Personnel

The Garland Lab webpage is here.

Principal Investigator:

Theodore Garland, Jr., Distinguished Professor, Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside.  tgarland@ucr.edu  (Ph.D. 1985 from Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine).  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title: Physiological and ecological correlates of locomotory performance and body size in lizards. 210 pages.  [Abstract]

Graduate Students:

1988-1994  Michael R. Dohm (Zoology:  Ph.D. 1994) -- currently Associate Professor at Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii. Mike worked with Hsd:ICR mice before we started the selection experiment.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Quantitative genetics of locomotor performance and physiology in house mice (Mus domesticus). University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. xv + 264 pages.

1994-1998  John G. Swallow (Zoology:  Ph.D. 1998) -- currently Professor and Chair, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado, Denver.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Artificial selection for high voluntary activity in house mice: a study in evolutionary physiology. vi + 179 pages.

1998-2002  Justin S. Rhodes (Zoology:  Ph.D. 2002. Stephen C. Gammie served as his major professor during the final semester because I had moved to U.C., Riverside) -- currently Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  The neural basis of hyperactive wheel running in mice.  iv + 170 pages.

2000-2002  Guo Li (Zoology, M.S.) -- subsequently Biostatistics graduate student at University of Michigan, currently at University of Washington.   [Google Scholar Citations]

Thesis publication:  Li, G., J. Rhodes, I. Girard, S. Gammie, and T. Garland, Jr. 2004. Opioid-mediated pain sensitivity in mice bred for high voluntary wheel running. Physiology & Behavior 83:515–524. 

2001-2005  Enrico L. Rezende (Biology, Ph.D. 2005) -- currently faculty at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Experimental evolution of exercise physiology in house mice selectively bred for high locomotor activity. xxi + 245 pages. 

2002-2007  Jessica L. Malisch (formerly Bunkers) (Biology, Ph.D. 2007) -- subsequently faculty at St. Marys College of Maryland.  Currently the Associate Director of the UC Merced Natural Reserves System.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Micro-evolutionary change in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in house mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running. xiii + 158 pages. 

2003-2008  Scott A. Kelly (Biology, Ph.D. 2008) -- currently Project Scientist with Shouri Lahiri at Cedars-Sinai.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Phenotypic plasticity in house mice selectively bred for high voluntary locomotor activity. xvi + 321 pages. 

2003-2010  Erik M. Kolb (Biology, Ph.D. 2010) -- currently faculty at Chaffey College.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Neurobiological and physiological underpinnings of high voluntary wheel running. xii + 228 pages. 

2004-2010  Robert M. Hannon (Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Ph.D.) -- deceased

Dissertation title:  The genetic architecture of high voluntary wheel running in house mice. x + 127 pages. 

2005-2011  Brooke K. Keeney (Biology, Ph.D.) -- currently Managing Editor at Cornell's Birds of the World.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Behavioral, neural, and life history correlates of selective breeding for high voluntary exercise in house mice. xvii + 245 pages. 

2006-2011  Thomas H. Meek, IV (Biology, Ph.D.) -- currently Director of Technology and Genomics at Novo Nordisk.  [Google Scholar Citations] 

Dissertation title:  Physiological underpinnings of high voluntary exercise in selectively bred mice: effects of Western diet. xv + 283 pages. 

2008-2016  Wendy Acosta (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ph.D.) -- currently faculty at Chaffey College.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Effects of western diet and early-life exercise opportunity on voluntary exercise and spontaneous physical activity in mice bred for voluntary wheel running. xi + 158 pages.

2010-2016  Gerald C. Claghorn (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ph.D.) -- currently Director of Product Management, AI and ML at Clearcover.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Dissertation title:  Evolution of neurobiological and kinematic traits in mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running. x + 182 pages. 

2011-2017  Jarren C. Kay (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ph.D.) -- subsequently postdoc at the University of Alabama.  [Google Scholar Citations] 

Dissertation title:  Inherited and phenotypically plastic characteristics of cardiac and skeletal muscle physiology in mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel running. x + 148 pages.

2012-2017  Zoe Thompson (Neuroscience, Ph.D.) (Major Professor) -- subsequently postdoc at University of Michigan, Currently Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University.  [Google Scholar Citations] 

Dissertation title:  The neurobiological basis of voluntary exercise in selectively-bred high runner mice. x + 139 pages.

2012-2017  Layla Hiramatsu (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ph.D.) -- subsequently postdoc at Friedrich Miescher Laboratory of the Max Planck Society, Tubingen, Germany.  [Google Scholar Citations] 

Dissertation title:  Physiological and genetic causes of a selection limit for voluntary wheel-running in mice. ix + 217 pages.

2015-2021  Marcell Donte Cadney (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology) -- Currently postdoc at UCSB with  Soojin Yi.  [Google Scholar Citations]
Dissertation title:  Early-life effects of diet, exercise, and maternal environment on adult activity levels in mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior. xv + 186 pages.

2015-2021  Margaret Page Schmill (Neuroscience) -- Currently Clinical Research Associate at Medpace.
Dissertation title:  Neuroanatomical, behavioral, and physiological correlates of high voluntary wheel running. xiii + 179 pages.

2016-2021  Alberto A. Castro (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology) - Currently research geneticist at PreZero US.
Dissertation title:  Skeletal evolution and muscle physiology in house mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior. x + 221 pages.

2016-2022  Monica Paige  McNamara  (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology) - Twitter - Currently Assistant Professor at Whittier College.  [Google Scholar Citations]
Dissertation title:  Exercise and the gut microbiome in mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior. xiv + 224 pages.

2016-2022  David A. Hillis (Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics) -- Currently postdoc at UCSB with  Soojin Yi.  [Google Scholar Citations]
Dissertation title:  Genetic basis of aerobically supported voluntary exercise: results from a selection experiment with house mice.  xi + 235 pages.

2017-2023  Nicole E. Schwartz (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology) - Currently postdoc at Chapman University.
Dissertation title:  Effects of genetic background and early-life exercise on adult traits related to exercise behavior, morphology, and physiology. xv + 197 pages.

2020-  Natalie Whitehead  (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ph.D.).  Play behavior, lifetime reproductive success, healthspan, and lifespan in the High Runner mice.

2021-2023  Rahim H. Khan (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, M.S.) -- currently in medical school.
Thesis title:  Correlated responses to selection for voluntary wheel-running behavior in house mice: do they match the standard models of hierarchical evolution?  viii + 50 pages.

2021-2023  Brandon B. Tan (Biomedical Sciences, M.S.)
Thesis title:  Effects of long-term voluntary wheel running and selective breeding for wheel running on femoral nutrient canals. ix + 39 pages.

2021-  Haley Cabrera  (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ph.D.).  Early-life effects on physical activity.

2021-  Lucas Pineiro  (Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Ph.D.).  Play behavior, lifetime reproductive success, healthspan, and lifespan in the High Runner mice.

2022-  William Lampman (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ph.D.).  Behavior and personality.

2023-  Chenkun (Lily) Jiang (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology. M.S.).  Effects of sleep deprivation on physical activity and behavior.

2023-  Juliana Base (Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology. M.S.).  Effects of peppermint oil on physical activity and behavior.


Postdoctoral Associates:

1993-1996  Patrick A. Carter.  Ph.D., University of Colorado.  Michael Guyer Postdoctoral Fellow.  Currently Professor, Department of Zoology, Washington State University.  [Google Scholar Citations]

1999-2002  Anne M. Bronikowski.  Ph.D., University of Chicago.  N.I.H. National Research Service Award (NRSA postdoctoral fellowship).  Subsequantly Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University.  Currently at Michigan State University.  [Google Scholar Citations]

1999-2002  Isabelle A. Girard.  Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles.  Subsequently Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, then employed at RARC, University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Currently Interim Director at the UC Davis Research Core Facilities Program.  [Google Scholar Citations]

2003-2005  Fernando R. Gomes.  Ph.D., University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.  Currently associate professor equivalent at Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociencias, São Paulo State University (UNESP-Botucatu).  [Google Scholar Citations]

2005-2007  Kevin M. Middleton.  Ph.D., Brown University.  N.I.H. National Research Service Award (NRSA postdoctoral fellowship).  Sharon M. Swartz of Brown University was sponsor and I was co-sponsor.  Currently Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine.  [Google Scholar Citations]

2008-2010  Heidi Schutz.  Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder.  Supported as UCR Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship for Cultivating Diversity in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Curently Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Pacific Lutheran University.  [Google Scholar Citations]

2011-2012  Vincent Careau.  Ph.D., Sherbrooke University.  Supported as an NSERC postdoctoral fellow.  Currently Associate Professor, University of Ottawa.  [Google Scholar Citations]

Laboratory Visitors Working on the High Runner Mice:

1996-1999  Pawel Koteja, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland

2002  Roberto F. Nespolo, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

2003  Russell T. Hepple, University of Calgary

2003  Denis R. Joanisse, Laval University

2005  Lobke M. Vaanholt, University of Groningen (for her Ph.D. dissertation)

2009  Nicole M. Templeman, McMaster University (for her Master's thesis)

2009  Lynn C. Copes, Arizona State University (for her Ph.D. dissertation)

2012  Ivana A. T. Fonseca, Laboratório de Fisiologia do Exercício da Escola de Educação Física Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil (during her Ph.D. dissertation)

2017  Amanda Smolinsky, Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri (for her Ph.D. dissertation)

2019  David Ferguson, Michigan State University