Dr. Chris Butler joined the TAMU Biology Department in 2022 as an Instructional Associate Professor and the EEB program Fall 2023. His current research is twofold: (1) exploring the ecology, conservation, and management of secretive marsh birds; and (2) modeling the effects of climate change on the distribution, phenology, and survivorship of a variety of different organisms. His secretive marsh bird research focuses primarily on the federally threatened Eastern Black Rail and the rare Yellow Rail exploring how grazing, prescribed burns, and other management techniques may help maintain or create suitable habitat for these species. His climate change modeling research has been conducted on a variety of vertebrates (e.g., migratory birds, alligator gar), plants (e.g., palms and cacti), parasites (e.g., Angiostrongylus), and others to explore how climate change may affect survivorship, phenology, and distribution of these organisms.
Spotlight: Katy Gonder
Dr. Katy Gonder joined the TAMU Ecology & Conservation Biology Department and EEB program Fall 2023. Her vision as the ECCB Department Head is focused on evidence-based conservation action. When Dr. Gonder is not representing the department or working in her genetics lab at Texas A&M, she is at the Ganga Research Station at Mbam and Dijerem National Park in Cameroon. The park is one of the last strongholds of the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee. Her research focuses on understanding how ecology impacts and influences the cultural and genetic history of chimpanzees.
Read more about her path as department head and her interests in conservation biology in this article in Agrilife Today.
Spotlight: Serena Farrell
Serena Farrell is an EEB PhD student in the lab of Spencer Behmer, investigating the molecular physiology of insects and how they interact with their environment. Serena was featured in an ECR spotlight for an article she authored in the Journal of Experimental Biology while an undergraduate student at California State University San Marcos.
Find out more about Serena and work and read the linked article.
Spotlight: Celebrating EEB Students, Winter 2023
Check out the EEB Winter 2023 Newsletter dedicated to our students’ remarkable accomplishments!
Congratulations Ph.D. graduates Dr. Natalie Aguirre, Dr. Jamie Alfieri, Dr. Amanda Beckman, Dr. Rachel Busselman, Dr. Peter Dorn, Dr. Melanie Florkowski, Dr. Simon Kiacz and Dr. Michael McCloy.
And more!
Spotlight: EEB Faculty Members
Join us in congratulating our outstanding EEB faculty members for their latest accomplishments!
Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards in Teaching
Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Award in Faculty Mentoring
American Society of Parasitologists Henry Baldwin Award Medal
National Science Foundation Career Award
EEB Faculty Promotions
New Core Faculty Members
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards – Teaching:
Dr. Juliana Rangel Posada
Professor, Department of Entomology
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Outstanding Achievement Awards – Faculty Mentoring 2023:
Dr. X. Ben Wu
Professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
American Society of Parasitologists 2023 Henry Baldwin Ward Medal:
Dr. Charles Criscione
Professor, Department of Biology and Associate Dean, Graduate and Professional School
Promoted Faculty 2023:
Dr. Gabe Hamer
Professor, Department of Entomology
Dr. Jessica Light
Professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Dr. Juliana Rangel Posada
Professor, Department of Entomology
Dr. Jason West
Professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Dr. Josh Perkin,
Associate Professor, Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
New EEB Core Faculty Members 2023:
Dr. Katy Gonder
Professor and Department Head, Ecology and Conservation Biology
Dr. Chris Butler
Instructional Associate Professor, Department of Biology
National Science Foundation CAREER Award 2022:
Dr. Christina Belanger
Assistant Professor. Department of Geology and Geophysics
Dr. Kira Delmore
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
