan University in August of 2021. Her research interests include urban ecology of songbirds, such as pollution impacts, molt, migration, parental care, and reproductive success. Current research focuses on American robin exposure to soil contaminants in urban centers. In the future, Dot hopes to continue studying songbirds in urban ecosystems and connect human communities to the wildlife right outside their door.
Ken Glynn
PhD Student
Kenneth (Ken) obtained his bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology from Eastern Michigan University in 2019 and is currently finishing his master’s degree in Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology, also from Eastern Michigan University. His interests include urban ecology, ecotoxicology, animal behavior and the physiology of avian migrants. His current research investigates the age-related differences in lead exposure of the American robin within a polluted urban environment. He has also begun preliminary research with the Motus Wildlife Tracking network investigating the potential fitness consequences of this lead exposure on juvenile and adult American robins. In the future, Ken hopes to continue monitoring the migration of avian species in an effort to aid conservation initiatives, while also emphasizing the ecological importance of avian species in a public and academic setting.
Current Undergraduate Students
With research projects…
Neil Krieske - How quickly do individual birds form stereotypies when moved to individual housing?
Havana Soler and Lineth Trujillo-Morales - Avian tolerance of human proximity across seasonal, diurnal and urban-rural gradients
Natsumi Tsuchihashi - Does the protective effect of social information during food challenge depend on species or group identity?
Ai Ana Richmond - How does parental care in red crossbills change during inclement weather?
Alice Welch - How does foraging performance, begging behavior and parental feeding change during early development in red crossbills?
Exploring the possibilities…
Sarah Gibson
Adam Stone
Alejandro Toro-Bautista
Elise Tysdal
Braden Vigil
Past Graduate Students
John Bobo - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (U Michigan Lab Coordinator)
Travis Draud - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (Faculty Oklahoma City CC)
Dawson Bradley - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (Environmental Testing and Consulting)
Lizzie Rock - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (Water Coordinator, Michigan Dept. of Health)
Past Undergraduate Students
Nicholas Reece - BS Integrative Biology
Bradley Allendorfer - BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Natsumi Tsuchihashi - Honors, BS Integrative Biology, Oregon State University
Saria Bajracharya - Honors, BS Environmental Studies, Colorado College (MS student Env. Contamination and Tox.)
Alexa Singer - BS Biochemistry Oregon State University (MS student Colorado State U)
Madeleine Foley - BS Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University (PhD student Stony Brook U)
Liam Pendleton - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (PhD student U Washington)
Brendan O’Shea - BS Exercise Science, Eastern Michigan University (MS student U Michigan)
Samantha Glowacki - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (MS student U Michigan)
Megan Wurtz - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (MS student U Toledo)
Micah Bohanon - BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (DVM student Michigan State U)
Bailey Marston - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Kate Marsh - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Katherine Campbell - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (MS student Nottingham Trent University)
Become a Cornelius Lab Member
If you would are interested in working with us to pursue our research goals we’d love to hear from you. Contact us if you are interested in being a financial sponsor, research or outreach volunteer, graduate student or post-doctoral scholar.