Graduate Students

About

About

My name is Sam Caruso, and I am a graduate researcher in Dr. Paul Spruell’s lab, studying genetic population dynamics of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the Lower Pend Oreille watershed. My research focuses on strengthening the existing genetic baseline to improve assignment accuracy to natal streams and analyzing temporal shifts in allele frequencies to estimate effective population size. This work will help support long-term conservation and management of the native Westslope Cutthroat Trout populations through improved genetic monitoring.

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I will be joining Dr. McNeely’s lab to study how beaver dam analogs function. I am excited to further explore my interests in ecohydrology, aquatic ecology, and conservation hydrology during this time.

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Hello! My name is Sadie and I am in Dr. Camille McNeely’s lab studying the effects of toxic trace metals on macroinvertebrate secondary production in the Spokane River Watershed. This research aims to understand some of the impacts of historic mining from the Coeur d’Alene River on aquatic life in these rivers. I am excited to continue working in the aquatic biology field and expand our knowledge on some of the fascinating Spokane River macroinvertebrates.

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My research is looking at how Southern House Mosquitoes act as mechanical vectors for Bd, a fungus that causes the deadly disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians.

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I am performing population genetic analyses on the plants of the Palouse Prairie, investigating the relationship between low genetic diversity and reduced viability and germination rates. My research focuses on how inbreeding, driven by fragmented habitats, affects seed germination traits. The goal is to understand how these factors impact prairie ecosystems, as well as to deepen our knowledge of plant genetic variation and its influence on seed development.

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Hello! I’m Scott (he/him), and I am researching the instructional practices and resources used by science teachers in the classroom. Whether learning the fundamentals in the classroom or exploring science in the field, I enjoy taking part in the learning journeys of others. Through teaching and research, I hope to help make science more accessible to a wide variety of audiences.

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Hello! I’m Teddy Pierson (they/them). Advised by Dr. Rebecca Brown, I will be researching ecological restoration of the Palouse Prairie. I will be focusing on efficient and effective land management strategies, working with Eastern Washington University’s Prairie Restoration Project. I have spent over a decade in the field of ecology, applying restoration methods and working in rare plant research and conservation. I am excited to dive back into plant ecology in an academic context

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Hi! My name is Stephen and I am joining the Ashley lab to study Fringe protein modulation of osteoclastogeneis. Starting in the Fall of 2025, I will be conducting, along with my colleagues, knock-down and overexpression experiments on Fringe protein members known to produce various glycosylation patterns on notch receptors in osteoclast-precursors and thereby either enhance or suppress osteoclastogenesis. Additionally, we will be utilizing an ER-Hoxb8 immortalized osteoclast-precursor cell line to aid in the logistics of our experimental design. We hope our results help elucidate novel molecular targets for longitudinal pharmaceutical therapies for patients burdened with osteoporosis. I feel very privileged to be welcomed on this team and am excited for my next two years at EWU!

About

I am currently collaborating with Dr. Judd Case to describe fossil specimens of Macropodidae (the kangaroo family) from specific biostratigraphic zones dating approximately from the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene, found in the Etadunna Formation of South Australia. My research focuses on the major fossil clades of Macropodidae, comparing them with extant taxa in terms of kangaroo clades and taxonomy, as well as tooth morphology across the four major clades. I aim to investigate how this morphology relates to dietary habits among these species, and I will also study hindlimb morphology to understand its implications for different modes of hopping within the family.

As a first-year graduate student, I hold an undergraduate degree in Geology from Central Washington University. During my studies, I undertook undergraduate research focused on the taxonomy of a genus of Oreodonts known as Brachycrus, working alongside a local paleontologist to examine various specimens and determine whether they represent distinct species.

My lifelong passion for dinosaurs drives my dedication to studying paleontology and understanding the ancient world. With a strong foundation in geology and an emerging background in biology, I aspire to pursue a Ph.D. and build a career as a paleontologist.