Baker's Laboratory

		Hai Minh Howard M. Huynh Graduate Research Fellow Ph.D. candidate, Biology, Texas Tech University M.Sc. Biology, Acadia University H. B.Sc. Biogeography and Conservation Biology, University of Toronto howard.huynh@ttu.edu I received broad training in mammalian taxonomy, systematics, and biology during my undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto and Royal Ontario Museum.  Additional training in mammalian taxonomy and collections-based research was acquired working with curators and collection managers at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History and the Field Museum of Natural History.  I obtained my Masters of Science in Biology at Acadia University (Nova Scotia, Canada) where I studied the systematics and biogeography of several mammalian taxa in Atlantic Canada, and became Research Associate of mammalogy at the New Brunswick Museum.  Some of my current research interests still centers on Canadian mammals in ongoing collaborative projects with other scientists at the New Brunswick Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature, and the University of Alberta.  Here at Texas Tech University, I am pursuing a doctorate in mammalian taxonomy and (genome) evolution.  Some of my dissertation research will focus on helping resolve the systematics of various species groups in Peromyscus and the genus as a whole using morphological and molecular genetic data.  I will also be studying the speciation dynamics and modes of evolution in this speciose rodent genus.  Additional avenues of research currently include studying ursid evolutionary genetics, and engaging in other (small) projects of interest on mammalian taxonomy, systematics, and conservation.
		Molly M. McDonough Research Assistant Ph.D. Candidate, Biology, Texas Tech University M.Sc. Biology, Angelo State University B.Sc. Wildlife Biology, Southwest Texas State University molly.mcdonough@ttu.edu mollymcdonough@gmail.com Despite the perceived notion that the evolutionary relationships of most mammalian lineages are well understood, there still remain large numbers of groups that have been relatively neglected. African rodents of the genus Gerbilliscus represent one such group. My dissertation utilizes a suite of molecular markers (mitochondrial, sex chromosome, and autosomal) to examine phylogenetic patterns of Gerbilliscus at three evolutionary scales: 1) species-level phylogeography of G. leucogaster,the most widespread of the six southern African species of Gerbilliscus; 2) intra-generic molecular systematics and temporal divergence patterns of the six Gerbilliscus species that compose the monophyletic southern African clade; and 3) inter-generic systematics and the monophyly of Gerbilliscus.
		Lizette Siles Mendoza Research Assistant, Mammal Collection, NSRL – Museum of Texas Tech University Ph.D. Student, Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University B.S., Biology, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Bolivia, 2002. Associate Researcher - Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny (Bolivia) Member of Asociación Boliviana de Investigadores de Mamíferos liz_siles@yahoo.com liz.siles-mendoza@ttu.edu I received my Bachelor’s degree in Universidad Mayor de San Simon (Cochabamba, Bolivia) where I studied bat ecology in montane caves of Bolivia. After this, I have worked extensively in bat conservation projects across Bolivia and received grants for this purpose from The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation and Whitley Fund for Nature. My research interests focus on the conservation, systematics and distribution of Bolivian bats and one of my aims as a graduate student is to learn molecular techniques that could be used to elucidate the taxonomic status of some Neotropical bats that occur in Bolivia. I have started part of my research on the systematics of bats of the genus Micronycteris. As an associate researcher of a Museum in Bolivia (Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny), I am very interested in collections management, preservation of specimens, and educational activities related to Museum work and wish to continue this line of work when I go back to my country. At the NSRL my duties as Research Assistant involve the processing of incoming specimens, inventory and curation of the mammal collections.
		Julie Parlos Graduate Teaching Assistant, Anatomy Lab julie.parlos@ttu.edu Ph.D. Candidate, Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University M.S., Wildlife Ecology, Texas State University-San Marcos, 2008 B.S., Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2004 I am a fifth year doctoral candidate at Texas Tech. My master’s research focused on the population genetic structure of Myotis velifer throughout Texas, with sampling from California included (2008).  My doctoral research continues investigating genetic patterns; however, now my focus is investigating species boundaries. I am using multiple multifaceted molecular markers to investigate genetic variation and apply the information to species limits and boundaries in both Lonchophyllinae andDermanura. Other research interests include surveying hibernacula of M. velifer in Texas for white nosed syndrome (WNS) and utilizing an AnaBat detector to build a species library and temporally survey the bat species of Lubbock. After graduation, I plan to continue being involved in investigating biodiversity and conservation research and development.
		Cibele Sotero-Caio Research Assistant cibele.caio@ttu.edu Ph.D. Student, Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University M.S., Biology, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 2008 B.S., Biology, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco I am a first year PhD student in Dr. Bakers lab. I obtained her Master’s degree in March 2008 from Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife – Brazil, where I developed a comparative chromosomal study among vampire bat species. My research interests include karyotypic evolution, as well as the use of cytogenetic approaches to the understanding of evolution, biogeography and systematics of mammals, giving emphasis to bat species. My initial work at Texas Tech involves investigating the distribution patterns of repetitive sequences in bat chromosomes by means of in situ hybridization, classical cytogenetic techniques, as well as fluorescent banding.

Former Laboratory Associates

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