Elise Morton, PhDElise Morton is an Assistant Professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Fairleigh Dickinson University where her research is broadly focused on avian ecology and conservation. Dr. Morton received her PhD in Biology from Indiana University with Drs. Clay Fuqua and James Bever where her dissertation centered on the population dynamics of bacterial plasmids. She was a Postdoctoral Associate with Dr. Ran Blekhman at the University of Minnesota investigating the environmental factors influencing gut microbial communities. Following this, she made a career shift to pursue a second PhD in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation with Drs. Madan Oli and Scott K. Robinson at the University of Florida where she studied tropical bird communities in the montane forests of East Africa.
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Current Undergraduate Researchers
Emma Dougherty |
Maryam Baslous
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Ustina Labeeb
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Emma is a graduating senior biology student in LECOM and the honors program. Although she plans to become a doctor, she is also interested in conservation and making the world a better place. Her research is focused on understanding the effects of anthropogenic factors such as light pollution on the roosting habits of Chimney swifts. Emma is on FDU’s swim team and plans on attending Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
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Maryam is a graduating senior biology student in the honors program who is working on the Chimney swift project. After graduating Spring 2023, her plan is to continue to medical school as part of the LECOM 3+4 Early Acceptance Program, pursuing a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine. Maryam appreciates the many parallels between biological interactions at different scales. It's for this reason that she decided to choose an honors research project that will increase her understanding of the natural world.
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Ustina is a graduating senior in the Honors program working on the Chimney swift project. Specifically, she's studying the effects of light and temperature on the roosting behavior of these birds. Enrolled in the 3+4 accelerated DO Medical Program, she's planning to pursue a medical degree focused on pediatrics.
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Former Lab Members
Anna Hoang |
Mia Capozzoli
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Justin Tuman |
Anna graduated from FDU with a B.S. in Biology. During her time at FDU, she was investigating the factors associated with variation in eye color in birds. Anna was also an active member of the Green Team, an RA, and outside of school she enjoyed spending time hiking with friends, binge-watching k-dramas, and baking.
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Mia graduated from FDU with a Biology BS. During her senior year, she was working on a project focused on understanding interspecies variation in avian eye color. Outside of school, she spent time camping, gardening, exploring the outdoors, and playing tennis.
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Justin graduated from FDU with a Biology degree and a concentration in anatomy & physiology. His research involved quantifying the long-term elevational patterns of taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic diversity in tropical montane forest bird communities. When he was not in the lab you could find him hiking, exploring the outdoors or listening to music.
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Juliana Pensabene |
Juliana Pensabene graduated with a Biology B.S. and Honors. Her research project was focused on examining the determinants of partial migration in red-headed woodpecker populations within the New York Metropolitan Area. Apart from academics, she spends time hiking, painting, playing guitar, and spending time with friends and family.
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