The Hamel Lab

Alana Evora

Alana joined the lab in Fall 2020, and she was awarded the Lumen Prize for her research proposal. During SURE 2022, Alana developed software and methods for vibrational communication research. She presented her research at Elon SURF, ASB, and the Biotremology conference. Her research is in review for publication in the journal Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. She is now working as a lab technician at Duke University.

Ainsley Shan

Ainsley joined the lab in Spring 2021. He studied how mutualistic ants and insect predators respond to treehopper vibrational signals during SURE 2022. Ainsley presented his research at Elon SURF and NCAS, where his presentation was recognized with an award. Ainsley is now completing an MS in Medical Sciences at Boston University.

Rebecca Carranza

Reb studied host plant use and mating signals in a treehopper called Entylia carinata. Reb collected her data during SURE 2021, and she presented her research at Elon SURF, the North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS) conference, and the Animal Behavior Society (ABS) conference in San José, Costa Rica. Her research presentations won awards at both NCAS and ABS! Reb is now studying behavioral ecology as a Ph.D. student in the Suarez lab at U. Illinois - Urbana-Champaign.

Jean Ross

Jean studied multimodal communication in neotropical katydids. Jean was awarded a Glen Raven Endowed Scholarship and a Center for Research on Global Engagement Scholarship to conduct her research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama during Winter 2020. She also participated in SURE 2020. Jean presented her research at Elon SURF, as well as at ASB and the Animal Behavior Society - her presentations were recognized with awards at both conferences. After graduating from Elon, Jean completed an MS in Ecology and Evolution at Villanova University. She is now attending law school at Villanova.

Kaley Clapp

Kaley owns and cares for exotic mammals, and for her undergrad research project in 2020, Kaley tested a non-invasive screening method to assay fertilization in camelids. After graduating from Elon, Kaley completed nursing school and is now a registered RN.

Nicole Marici

Nicole joined the lab in Spring 2019. She collaborated with Emma Ebright to characterize the behavior and communication of red-headed meadow katydids during mating encounters. Nicole and Emma presented their work at Elon BIOSURF. Nicole graduated in Spring '20, and she is now studying to be a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Emma Ebright

Emma joined the lab in Fall 2018 and was one of the founders of our red-headed meadow katydid project. She collaborated with Nicole to characterize the behavior and communication of red-headed meadow katydids during mating encounters. Emma and Nicole presented their work at Elon BIOSURF. Emma graduated in Spring '20, and worked as a Research Technician in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University. She is currently in medical school at East Carolina University.

Rebecca Usher

Rebecca joined the lab in Fall 2019. She characterized the behavior and communication of solitary red-headed meadow katydids through field observations. Rebecca is currently attending veterinary school at LSU.

Alina Iwan

Alina studied vibrational communication in neotropical katydids. She conducted field research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island, Panama over two years ('18 and '19). Alina was awarded Glen Raven Endowed Scholarships, Center for Research on Global Engagement Scholarships, a research grant from the Acoustical Society of America, and a Turner Program award from the Animal Behavior Society. She participated in SURE 2018 and presented her work at NCAS and the national Animal Behavior Society conference. Alina won an award for her NCAS presentation. In 2024, Alina is beginning a Masters degree in ecology and evolution at the University of Helsinki in Finland!

Sydney Solomon

Sydney studied how diet affects reproductive development in two hybridizing species of squash bugs. Sydney participated in SURE 2019 and presented this work at NCAS and Elon SURF. Sydney won an award for her presentation at NCAS. After graduating from Elon, Sydney completed a Master of Science in Nutrition at Columbia University. Sydney is now a D.O Candidate at Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Medicine.

Davis McGuirt

Davis contributed to three projects in the lab during Summer 2018, and he developed his independent project on how airborne signals produced by katydids propagate through substrates. Davis graduated in Spring '20, and he is working toward a medical school pathway.

Matt Sears

Matt studied the effects of mating duration on reproductive outcomes for squash bugs. Matt participated in SURE 2017, presented this work at ASB and Elon SURF, and published it in 2020 in the journal Behavioural Processes. He also contributed to a large project at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, and was awarded a Glen Raven Endowed Scholarship and a Center for Research on Global Engagement Scholarship to support this travel. After graduating from Elon, Matt conducted research at the U. Penn Perelman School of Medicine and at MIT, and then at BEAM Therapeutics. Matt is now an MS/MBA Biotechnology Candidate at Harvard Business School.

Breanna Coughlin

Breanna studied antipredator vibrational communication in a plant-feeding insect called the keeled treehopper (Entylia carinata). Breanna participated in Elon SURE 2017, and she presented her work at the Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting (ASB) and Elon SURF. Breanna is now working as a veterinary assistant at a clinic in NC.

Connor Whiffen

Connor contributed to three projects in the lab during Summer 2018: and developed an independent project in which he quantitatively described squash bug mating behavior. Connor won an award for his poster presentation at NCAS. Connor graduated in Spring 2019, and he then completed a post-bacc pre-medical program at Northeastern University.

Emma Eskeland

Emma investigated behavioral isolation between two Anasa species and presented her work as a poster at Elon SURF in Spring 2016. She further developed the work and presented it orally at Elon SURF 2017 and NCAS. Emma won an award for her NCAS presentation, and she is a co-author on the paper that includes this work, in the Journal of Insect Science. Emma graduated in Spring 2017, and she is now working in healthcare, doing communication and data analysis .

Warren Grunvald

Warren contributed to a large study on squash bug mate choice, and he also documented the morphology of individuals of Anasa spp. at our FL field site. Warren presented this work at Elon SURF and NCAS, and he won an award for his NCAS poster. Warren graduated from Elon in Spring 2017 and attended medical school at the Larner College of Medicine in Vermont. He is now a Resident Physician in Emergency Medicine.

Bea Balajonda

Bea contributed to a large study on squash bug mate choice, and she also collaborated with Lauren Miller to present findings at Elon SURF and NCAS on habitat and host plant use by our two focal Anasa species. Bea and Lauren won an award for their NCAS poster presentation. Bea graduated in Spring 2017, and she worked as a Clinical Research Specialist and then Research Coordinator at the Duke Brain Tumor Center. Bea completed nursing school and is now a registered nurse (BSN, RN) at the Duke Neurology Clinic.

Lauren Miller

Lauren contributed to a large study on squash bug mate choice, and she also collaborated with Bea Balajonda to present findings at Elon SURF and NCAS on habitat and host plant use by our two focal Anasa species. Lauren and Bea won an award for their NCAS poster presentation. Lauren graduated in Spring 2017, and she is now studyin Nursing at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Neil Clark

Neil contributed to a large study on squash bug mate choice with lab and field work in Summer 2016. He currently works with the Greensboro Department of Parks and Recreation.

Tyler Lehmann

Tyler investigated how mating between two insect species affects female fecundity and reproductive success. He presented his work as a poster at ASB and Elon SURF, and he is a co-author on the paper that includes this work, in the Journal of Insect Science. Tyler graduated in Spring 2016, and he worked with Americorps for two years, doing service work for areas in need. He is now an arborist for the City of Sacramento.

Dawson Nance

Dawson studied how parasitoid attacks influence mate choice and copulations for squash bugs. Dawson participated in the 2015 SURE program at Elon, and presented her work at ASB, Elon SURF, the Animal Behavior Society Conference in 2016, and at NCAS in 2017. Dawson won an award for her presentation at NCAS. Dawson graduated in Spring 2017, and she is now a Tissue Resource Manager at LifeCenter NorthWest.

Paige Stover

Paige investigated how mating between two insect species affects offspring developmental and survival. She presented her work as a poster at ASB and Elon SURF, and she is a co-author on the paper that includes this work, in the Journal of Insect Science. Paige graduated in Spring 2016, and she then completed medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Paige is now a Resident Physician at the UT Southwestern Medical Center.

David Terrill

David contributed a ton of effort to lab and field research on squash bug mate choice during Summer 2015. After Elon, David was deployed with the 236th Brigade Engineering Battalion (BEB), supporting Operation Spartan Shield in the Middle East as a Combat Medic. He also completed a health science BS with Purdue Global. David is now an EHS&S Specialist II at KBI Biopharma.

Wes Henderson

Wes completed his BS at NC State and assisted with lab and field research on squash bug mate choice during Summer 2015. Wes completed a Master of Biomedical Sciences program at Campbell University and is now completing a D.O. degree at Campbell University's School of Osteopathic Medicine.