People

Principal Investigator: 

Ben Fitzpatrick, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

I am a population geneticist with particular interests in conservation, speciation, and patterns of diversity. I earned a BS at Humboldt State University, where I studied eco-morphology of Red-tailed Hawks with Jeff Dunk (I was a boy ornithologist). That is how I became fascinated with speciation and diversity. I stayed there for a Masters under Tim Lawlor; my thesis addressed population genetics of non-native Red Foxes in California. This was my introduction to conservation genetics. Then I got my PhD at UC Davis, supervised by Brad Shaffer and Michael Turelli. My dissertation was a mash-up of broad scale speciation studies relying on bioinformatics and meta-analyses and a series of molecular population genetics studies of hybridization between the endangered California Tiger Salamander and introduced Barred Tiger Salamanders.

Since joining the faculty at UT, my research has remained eclectic but generally aimed at explaining and conserving biological diversity. I encourage my graduate students to establish their own research programs, and I enjoy helping them identify and tackle new problems. I try to be hands-on as a mentor and collaborator, not a boss.

Graduate Students:

Ben Holt, PhD Candidate

Sometimes referred to as "Little Ben", Ben Holt is studying bacterial communities on salamander skin (cutaneous microbiomes). He is interested determining the relative roles of the external environment and intrinsic features of amphibian skin in shaping host-associated communities. His dissertation addresses patterns of microbiome diversity, similarity, and differentiation in salamander communities in the mountains of East Tennessee. 

Ben has broad expertise in herpetology, and his research career includes several collaborations and "side projects" in salamander genetics and conservation. He also an excellent teacher and soccer coach, and he is beginning a job at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN.

Rebecca Smith, PhD student

I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Montana. Afterwards, I worked in Missoula at the National Genomics Center for Fish and Wildlife Conservation, a division of the UDA Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station. While working as a DNA technician, I developed my interests in applied conservation science, with particular focus in genetics and genomics. My current research is centered on applying genomics to Southern Appalachian Brook Trout reintroduction efforts in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Specifically, I am interested in assessing non-random admixture between different source populations at any single reintroduction site.

Rebecca Chastain, PhD Student

Bekki is fascinated by cryptic species. Her research is aimed at elucidating one of the most fundamental questions in biology: What is this salamander sitting next to me? 

Associated Graduate Students:

We welcome other graduate students at UTK (and sometimes elsewhere!) as collaborators and participants. We are happy to help anyone who wants to do population genetics. Some people just like to hang out with us because salamanders are so cool. 

Bryce Wade (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) 

Bryce is interested in the intersection of ecological research and conservation decision making (especially when those decisions involve salamanders). He is currently studying the four-toed salamander, a cryptic salamander that is threatened through much of its range. He is interested in understanding the factors that drive four-toed salamander gene flow and affect the spatial arrangement of genetic variation and how factors like these can be used to influence conservation management.  

Morgan Flemming (Sheldon Lab, UTK)

Bailey Sauls (Appalachian State U)

Undergraduate Researchers:

Aidan Shaw

Alexis Nelson

Ben Bilbrey

Jenny Crum

Laura Dixson

Some of our associates and collaborators:

Alex Pyron

Brad Shaffer (UCLA)

David Beamer

David Kazyak (US Geological Survey)

Evin Carter (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Jon Cox (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

Jon Davenport (App State) https://jondavenport80.wixsite.com/wildlifeecology/personnel

Stephen Nelson (Zoo Knoxville)

Todd Pierson (Kennesaw State University)  https://www.piersonlab.org/