I am fascinated by the diversity of life and I
cannot think of a better way to study this
diversity than by using an evolutionary
approach. I am interested in many aspects of
vertebrate evolution, but my work mainly focuses
on morphological and physiological evolution in
reptiles and on vertebrate conservation.
I performed my undergraduate studies
and Masters graduate work at the University of
Pisa in Italy. I obtained my PhD from the
University of Konstanz in Germany. I have worked
in many different countries and in many
different labs.
As a woman scientist and as an academic mom, I
am committed to increase participation of women
- including the ones with children - in STEM. As
a foreigner who has experienced discrimination
because of this, I am committed to promoting and
supporting diversity in the working environment.
In my free time, I
love traveling and learning languages, reading,
dancing, looking for animals, hiking, and
practicing almost any kind of outdoor sport (on
land or in water).
Finally, I love dry humor and I am very
sarcastic!
E-mail (remove spaces):
ychiari @ gmu.edu
Research Assistant
Christopher
Klein
I received my
Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology from
the University of South Florida in 2017.
Shortly after I began working for a
non-profit organization in Maui, HI. I was
employed as a Naturalist and a Research
Assistant studying cetaceans. My work
consisted of long hours in the field,
capturing photos of humpback whale flukes to
identify new individuals, as well as
cataloguing returning individuals that would
migrate from Alaska during the winter. I
then received my Master of Science in
Conservation Biology at the University of
South Florida. My MSc thesis focused on
analyzing maternal investment throughout the
order of Cetacea. I am now working as a
Research Assistant on a project focused on
the conservation genetics of a critically
endangered sea turtle species. In my free
time, I enjoy free-diving, hiking, and being
outdoors.
Visiting students
Irlanda
Gallardo
I carried out
my undergraduate studies in Mexico, and got
my degree in Pharmaceutical Chemical Biology
with thesis work on barcoding and genetic
variability of Leatherback sea turtles.
Currently, I am doing a Master's in Genetics
Biotechnology at the Instituto Politecnico
Nacional in Mexico. For my Master's, I am
working on the genetic diversity of Mexican
nesting hawksbill sea turtle populations. I
am a visiting scholar at GMU where I am
working on conservation genetics of Kemp's
ridley sea turtles.
I enjoy doing field work at the beach,
traveling to new places, nature, basketball,
going to church, and trying new coffee
shops. I am funnier in Spanish!
Graduate students
Riley
Moreau
he/they
I received my
Bachelors of Art in Biology from The College
of Wooster in May 2020, where I primarily
studied the genetic structure of a
polymorphic garter snake on and around Lake
Erie. I also assisted on projects dealing
with behavioral changes in mosquitoes after
treatment with different natural compounds.
I am currently a PhD student at George Mason
University. My project focuses on
investigating how captivity impacts gene
expression in an endangered salmonid
species. In my free time, I enjoy nature
photography, kayaking, reading the pulpiest
sci-fi that used book stores have to offer,
and going on absurdly long hikes with
friends.
Stephanie
Bulls
she/her/they/them Co-supervised
with Dr. Glaberman, ESP
I am an
untraditional student, having first
received an Associate of Applied
Science in Veterinary Technology in
2009 from Cedar Valley College, Texas.
I have worked for six years in an
equine veterinary hospital before
deciding to return to school for
further higher education. I received a
Bachelor's of Arts in Biology from the
University of South Alabama in 2018
and went on to pursue a Master's in
Biology from the same institution. As
an undergraduate, I worked on
identifying local Amanita mushrooms
using molecular genomics. My overall
interest is in evolutionary biology,
with a focus on how disease
interactions affect diversity. For my
MS, I am currently working on a
project to identify mechanisms that
support large body sizes, longevity
and tumor suppression in tortoises
using cellular assays and comparative
genomics. In my free time, I enjoy
reading, gaming, kayaking, mushroom
foraging, traveling and exploring new
places, and going on wilderness
adventures with my dogs.
Brandon
Hastings
I received my
Bachelors of Science from Longwood University
in May 2020, where I studied the
maneuverability and territoriality of
dragonflies and birds. I am currently a
Master's student at George Mason University.
My project focuses on how color contrast
between the outer and inner portions of flower
petals may function to attract vertebrate
pollinators using geckos as a model species. I
am also investigating if preferences for
certain floral color traits exist across
different vertebrate pollinator classes. I am
also interested in incorporating machine
learning into existing data collection and
analysis workflows. In my free time, I like
hiking, playing the piano, and learning
anything about computers.
Erik Maki
I received my
BS in Finance with a minor in Accountancy from
Western Illinois University in May 2016.
Following graduation, I worked in finance for
two years. I realized that finance was not for
me and decided to go back to school and get a
second bachelor's degree. I received my second
BS in Biology from Northeastern Illinois
University in July 2021, where I studied
morphological evolution of painted turtles in
Northern Wisconsin. During this time, I also
worked at the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago. I
am currently a MS student at George Mason
University. I am interested in continuing
research on morphological evolution. In my
free time, I enjoy nature, hiking, skiing,
reading, taking care of my herps and sport.
Emma White
I received my
undergraduate degree in Biology at Virginia
Tech with a concentration in evolution,
ecology, and animal behavior. At Virginia
Tech, I conducted research on the evolution of
body temperature in mammals and squamates. My
current Master's project focuses on the
evolution of thermophysiology in reptiles,
especially in geckos. I am also collaborating
on a research looking at variation in thermal
ecology in turtles. In my free time, I enjoy
playing soccer, snowboarding, and hiking.
Undergraduate
students
Jason
Motley
Past Members
Graduate
students:
Nickolas
Moreno (2019 - 2021) Biology,
George Mason University
Nickolas
Moreno (2016 - 2019) Biology,
University of South Alabama
Nathan
Katlein (2016
- 2018) Biology,
University of South Alabama
Jared
Elmore (2014 - 2016) Biology,
University of South Alabama
Regis
Burkhardt (2014
- 2018) Biology,
University of South Alabama
Amber
Simpson (2016) Educational
Studies, University of South Alabama
Trenton
O'Neal (2016 - 2017) Biology,
University of South Alabama
Honor
students:
Anastasiya
Melnyk (2021) Biology,
George Mason University
Miranda
Ray (2017-2018) Biology,
University of South Alabama
Undergraduate
students:
Wania
Ayub (2020-2021)
Biology,
George Mason University
Sarah
Scott (2019-2020)
Biology,
George Mason University
Kyle
Blevins (2019)
Biology,
George Mason University
Mary
Floyd (2019)
Biology,
George Mason University
Emma
McAllum (2019)
Biology,
George Mason University
Michael
Chavez (2019)
Biology,
George Mason University
Keith
Keel (2019)
Environmental
Science and Policy, George Mason University
Haziq
Aziz (2019)
Biology,
George Mason University
Stephen
Taglieri (2019)
Biology,
George Mason University