Ximena E Bernal

Assistant Professor

         CV

         Publications

         Presentations

         Teaching

 

Graduate Students

Priyanka de Silva

      Priyanka is a PhD student interested in host seeking behavior and blood meal digestion in frog-biting midges. She brings with her the experience of working with vector-borne infectious diseases and mosquitoes in Sri Lanka.

      Pryianka is from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, where she has a position as a lecturer.

 Amanda Arner

      Amanda is a master's student interested in cognitive abilities of invasive species, primarily the cane toad. Whether working or just having fun, Amanda loves being outside and in nature. She enjoys teaching and has been involved in informal science education of some form for nearly 5 years.

      Check out Amanda's great multimedia website called Adventures in Toading to learn about her research, frogs and toads from Panama and activities she has developed for science teachers!

 

Lynne Beaty

      Lynne is a master's student whose passion for all things amphibian has drawn her from New York to study warmer climates. Lynne has been involved in research projects addressing a variety of questions including the role of the environment on the characteristics of the lateral line in tadpoles, and the effect of trail systems on salamander populations. She also draws beautiful sketches of animals.

 

Honorary Members

Jenny Strovas

      Jenny is a PhD student with Dr. Tom Arsuffi. Since the Arsuffi lab is in Junction, we get to enjoy her company in our lab!  Jenny is interested in investigating the effectiveness of teaching and assessment techniques for teaching ecology and environmental education.

 

 

Hil Miller

      Hil is the lab's honorary IT helper. Although Hil lives in Austin and has an important job at UT, he finds time to help us sort out technical issues with computers, routers and more! He was even kind enough to carry equipment with him for us to Panama!

 

 

 

 Undergraduate Students

Benjamin Hawkes (Since Fall 2011)

      Benjamin is a biological sciences major from Austin, TX. He is very interested in research, and plans to pursue it in the future.  He enjoys the outdoors and learning more about this beautiful world we live in!

 

 

Katelyn Jordan (Since Summer 2011) 

       Kate is originally from the Houston, Texas area. She is an undergraduate majoring in Biology and her research interests include genetics and the evolution of  a variety of behaviors of the Cane Toad. She is excited that research in the lab as an undergraduate affords her the opportunity to learn Biology in practice and beyond the classroom!

 

 

 

 

 

 Mason Moreland (Since 2010)

 HHMI Scholar: "Oophagy in Chinese Fire-bellied toads" and "Color polymorphism in leaf litter toads"

      Mason is majoring in Natural Resources and plans to go to graduate school in the future. He has a passion for herpetology and particularly enjoys working with amphibians and snakes. Mason loves the outdoors and music and likes to hunt, fish, herp, and play bass in his spare time.

 

 

 

Kwesi Nyarko (Since Spring 2011)

        Kwesi is a transfer student from Romeoville, IL finishing up his last year at TTU with a degree in Biological Sciences.  He is originally from Ghana and came to the US to further his education. His focus is primarily to get into pharmacy school after graduation but he developed an interest in our lab's research ever since taking Dr. Bernal's Organic Evolution class.

 

Nicholas Pena (Since Fall 2011)

      Nick is a Biological Science major from Houston, Texas. His favorite food is pizza, from just about anywhere. In his free time he enjoys bowling and watching movies. He joined the Lab because he is naturally curious as to why organisms behave the way they do.

 

 

Volunteers

  

    Former Lab Members