Student Research

    This page tells you about the graduate and undergraduate students working in my lab.

    I am currently looking  for a student with an interest in studying the behavioral ecology snakes or spiders. 

    Interested Graduate Students

    My general advice is to gain some prior research experience so that you feel confident in devoting 2-3 years to a M.S. degree.  This can be attained by getting involved in undergraduate research, working in a lab, serving as an intern, assisting in field work, or participating in research programs such as an NSF REU. 

    If you find yourself interested in joining my lab, then send me an e-mail with a CV if you have one.  Let me know something about yourself, your academic history, and why you want to conduct research in my lab.  If you have some specific research interests in mind, let me know.

    I expect my students to be active in the lab and department by attending seminars, participating in discussions, presenting data at professional meetings, applying for funds by writing grants, writing manuscripts for publication, and having fun being a productive graduate student. 
     

    Current Graduate Students

    Carrie Casteel

    • Received her B.S. from University of Tennessee at Martin
    • Thesis Project:  Effect of nest emergence timing on whole body performances of hatchling turtles. 

     

    Eric Nordberg

    • Received his B.S. from Penn State University
    • Thesis Project:  Thermal biology of hibernation in Timber Rattlesnakes in Middle Tennessee.

     

    Jacob Campbell

    • Received his B.S. from Tennessee Tech University
    • Thesis Project:  Energetics of fossorial snakes.

     
     

    Former Students

    • Chad Hanna, graduated 2005, M.S.  Thesis - Thermal Consequences of Nest-Site Selection in the Green Lynx Spider, Peucetia viridans (Araneae: Oxyopidae), currently an assistant professor of biology at California University of Pennsylvania.
    • Jeff Green, graduated 2005, M.S.  Thesis - Thermal Biology of the Eastern Racer (Coluber constrictor) in Middle Tennessee, currently a biology instructor at Nashville State Community College.
    • Brad Glorioso, graduated 2006, M.S.  Thesis - Population Ecology and Feeding Activity of the Skinkpot Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus Latreille (Kinosternidae), at Reelfoot Lake, Lake Co., Tennessee., currently a field biologist in Louisiana.
    • Jake Pruett, graduated 2006, B.S.  Researched rattlesnake movement and body temperature via telemetry, finished a M.S.at University of Texas at Tyler on cottonmouth thermal ecology, and currently a Ph.D. student at Indiana State University.
    • Collin Jaeger, graduated 2008, M.S. Thesis - Spatial Ecology of the Painted Turtle and Red-eared Slider in Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, currently a Ph.D. student at Northern Illinois University.
    • Diane Massey, graduated 2009, M.S. Thesis - Thermal Effects on Prey Preference in Common Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getula), currently a Ph.D. student at Brock University.
    • Lacy Danikas, graduated 2010, M.S. Thesis - Variation in Locomotor Performance of a Geographically Widespread Species, Nerodia sipedon, currently a Ph.D. student at University of Tennessee.
    • Jerrod Shipman, graduated 2011, M.S. Thesis - Thermal Ecology of Hibernation in the Northern Watersnake.
    If any MTSU biology major is interested in getting some research experience with reptiles, please contact me.  We can consider current or new projects.  I would consider thermal projects on a variety of organisms.
    • Current Projects
    • Publications and Presentations 
    • Herpetological Links 
    • Contact Information 
    • Snake Surgery Pics

    Last Update: 5/03/12 
    Page Design and Layout: Chris Hebertson and Vincent Cobb