Dr. Kirsten M. Prior
​Associate Professor

B.Sc., Western University
Ph.D. University of Notre Dame
Postdoctoral Fellow, Univ. of Toronto
Postdoctoral Associate, Univ. of Florida

SM Editor Ecology
National Geographic Explorer
BU Presidential Diversity Grant 
Provost Award for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring
Co-Director NATCHANGE 

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
​
kprior(at)binghamton.edu
@kirstenmprior
google scholar
researchgate

Aly K. Milks
​Ph.D. Candidate

B.S. Ohio Northern University
Provost Doctoral Fellowship

Aly's research examines how multi-trophic plant-insect interactions are altered under poleward range expansions. She is using molecular approaches to uncover the capacity for parasitoids to shift to novel range-expanding hosts, along with examining how intraspecific variation in host plants affect interactions with phytophagous insects and parasitoids. Aly works on oak gall waps and parasites. 

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

amilks1(at)binghamton.edu
@alymilks

Rosebelle Ines 
​Ph.D. Candidate

B.S. Humboldt State University
Clark Doctoral Fellowship

Rosebelle's research examines how intra- to interspecific variation in traits and behavior in a mutualist species-complex influences mutualistic outcomes. She examines variation in thermal tolerance, colony structure, and the effects of variation on the spatial dynamics of plant communities. Rosebelle is also working on a project in collaboration with NY State Parks to restore and augment ant-dispersed understory forest plants. Rosebelle works on Aphaenogaster ants and forest understory plants. 

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

rines1(at) binghamton.edu
​@InesRosebelle

Christopher A. DeAngelis
​Ph.D. Student

B.S. Binghamton University
M.A.T. SUNY New Paltz
Provost Doctoral Fellowship
Co-advised with the Powell lab

Chris' research examines how functionally important traits vary along an intra to interspecific gradient and biogeographical gradients in a species complex of ants (Aphaenogaster). Chris is examining variation in body color that likely functions in thermoregulation, and in insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) that likely functions in nestmate recognition.

Outside of the lab, Chris enjoys golfing, hiking, listening to music, writing, stargazing, and spending time with his family.

cdeange3(at)binghamton.edu

Catherine Farrell
​M.S. Student

B.S. Binghamton University

Catherine's research explores the influence of land use history, and land use matrix type in forest fragments on the diversity and ecosystem function of florest floor invertebrates, including on mutualist ants (Aphaenogaster) that disperse understory plants.

Outside of the lab, Catherine enjoys thrifting, drawing, listening to music, making jewelry, and drinking coffee!

cfarre15(at)binghamton.edu

Kathy Fridrich
Ph.D. Student

B.A. Binghamton University

Kathy's research examines patterns in insect host-parasite interactions across latitudinal gradients, and in the context of poleward range expansions. Kathy is uncovering diverse and cryptic interactions using molecular approaches in a community of oak-gall wasps and parasites collected along the range of the North American wester oak, Quercus garryana. 

kfridri1(at)binghamton.edu

​

​Undergraduates

​Julian Marshall is a Senior (Biology), who is working on an Honor's thesis (with Rosebelle) examining how seed handling and nest environments of different Aphanogaster ant species influence plant performance. Julian won a Summer Scholarship to perform this work. ​​

​​Kelly Medina is a Senior (Biology) working with Aly to uncover how variation in foliar nutrients influences tritrophic interactions in the native and exapanded range of an oak gall wasp. 

Sarah Groh is a Junior (Chemistry, Environmental Studies), awarded a Beckman Scholarship. Sarah is working on a project with Chris examining how insect cuticular hydrocarbons CHCs vary over the season, colony age, and with nutrition in Aphaenogaster ants.

Zachary Prete is a Senior (Environmental Studies, Biology), performing an Honor's thesis (with Aly) uncovering potential apparent competition (shared parasites) between co-occuring oak gall wasp species using molecuar approaches to uncover cryptic interactions. Zach won a Shelling Award to perform this work.

Mary Regelski is a Senior (Biology, Environmental Studies) performing an Honor's thesis (with Rosebelle) examining if cooperation among colony members contributes to effective seed dispersal, and describing and comparing cooperative behaviors between two ant species in the Apheanogaster complex. 

Tim Kurpiewski is a Senior (Biology) who is working on an Honor's thesis (with Catherine) examining how diversity of beetles in the family Carabidae differ among forests fragments with different land use histories, and land use matrix types. 

Malia Everett is a Junior (Biology), who is starting a project (with Chris) for an Honor's thesis examining how variation CHC profiles relate to the strength of nest recognition and colony aggression in Aphaenogaster ants. 

Dayana Lucero is working with Aly on a project comparing gall size between parasitized and unparasitzed galls.

Andrew Desso is working with Catherine to help identify invertebrates collected in pitfall traps in forest edges with different land use matrix types

Krystal Maharaj is working with Chris to examine color variation in Aphaengoaster ants

Jillian Marinek is working with Aly to identify parasitoid wasps from an oak gall wasp that is a potential competitor to a range-exapanding wasp. 

Former Lab members

Dr. Carmela Buono (Ph.D) (2024) Ecological Supplies 
"Are ecological systems resilient to anthropogenic change? Understanding the potential for recovery of ecological systems from invasive species and land use impacts" 
​google scholar, ​researchgate
Graduate Student Excellence Award in Outreach & Service
​Simberloff Award, ESA

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Dr. Dylan Jones (Ph.D.) (2023) Environmental Protection Agency
"Latitudinal gradients in diversity & interactions create high niche opportunties under anthropogenic range expansions" 
Research gate
Short-listed for Early Career Research Elton Prize for Article in Journal of Animal Ecology
Graduate Student Excellence Research Award (Check out this Article about Dylan's path)

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Rachel Chen (M.S.) (2022) Research Technician, Ichan School of Medicine
"Release from antagonistic interactions: biogeographical patterns in competitors-enemy interactions for a range-expanding insect across latitude"
McNair Scholar,​​ Research award in Environmental Studies

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Susan Lee (M.S.) (2021) Salt Lake City Public Lands
"Altered interactions for species on-the-move a biogeographical comparison of host-parasitoid interactions between a species' native and expanded range"

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John Burns (2024) (Honor's thesis)
"The effect of Pterois volitans on the grazing behavior of Caribbean Reef Fish"

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Hunter Akins (Honor's thesis) (2024), PhD student UCLA Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
"Molecular delination of parasitoid community interacting with a range-expanding host to reveal altered interactions under range expansions" ​
McNair Scholar
Provosts Award for Excellence in Undergradute Research

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Allie Radin (Honor's thesis) (2022)
"Beetle Communities in regenerated forests are partly resilient to historic land use change, with higher a, but lower b-diversity than remnant forests"
Provost Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research

​Wyatt Parker (Honor's thesis) (2021)
"Antagonistic and mutualistic interactions alter seed dispersal at forest edges." - published in Ecosphere

Former research and field technicians: Shannon Meadly Dunphy, Lauren Unterrenier, Quinn Evans

Former Summer Scholars & NSF REU Students: Tim Morris, Wyatt Parker, Will Smisko, Kristy Tan, Julian Marshall, Kyle Skiver, Lexie Greiber

Additional undergraduates: Taylor Allen, Gabriella Bayshtock; Sabina Bayshtock; Julia Berliner (Univ. of Georgia, MSc student); Megan Blance (Washington State University, MSc); Dudley Britton; Sage Daughton; Brett Dobert; Lena Eder; Jacob DiBiase, Chris Johnston (SUNY ESF, MSc); ​Haley Hurst; Carly Gerth; Serena Feldman; Roni Friedman (Columbia University, MSc student; Leslie Huang (PA school); Abby Hullihen (PhD student SUNY ESF); Jesse Lofaso (Seran BioScience) Sarah Martin (University of Buffalo, Master's of Urban Planning); Tim Morris (SUNY ESF, MSc student); Shayma Naryan; Melissa Noboa, Brandon Rinkavage (Medical School); Kassidy Robinson; Catherine Ruis (Stevens Institute of Technology, MS); Jenna Ross (South Dakota State University, MSc student); John Santare; Justin Santiago (One Plant NGO); Sophie Tatar, Emily Tozer; Isabelle Tozer; Tim Wong (Fordham Univ., MSc),