Post-Doctoral Associates
Allison Keever, Ph.D.
Advisor: Brad Cohen
Research Focus: We are collaborating with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to develop tools
to improve monitoring white-tailed deer populations across Tennessee. We will develop
an integrated population model (IPM) that capitalizes on existing harvest data that
are commonly collected in exploited populations to estimate annual abundance of deer.
Further, we will evaluate tradeoffs between the amount and type of monitoring data
included and the precisions of estimates from the IPM using structured decision making
(SDM). This will provide guidance on sampling effort to meet the objectives for monitoring
deer in Tennessee.
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- B.S., University of Illinois
- M.S., Auburn University
- Ph.D., University of Montana
Jingjing Li, Ph.D.
Advisor: Justin Murdock
Research Focus: Freshwater algae molecular detection methods, harmful algal bloom formation mechanisms
in reservoirs and rivers, and the effects of nutrients on algae competition and microcystin
production.
- B.S., Biological Engineering, Huaqiao University
- M.S., Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Ph.D., Institute of Urban Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Robert T. R. Paine
Advisor: Mark Rogers/Amanda Rosenberger
Research Focus: My research focus includes all things environmental DNA (eDNA) and molecular ecology.
I use the discarded biological components from animals (e.g., skin cells, slime, feces),
which all contain DNA, to answer questions related to the presence and distribution
of aquatic animals. I also apply metabarcoding techniques to characterize entire fish
communities. While my primary focus is threatened and endangered species (e.g. Pygmy
Madtom, Slender Chub, Duskytail Darter), I also apply my tools to invasive species,
like Sliver Carp and Sharptooth Walking catfish.
- B.S., Marine Biology, University of West Florida
- Ph.D., Environmental Sciences, Tennessee Tech University