Education
| 2020 | Ph.D. Biology, University of Miami |
| 2013 | B.A. Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County |
Professional Experience
| 2020 - | Lecturer, Department of Biology, University of Miami |
| 2020 - | Undergraduate Laboratory Coordinator, Department of Biology, University of Miami |
Research Interests
I am interested in the mechanisms that drive evolution among wild populations introduced to new habitats. In particular, I am interested in how animal signals evolve to maintain efficacy in novel signaling environments, and how these changes can in turn influence important behaviors associated with mate choice, competition, and predator evasion. My current projects explore these processes in reptile species introduced to southern Florida from the Caribbean islands and surrounding areas, specifically regarding the evolution of visual signaling traits across dynamic visual environments. By incorporating molecular techniques, behavioral experiments, and field studies, my goal is to improve our understanding of the role species introductions play in evolutionary diversification.
Teaching Interests
I am enthusiastic about teaching and strive to encourage critical thinking and creativity in the classroom, in the laboratory, and in the field. I do my best to incorporate hands on activities and field excursions as often as possible when introducing students to new concepts and rely on everyday examples to make subject matter relevant and accessible. As a mentor, I seek to engage and prepare students from all backgrounds to be successful by helping them to develop scientific, academic, and professional skills. Each student brings unique perspective, and I encourage students to use this perspective to drive inquiry in novel directions.
Publications
Stroud, J. T., Mothes, C. C., Beckles, W., Heathcote, R. J., Donihue, C. M., & Losos, J. B. (2020).
