People

Kirsten M. Prior, Ph.D.
(she/her/hers)
Assistant Professor, Binghamton University (SUNY)

B.Sc., Western University
Ph.D. University of Notre Dame
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto
Postdoctoral Associate, University of Florida
National Geographic Explorer
BU Presidential Diversity Grant Awardee

google scholar
research gate

Kirsten's research interests include everything on this website. She also likes to hike, bake, knit, read science fiction, ski, and spend time with her family

contact: kprior(at)binghamton.edu

Graduate Researchers

Carmela M. Buono, Ph.D. Candidate (2017--)
(she/her/hers)
B.S., Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick

After Rutgers, Carmela spent with AmeriCorps in the New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program, where she developed a passion for outreach and promoting environmental stewardship. Carmela’s research interests include plant ecology, restoration ecology, invasive species, and how multi-trophic interactions are affected by environmental change. Carmela's research examines how land use change and regional differences in ant species affect ant-seed dispersal mutualisms in northeastern deciduous forests. She is also working on a meta-analysis on invasive species management.

Outside of the lab she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, painting, cooking, and crafting!

contact: cbuono1(at)binghamton.edu; twitter: @Carmelambuono

Dylan G. Jones, Ph.D. Student (2018 --)
(he/him/his)
B.Sc., Biology, Roanoke College; M.Sc., Biology, Montclair State University

Dylan's research interests include anthropogenic impacts on species interactions, communities, and ecosystem function. Dylan's research examines biogeographical patterns in host and parasitoid communities and how changes in diversity, interaction networks, and traits contribute to ecological release of a range-expanding species. Dylan works on oak gall wasp parasitoid communities in western oak savannas

Outside of the lab, Dylan enjoys hiking, traveling, working out, spending time with family, and learning about native flora and fauna!

contact: djones41(at)binghamton.edu; twitter: @DylanGJones92

Alyson K. Milks, Ph.D. Student (2020 --)
(she/her)
B.S., Environmental and Field Biology, Ohio Northern University

Aly's research interests include how species interactions and their effects on ecosystems are altered under anthropogenic change. Aly's research examines outcomes of asynchronous range shifts in multi-trophic host-parasitoid communities. In particular, she is starting to examine the capacity for parasitoids to shift to attack novel range-expanding hosts. Aly works on oak gall wasp-parasitoid communities in western oak savannas.

Outside of the lab Aly enjoys creating ceramics, hiking, drawing, and exploring new places!

contact: amilks1(at)binghamton.edu; twitter: @alymilks

Rachel Chen, M.S. Student (2020 --)
(she/her/hers)
B.A., Biological Sciences, B.A., Environmental Studies (Ecosystems), Binghamton University (Expected 2021)

Rachel is in the 4+1 Accelerated Master's Program. Rachel's research interests include conservation science, restoration ecology, and the influence of anthropogenic change on community diversity and ecosystem function. Rachel's research examines the effect of environmental gradients and anthropogenic change on host and parasitoid communities. She is documenting the diversity of parasitoids that associate with oak gall wasp hosts along the range of Quercus garryana, and will examine how diversity changes along latitudinal gradients and in the context of a range-expansion.

Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with her dog, Gibby!

contact: rchen78 (at) binghamton.edu

Rosebelle Ines, Ph.D. Student (2021 --)
(she/her/hers)
B.S. Humboldt State University, Environment Science & Management

Rosey's research interests include biological invasions, community ecology, and conservation ecology. Rosey plans to work on the impacts of anthropogenic change on species interactions, and is currently developing project ideas. Rosey will be working on ant-seed dispersal mutualisms in northeastern forests.

Outside of lab, Rosey enjoys hiking, eating, playing ukulele, yoga and spending time with family and friends

contact: rines1(at binghamton.edu; twitter: @InesRosebelle

Undergraduate Researchers

Leslie Huang, Biological Sciences B.S.
Leslie is working on identifying the diversity parasitoid wasps from insect hosts collected from western oak ecosystems.

Will Smisko, Biological Sciences B.S., 2021
Will has worked on how land use history affects ant communities. Will was also a BU Summer Scholar, where he examined how climate change may affect the behavior of two seed dispersing ant species. Will also spends time helping rehabilitate avian wildlife at his family's wildlife center.

Allie Radin, Biological Sciences B.S., German Studies B.A., 2022 (she/her/hers) twitter: @RadinAllie
Allie is interested in investigating how global change affects ecosystems and how we can best conserve and restore impacted systems. Allie is working on identifying impacts of land use history on invertebrate communities. In Allie's free time she likes to bake bread and pie.

Kelly McGourty, Biological Sciences,
Env. Science (Ecosystems), B.S., 2021 (she/her)
Kelly is working on understanding how variation in traits of host and parasitoid communities along a latitudinal gradient may create open niche opportunities in northern latitudes - contributing to the release of range-expanding species.

Serena Feldman, Biological Sciences B.S., English Literature & Creative Writing B.A., 2021
Serena has contributed to several projects understanding altered host-parasitoid interactions under range expansions. Serena is currently working on identifying the diversity of parasitoid wasps from insect hosts in western oak ecosystems.

Genie Fyodorova, Biological Sciences B.S., 2022 (she/they)
Genie is interested in the impact of anthropogenic change on soil communities and how these changes affect ecosystems. Genie is starting to work on a project examining how land use change affects invertebrate biomass. Genie also likes to spend time painting, cooking, hiking, and recently - knitting!

Justin Santiago, Env. Science (Ecosystems), Biological Sciences B.S. 2021 (he/him). Justin is interested in conservation biology and ecosystem restoration while utilizing local efforts. Justin will be helping out on ant seed dispersal projects this semester. Justin also enjoy hikes, photography, and traveling.

Field teams

2017 Gall PNW crew: Kirsten, Megan Blance, Susan Lee, and Shannon Meadley Dunphy

2019 Team LUHBI: Carmela, John Santare, Carly Gerth (missing: Catherine Ruis)

2019 Team Gall: Dylan, Julia Kobelt, Katie Harms (missing: Kirsten, and Catherine Ruis)

Former Lab Members
(most recent known whereabouts)

Graduate Researchers

Susan Lee, M.S. 2020
B.S., Environmental Studies, Binghamton University

Thesis"Altered interactions for species on-the-move: a biogeographical comparison of host-parasitoid interactions between a species’ native and expanded range"

Currently working at Salt Lake City Department of Public Lands

Lab Manager

Shannon Meadley Dunphy, McGill, PhD student

Undergraduate Researchers

Gabriella Bayshtock --- Sabina Bayshtock --- Julia Berliner, Univ. of Georgia --- Megan Blance, Smithsonian Internship, Washington State University, MSc student ---Dudley Britton --- Melina Brunelli, Undergraduate in Biology lab at Binghamton Univ. --- Sage Daughton --- Lena Eder -- Chris Johnston, SUNY ESF, MSc student --- Haley Hurst --- Carly Gerth --- Roni Friedman, Columbia University, MSc student --- Jesse Lofaso --- Sarah Martin, University of Buffalo, Master's of Urban Planning --- Tim Morris, SUNY ESF, MSc student --- Melissa Noboa, NYC Civic Corps --- Kassidy Robinson --- Catherine Ruis, Stevens Institute of Technology, Master's student --- Jenna Ross -- Wyatt Parker, Binghamton University, MBA student, Americorps --- John Santare --- Tim Wong, Fordham Univ., MSc student