Meet The Lab (past and present)

Master Student

I am a graduate student pursuing my masters degree in biology with an emphasis in pre-veterinary medicine. I am hoping to attend vet school in the fall of 2022, but in the meantime, I am currently working with Dr. Sandmeier to study the effects of Ovalbumin on the immunological systems of Mojave Desert Tortoises to increase our understanding of their innate vs adaptive immune responses. 

Master Student 

CBASE Research Fellow

I have been working with Dr. Fran's lab since January 2019. As an undergrad, I worked with Shalyn in her genetics research to determine virulent factors of Mycoplasma strains found in Mojave Desert Tortoises. I am now working on my master's degree with Dr. Fran. My thesis research is related to the ecology and immunology of Ornate Box turtles and the effect of changing seasons on a temperature specific bacteria. 

Master Students 

CBASE Research Intern

I am a junior biology (pre-vet) major at CSU-Pueblo. I am honored to help work in Frans lab studying a tortoise bacteria called p. testudineus. In the future I hope to get my Phd and Doctorate in veterinary medicine and become a veterinarian one day.

Master Student 

CBASE Research Fellow/CUATRO Research Fellow

Hiya pals! I am a biology major w/ a secondary education emphasis and a minor in chemistry. I've started my research on box turtle thermal ecology in Dr. Fran's lab. I've always loved turtles so being able to go out and see the cute little turtles on a regular basis is amazing. I would love to work on more projects involving turtles of all sorts, and hopefully working with sea turtles in the future.

Master Student

After graduating from SUNY Potsdam, I began working for NYS Department of Environmental Conservation working with the state-threatened Blanding’s turtle and state-endangered Spruce Grouse. I came to Colorado in pursuit of furthering my education in the wildlife biology field. My research is focused on Ornate Box Turtle ecology and movement in the shortgrass prairie and the contributions to the larger ecological community. My research interests lie in non-game and threatened and endangered species. After graduation, I hope to continue to contribute to the wonderful work of conservation biology. 

Undergraduate

I am a biology student doing research on turtle immunology with Dr. Fran. We are looking at the phagocytic capabilities of lymphocytes in turtles to see how they differ from our own cells and what they confer to the turtle's immune system. I love athletics and the outdoors, and hope to be a wildlife biologist.

Undergraduate

CBASE Research Intern

I’m a senior pursuing my degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. I’m working in Dr. Frans’s lab looking at the phagocytic capabilities of the turtles’ white blood cells. I also help Ellen with the tracking of box turtles and their movement in the shortgrass prairie.

Undergraduate

CBASE Research Intern

I am an undergraduate junior. I am pursuing a degree in biology with an emphasis is cellular and molecular biosciences. I plan on using this degree to help me get a step closer in the forensics field. I am currently studying a tortoise bacteria called p.testudineus with Dr.Fran and other students, and will soon be going out in the field.