Recent TCFWRU Alumni: Graduate Students and Postdocs
Matthew R. Acre
(M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2015)
Thesis:Can a River-Reservoir Interface Serve as Nursery Habitat for Riverine Fishes?
Advisor: Dr. Tim Grabowski
Laurie Groen
(M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2015)
Thesis:
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Qingman (Abby) Chen
(M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2014)
Thesis:Reproductive behavior and mating system of Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus)
Advisor: Dr. Tim Grabowski
Kristen Linner
(M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2014)
Thesis:Assessing the influence of wind turbines and land-use on mortality risk of avian species
on the Llano Estacado with emphasis on birds of prey
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Dr. Preston Bean
(Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2012-2014)
Dr. Bean now works with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Supervisor: Dr. Tim Grabowski
Seiji Miyazono
(PhD Fisheries, 2014)
Dissertation:
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Collin Funkhouser
(MS Fisheries, 2013)
Thesis:
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Matt VanLandeghem
(PhD Fisheries, 2013)
Dissertation: Environmental factors regulating toxic blooms of golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) and their effects on fisheries resources
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Natascha Israel
(MS Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2013)
Thesis:
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Phil Borsdorf
(M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2013)
Thesis: Lesser prairie-chicken habitat use across varying land-use practices in west Texas
and eastern New Mexico
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Jillian Groeschel
(M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2013)
Thesis: Evaluations of growth and habitat use by Guadalupe bass at a riverscape scale in
the South Llano River, Texas.
Advisor: Dr. Tim Grabowski
Ben Skipper
(Ph.D. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2013)
Dr. Skipper is now an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at San Angelo State University.
Dissertation: Urban ecology of Mississippi kites
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Lóvisa Ó. Gudmundsdóttir
(M.S. Biology, 2013; University of Iceland)
Thesis: Variation in egg buoyancy and composition associated with intra-stock diversity of
Icelandic cod
Co-Advisor: Dr. Tim Grabowski
Julia Mueller
(M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, 2013)
Thesis:Effects of temperature, salinity, and suspended solids on the early life history stages
of Arkansas River shiner
Advisor: Dr. Tim Grabowski
Prakash Sharma
(Ph.D. Biology, 2012)
Dissertation: Role of thyroid hormones in the development of gonadal sex, external morphology and
intestinal system of zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Jamie Suski
(Ph.D. Biology, 2012)
Dissertation: Gastropods in a changing and stressful environment: Impacts on life history and interspecies
interactions
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Jennifer Zavaleta
(MS Wildlife, 2012)
Thesis: Community Response to Use of Prescribed Grazing and Tebuthiuron Herbicide for Restoration
of Sand Shinnery Oak Communities
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Rebecca Perkins
(MS Wildlife, 2012)
Thesis: Anti-predatory behavior of northern bobwhite in the Rolling Plains of Texas
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Blake Grisham
(PhD Wildlife, 2012)
Dissertation: The Ecology of Lesser Prairie-Chickens in Shinnery Oak-Grassland Communities in New
Mexico and Texas with Implications Toward Habitat Management and Future Climate Change.
Dr. Grisham is now an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources Management at Texas Tech University.
Advisor: Dr. Clint boal
Dr. Jo-Szu (Ross) Tsai
(Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2011-2012)
Dr. Tsai developed a survey and monitoring strategy of Golden Eagle in relation to
the fast growing wind energy in the western United States. He is now an assistant
professor at National Chiayi University in Chiayi City, Taiwan.
Supervisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Brandi Welch
(MS Wildlife, 2011)
Thesis: Provisioning rates of urban nesting Mississippi kites in the Texas Panhandle
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Nick Pirius
(MS Wildlife, 2011)
Thesis: The Non-Breeding Season Ecology of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) in the Southern High Plains of Texas
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Leticia Torres
(Ph.D. Biology, 2011)
Dissertation: Laboratory and Field Assessments of Brominated Flame Retardants and Other Environmental
Contaminants: Effects in Fishes
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Brad Strobel
(MS Wildlife, 2007;
PhD Wildlife, 2011)
Thesis: Nest Site Selection and Nestling Diet of the Texas Red-Shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus texanus in South Texas
Dissertation: Reproductive Success and Annual Habitat Preference by Red-Shouldered Hawks in Southern
Texas
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Dr. A.H.M. Ali Reza
(Postdoctoral Research Associate 2009-2011)
Dr. Reza's postdoctoral research focused on constructing models to predict the influence
of climate change on Texas surface waters and their aquatic biotic communities. He
is now a memeber of the faculty at Delta State University.
Supervisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Evonne Schroeder
(MS Wildlife, 2010)
Thesis: Avian Diversity, Productivity, Survival, and Ecology in the Texas Coastal Bend
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Adam Behney
(MS Wildlife, 2009)
Thesis: Predation and Reproductive Behavior of Lesser Prairie-Chickens at Leks in the Texas
Southern High Plains.
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Matt Meyer
(MS Biology, 2009)
Thesis: Development and Application of a Fish Embryo Bioassay for Studies of Surface Water
Toxicity in the Brazos River
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Tony Roberts
(MS Wildlife, 2009)
Thesis: Avian Community Response to Large-Scale Wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Carey Haralson
(MS Wildlife, 2008)
Thesis: Breeding Ecology Nest Site Selection and Human Influence of White-Tailed Hawks on
Texas Barrier Islands
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Nicholas Mannan
(MS Wildlife, 2008)
Thesis: An Assessment of Survey Methodology, Calling Activity, and Habitat Associations of
Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) and Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) in a Tundra Biome
Co-advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Amanda Miller
(MS Wildlife, 2008)
Thesis: Patterns of Avian and Bat Mortality at a Utility Scaled Wind Farm on the Southern
High Plains.
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Bibek Sharma
(PhD Fisheries, 2008; Postdoctoral
Research Associate, 2008-2011)
Dissertation: Effects of Cadmium at Low Concentrations on Anuran Growth and Development.
Dr. Sharma's postdoctoral research examined the effects of treated municipal effluents
on the reproductive and endocrine health of fishes.
Advisor/Supervisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Caleb Huber
(MS Fisheries, 2007)
Thesis: Habitat Preferences of Juvenile Common Snook in the Lower Rio Grande, Texas.
Co-advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Sandeep Mukhi
(PhD Biology, 2006)
Dissertation: Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Highly Energetic Compounds in Zebrafish
(Danio rerio).
Advisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Dr. Naoki Kumakura
(Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2002-2005)
Dr. Kumakura's research addressed the endocrine and molecular regulation of ovarian
follicle maturation and ovulation in fishes. He is now back in Japan conducting research
on fish aquaculture.
Supervisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño
Matt Giovanni
(MS Wildlife, 2005)
Thesis: Prey Partitioning Between Sympatric Grassland Raptors.
Advisor: Dr. Clint Boal
Other Highlights
Juan Zalapa
(left)(Undergraduate Research)
Juan is currently a postdoc in plant genetics at the University of Wisconsin. He
recently visited Texas Tech University to deliver a keynote speech at the annual banquet
of TTU's McNair Scholar Program. Juan is a former McNair Undergraduate Scholar of
the Patiño lab and is the first program alumnus to earn a PhD in any field of science.
Supervisor: Dr. Reynaldo Patiño