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Current Lab Members - Staff
Current Lab Members - Staff
W. Chris Funk, Principle Investigator
Pronouns: He/him
Email: Chris.Funk@colostate.edu
Bluesky: @fieldgenomics.bsky.social
Current Positions:
2018-present: Full Professor, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2023-present: Director, AmphibiaGen, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Education:
2006-2007: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Conservation Geneticist, GS-11), USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR (Advisor: Susan M. Haig)
2004-2005: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas, Austin, TX (Advisors: Michael J. Ryan and David C. Cannatella)
1997-2004: PhD, University of Montana, Missoula, MT (Advisors: Fred W. Allendorf and Andrew L. Sheldon)
1992-1994: BA (Phi Beta Kappa honor society), Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT (Advisor: Frederick M. Cohan)
1990-1992: Reed College, Portland, OR
Link to CV: CV (updated February 2026)
Research Interests: Conservation genomics; biodiversity conservation; climate vulnerability, adaptation, and resilience; freshwater ecology; tropical ecology and conservation; evolution and ecology of infectious disease; adaptive divergence.
Other Interests: Trail running, hiking and backpacking, birding, "iNaturalizing", whitewater kayaking, snorkeling streams and rivers, fly fishing, exploring wilderness.
Marty Kardos, Research Scientist
Pronouns: He/him
Email: Martin.Kardos@colostate.edu
Education and experience:
2020-2025: Research Geneticist (career), National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, Washington
2016-2019: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Montana, Missoula
2014-2016: Postdoctoral Researcher, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
2007-2013: PhD, University of Montana, Missoula
2000-2005: BS, Montana State University, Bozema
Research Interests: I am a molecular ecologist interested in applying genetics theory and data to advance the conservation of biodiversity. I am particularly interested in the genetic and fitness consequences of small population size and understanding the genetic basis of variation in fitness in wild populations.
Other Interests: My favorite things to do outside of science are fishing, skiing, mountain biking, and exploring the mountains with my family.
Josie Paris, Research Scientist
Pronouns: She/her
Email: Josephine.Paris@colostate.edu
Education and experience:
2025-2026: Affiliated Researcher, University of Milan, Lombardy, Italy
2023-2025: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellow, Marche Polytechnic University, Marche, Italy (Host: Emiliano Trucchi)
2022-2023: PRIN Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of L’Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy (Advisor: Daniele Salvi)
2021-2022: BBSRC Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Exeter, Devon, UK (Advisor: Eduarda Santos)
2017-2021: NERC Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Exeter, Devon, UK (Advisor: Bonnie Fraser)
2012-2017: PhD in Molecular Ecology and Evolution, University of Exeter, Devon, UK (Advisors: Jamie Stevens and Eduarda Santos)
2009-2012: BSc (First Class Honours) in Ecology and Conservation, University of Sussex, East Sussex, UK
Research Interests: I’m an evolutionary biologist using analytical approaches in ecological genomics to understand how adaptation shapes the dynamics and conservation of wild animal populations. My expertise lies in population genomics, though I also enjoy working with transcriptomic data, genome assembly and annotation, and comparative genomics. I have a tendency to work on (though I’m not always faithful to!) organisms with a backbone - salmonids, guppies, lizards, geckos, penguins, and sparrows. My current research focuses on using population genomics to better understand the transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in mule deer.
Other Interests: Camping & hiking; radio & podcasts; natural wines & zero-km food; language evolution
Mackenzie Woods, Lab and Collections Manager (Research Associate III)
Pronouns: She/her
Email: Mackenzie.Woods@colostate.edu
Education:
2021-2022: MS, University of California, San Diego (Advisor: Ron Burton)
2017-2021: BS, University of California, San Diego (Cum Laude)
Research Interests: I'm a molecular ecologist interested in defining population structure, particularly in data deficient species, and in studying how a species' environment shapes that population structure. I am particularly interested in applying these questions to marine organisms.
Other Interests: I spend much of my free time in the gym improving my Muay Thai skills, but can also be found cooking and accumulating too many crafting materials for my own good.
Current Lab Members - Graduate Students
Current Lab Members - Graduate Students
Scott Monahan, PhD Student
Pronouns: He/him
Email: Scott.Monahan@colostate.edu
Education:
2024-present: PhD Student, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2020-2024: BS, San Diego State University (Advisor: Arun Sethuraman)
Research Interests: I am interested in how population and landscape genomics can best inform management strategies of endangered and invasive species. I'm particularly interested in defining species identity and understanding how threatened populations are responding to anthropogenic stressors.
Other Interests: I love spending my weekends camping, climbing, birding, and scuba diving. On nights in, I enjoy hosting board game nights with my friends.
Elena Newmark, PhD Student
Pronouns: She/her
Email: Elena.Newmark@colostate.edu
Education:
2024-present: PhD Student, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2013-2018: BA (Cum Laude), Boston University, Boston, MA
Research Interests: I am broadly interested in the mechanisms of adaptation to environmental change. I am especially passionate about amphibian biology and conservation as their complex life cycles lend themselves to inhabiting a broad range of environments and their populations are being severely impacted by many factors such as climate change and disease.
Other Interests: My primary hobby is West Coast Swing dancing but I also love most outdoor activities (running, hiking, climbing). If I'm home, you would be likely to find me baking pastries or knitting.
Kat Stroh, PhD Student
Pronouns: She/her
Email: Katherine.Stroh@colostate.edu
Education:
2023-present: PhD Student, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2016-2021: BS/BA (Summa Cum Laude), University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (Advisors: Cameron Siler, Marcelo Rioseco)
Research Interests: I am interested in amphibian disease ecology, quantifying the effects of climate change and human activity on amphibian declines, and temperate and tropical conservation. My current research explores the impacts of climate change on the composition of anuran communities and prevalence of amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).
Other Interests: I enjoy listening to music, exploring new places, working out, and anything food-related (eating, cooking, baking, watching cooking shows).
Shanelle Wikramanayake, PhD Candidate
Pronouns: She/her
Email: Shanelle.Wikramanayake@colostate.edu
Education:
2023-present: PhD Student, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2020-2023: MS (Honors) California State University, Northridge (Advisor: Adam Leaché)
2016-2020: BS University of Washington, Seattle (Advisor: Jeanne Robertson)
Link to Website: https://shanellewiks.github.io/
Research Interests: I am interested in understanding how organisms respond to changes in climate while navigating fragmented landscapes. I am particularly excited to study this in tropical ectotherms and integrating genomic, physiological, and behavioural approaches.
Other Interests: I enjoy hiking, swimming, diving, exploring rainforests, as well as nature photography, and jewellery making.
Current Lab Members - Visiting Scientists and Affiliates
Current Lab Members - Visiting Scientists and Affiliates
Brenna Forester, Visiting Scientist
Pronouns: She/her
Email: Brenna.Forester@colostate.edu
Current Positions:
2021-present: Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Raleigh, NC
2021-present: Visiting Scientist, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Education:
2017-2020: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2020-2021: David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
2011-2017: PhD, Duke University, Program in Ecology, Durham, NC
2009-2012: MSc, Western Washington University, Environmental Sciences, Bellingham, WA
2000-2003: BA, The Evergreen State College, Political Economy, Olympia, WA
1993-1996: BA, Hiram College, Biology, Hiram, OH
Research Interests: Conservation genomics; biodiversity conservation; extinction risk assessment; ecological risk assessment; landscape ecology; multivariate statistics; simulation modeling.
Other Interests: Hiking, botanizing, backcountry skiing, backpacking, trail running, birding, salamandering, cats.
Funk Lab Alumni
Funk Lab Alumni
Postdocs
Postdocs
Amanda Cicchino, Center for Ecosystem Management Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Guelph
Brenna Forester, Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Melanie Murphy, Professor and Director of the Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming
Ivan Paz-Vinas, Associate Professor, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1
Nick Polato, Master Baker, Wide Awake Bakery, Ithaca, NY
Jeanne Robertson, Professor, California State University Northridge
Patricia Salerno, Assistant Professor, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, BioCamb, Ambato, Ecuador
Morgan Sparks, Research Fish Biologist, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Alex Trillo, Associate Professor, Gettysburg College
Daryl Trumbo, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University Pueblo
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
Staci Amburgey, Quantitative Ecologist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Rebecca Cheek, Research Scientist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Amanda Cicchino, Center for Ecosystem Management Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Guelph
Christy Fairman, High School Teacher, St. Paul’s School Brooklandville, MD
Sarah Fitzpatrick, Associate Professor, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University
Maybellene Gamboa, Assistant Professor, Colorado College
Brian Gill, Biologist, US Environmental Protection Agency
Bennett Hardy, Postdoctoral Fellow, San Diego Natural History Museum
Chris Kozakiewicz, Assistant Professor, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University
John Kronenberger, Conservation Genomics Intern, US Forest Service National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation
Mónica Páez-Vacas, Postdoctoral Fellow, Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de Los Ecosistemas Continentales, Centro Nacional Patagónico, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Alisha Shah, Assistant Professor, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University
Visiting Scientists
Visiting Scientists
Undergraduates and Post-Baccalaureates
Undergraduates and Post-Baccalaureates
Staci Amburgey
Grace Andrews
Kara Bethune
Majesty Bordner
Alyssa Breda
Austin Broberg
Emily Burke
Amanda Burton
Carolyn Cummins
Dustin Gannon
Jill Dangerfield
Rheanna Gimple
John Glover
Robin Greene
P. Murphy Huebner
Sarah Hayes
Rachel Jackson
Abbie Jefferson
Leighton King
Koedi Lawley
Maria Lee
Rosalyn Luque
Meghan Mahoney
Louisa Markow
Sirena Mares
Brandon Marsh
Christina Martinez
Emily Mensch
Julianne Kikirk
Brie Nixon
Dalton Oliver
Anna Perez-Umphrey
Allison Randall
Emma Ravage
Heather Schneider
Kaitlyn Sheley
Jedediah Smith
Jonathan Suh
Jenny Swanson
Miranda Wade
Shelby Walters
Sarah Waybright
Cassandra Welch
Madeline Wilson
Photo credit: W. Chris Funk
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