People

Kristen Ruegg, Principal Investigator

kristen.ruegg@colostate.edu

Education:

• 2008-2010: Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University

• 2002-2007: Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley

• 2000 -2002: M.S. San Francisco State University

• 1994-1998: B.A. Robert D. Clark Honors College, University of Oregon

Link to CV: CV (Updated Spring 2021)

Research Interests: Conservation genomics, population genomics, landscape genomics, migratory birds, speciation, climate change.

Other Interests: Hiking with my family, gardening, yoga, reading (non-scientific novels), mountain and road biking, cross country skiing, and painting

Christen Bossu, Research Scientist III

cbossu@rams.colostate.edu

Education:

• 2015-2017: Postdoctoral Fellow, Stockholms Universitet, Sweden

• 2014-2015: Researcher, Uppsala Universitet, Sweden

• 2012-2014: Postdoctoral Fellow, Uppsala Universitet, Sweden

• 2006-2012: Ph.D. Yale University

• 2003-2006: M.S. University of Tennessee, Knoxville

• 1998-2002: B.S. Honors, Purdue University

Research interests: Speciation genomics, conservation genomics of migratory birds, and hybridization.

Other Interests: Hiking, kickboxing, paddle boarding, gardening, reading, traveling.

Amanda Carpenter, Lab and Collections Manager

amanda.carpenter@colostate.edu

Education:

• 2013-2016: B.S. in Biology, University of Wisconsin-Platteville

• 2018-2020: MSc in Biology, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Research Interests: Cryptic speciation, population genomics, hybridization, systematics, field work, and bird banding.

Other Interests: Keeping house plants, road tripping, hiking, camping, horror movies, and craft beer.

Joan Ferrer Obiol, Postdoc

joan.ferrerobiol@colostate.edu

Education:

• 2021-2024: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Milan, Italy

• 2016-2020: Ph.D. University of Barcelona, Spain

• 2014-2015: M.S. in Genetics and Genomics, University of Barcelona, Spain

• 2007-2012: B.S. in Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain

Research Interests: Population genomics, conservation genomics, migratory behaviour, speciation, local adaptation, seabirds.

Other Interests: Birding, hiking, foodie, craft beer, human towers.

William Hemstrom, Postdoc 

william.hemstrom@colostate.edu

Education:

• 2009-2013: B.S. in Zoology from Oregon State University Honors College

• 2013-2016: M.S. in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University

• 2016-2022: Ph.D. in Ecology from University of California, Davis

• 2022-2024: Postdoctoral fellow at Purdue University

Research Interests: Population genomics, conservation genetics, genetics of migration, quantitative genetics, software and methods development.

Other Interests: Birding, wildlife photography (particularly birds), traveling, running, board games, video games (and other nerdy things).

Luz E. Zamudio Beltrán, UNAM Postdoc

zbluze@hotmail.com

Education:

• Current: Postdoc Fellow, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, FES Zaragoza, Mexico City, Mexico

• 2016: Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

• 2011: M.S. Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

Research Interests: I have worked on analyzing the geographic structure in Middle American hummingbird species based on molecular data, and conducted phylogenetic studies with implication in taxonomy. My main interests are focused on evolutionary biology, phylogeography, phylogenetics and systematics.

Other Interests: Painting, mountaineering, climbing, scuba diving, and traveling. 

Marina Rodriguez, PhD Candidate

marina.rodriguez@rams.colostate.edu

Education:

• 2019:  M.S. Colorado State University, Fish Wildlife and Conservation Biology

• 2012:  B.S. Colorado State University,  Fish Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Applied Statistics & English

Research Interests:  My prior research has involved using telomere length to better understand how different environmental stressors influence life-history trade-offs in birds, as well as exploring the factors associated with blood parasitism in a high elevation bird community. My current research will focus on the adaptive divergence of migratory birds due to factors associated with their wintering grounds.  

Other Interests: My hobbies include mountaineering, playing and watching basketball, birding, and reading. 

Erica Robertson, PhD Student

ericacnrobertson@gmail.com

Education:

• 2020:  B.S. George Washington University

Research Interests:  I’m interested in understanding how local adaptation and genetic variation can provide species reliance to changes due to climate change. My work focuses on Rosy Finches.

Other Interests: Rock climbing is my major passion in life, and I partake in all kinds with an emphasis on alpine climbing. I generally love being outside so backpacking, skiing, hiking are also common activities. Besides those things I am also an artist and a coffee aficionado.

Holden Fox, PhD Student

holdencfox@outlook.com

Education:

• 2018-2021: B.A. in Biology, Lewis and Clark College

Research Interests:  Evolution, biodiversity, and genomics.

Other Interests: Rock climbing and birding.

Genaro Rodríguez Otero, UNAM MS Student

genarootero420@gmail.com

Education:

• 2019: B.S. in Biology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Research interests: I am interested in avian biology in general, but what I like the most is avian ecology and evolution applied to conservation. For my MS project I will be comparing the ecological niche between genetically distinct populations of Cardellina pusilla and between breeding and wintering ranges of each population (based on the Genoscape of the species).

Other interests: I enjoy birding, painting, playing football, listening to music, hiking and camping.

Wendoly Rojas Abreu, UNAM PhD Student

roswendoly@gmail.com

Education:

• 2019: M.S. Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxacala, México

• 2015: B.S. Biology, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, México

Research interests: I have worked on Behavioral Ecology using birds as a study model. I am currently interested in the generation of phylogenetic hypotheses, and understanding how genetics, environment and geography may explain the evolution of morphological and behavioral characteristics of American Robin. 

Other interests: I like camping, dancing, taekwondo and enjoy walking and reading.