Johnson Lab
Trinity University
Lizard behavioral evolution
Dr. Michele Johnson
I am an assistant professor interested in evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, and behavioral neuroscience. I completed my PhD in 2007 with Jonathan Losos and Alan Templeton at Washington University, and conducted postdoctoral research with Juli Wade at Michigan State. Click here to see my CV.
PEOPLE
Anolis evermanni, Puerto Rico
Alisa Dill
Alisa graduated from Trinity in May 2011 with a major in Biology, and she then became the research technician for the Johnson and Brodl labs. While she was a student, Alisa conducted research on limb development in anoles to determine the role of phenotypic plasticity in the lizards' natural environment. Now she's involved in all aspects of our research in the lab and field. Alisa plans to attend dental school in fall 2013.
Tarick Megahed
Tarick is a pre-med, senior Neuroscience major. He's working on a project that examines the evolution of brain morphology across Anolis lizard species, sectioning brains in species that have never been studied before...
Roxana Khozein
Roxi is a senior Biology major with broad interests in biological research and medicine. Roxi's working on an exciting project on the evolution of muscle physiology and behavior in anoles, and she plans to attend a research-oriented medical school after graduation.
Chelsea Lewis
Chelsea is a junior who spent summer 2010 in the field working to determine the role of prey availability on territorial behavior in anoles. In other words, she measured a LOT of bugs! She's interested in all aspects of animal behavior, and is considering attending graduate school in behavioral ecology.
Interested in joining the lab? I am always looking for motivated undergraduates interested in field- or lab-based research on lizard behavior. If you think this might be you, read the lab website carefully and email me with a description of yourself and why you're interested in the lab.
Johnson Lab HALL OF FAME
Andrew Battles
Andrew is a senior double majoring in Biology and Urban Studies, and he's broadly interested in conservation. His research focuses on the role of environmental characteristics on lizard body condition, and after a summer (2010) in the field, he's the master of habitat transects.
Diego Castro
Diego is a junior majoring in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology. He's working on two projects - one on androgen receptor expression in Caribbean anoles, the other on the evolution of muscle physiology and behavior. Diego plans to attend medical school (or possibly graduate school?). Either way, research will be part of his future.
Ellee Cook
Ellee is a junior Biology major with broad interests in evolution and ecology, and she's conducting research (in collaboration with Dr. Troy Murphy) on the associations between lizard parasite load and sexually dimorphic coloration. Ellee plans to attend graduate school in biology.
Divina Varghese
Divina is a junior Religion major, planning to attend medical school after graduation. Divina's part of Trinity's Integrated Research in Biomathematics program, and she's working on a collaborative project to mathematically model the impacts of parasites on lizard metabolism.
Patrick Shin
Patrick is a pre-med sophomore planning to major in Biology. Patrick is also part of Trinity's Integrated Research in Biomathematics program, and working to mathematically model the impacts of parasites on lizard metabolism. Patrick's an ace when it comes to coding in Matlab!
Collin Shinkle
Collin is a junior in high school at Texas Military Institute, and he's working with us in summer 2011 to explore his interests in science. Collin is a member of projects on muscle physiology and evolution in lizards, and he's already a champion cryostatter.
