Baker's Laboratory

		Faisal Ali Bin Anwarali Khan Graduate Student Affiliated University   :  Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, University Malaysia   Sarawak (UNIMAS), 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. faisal.anwarali@ttu.edu akfali@frst.unimas.my Ph.D. student, Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University M.S., Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University B.S. Hons, Resource Biotechnology, University Malaysia Sarawak For my bachelor degree (2003-2004) I have worked on the project entitled of “Enhancing alpha-Amylase and Cellulase In vivo Enzyme Expressions on Sago Pith Residue Using Bacilllus amyloliquefaciens UMAS 1002” supervised by Dr. Awang Ahmad Sallehin. We basically tried to understand the microbe’s enzyme and protein activity by doing analysis using basic biochemical tests and also the shaker flask fermentation technique. I was also partly involved in isolating the cellulase gene which codes for cellulase enzyme in B. amyloliquefaciens UMAS1002. For my masters degree at TexasTech University, I will be studying primarily the genetic diversification patterns of Malaysian bats under the supervision of Dr. Robert J Baker and Dr. Don Wilson. I hope that I will be also able to understand the model and tempo of evolution between Borneon and Peninsular Malaysian bats. I hope at the end of this study I will able to answer the questions on geographical distribution of evolutionary lineages, phylogeography in the Malaysian micro and megabats, as well as to use molecular marker in order to clarify its population structure and evolutionary history. This will be an important aspect to devise adequate conservation and management strategies, which incorporate a reliable understanding of its population structure and history and a characterization of the distribution of its genetic diversity (Avise 1989, O’Brien 1994).
		Peter Larsen Research Assistant plarsen01@yahoo.com Ph.D. student., Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University M.S., Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University B.S., South Dakota State University, South Dakota 2002 I am particularly interested in the systematics and biogeography of Neotropical mammals. My main area of research consists of using molecular techniques (i.e. DNA sequencing, microsatellites, and AFLP) to asses species limits and species distributions of Phyllostomid bats throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. I am focusing on the systematics and phylogeography of the genus Artibeus for my Masters research.
		Roxy Larsen Graduate Teaching Assistant, Human Anatomy Lab roxy.larsen@ttu.edu Ph.D. student., Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University M.S., South Dakota State University, South Dakota, 2007 B.S., South Dakota State University, South Dakota, 2005 For my master’s research at South Dakota State University, I studied the species of bats captured, the interactions of bats with a mist net, and sampling effort on the island of Montserrat in the northern Lesser Antilles. I decided to continue research in the Caribbean, hence my transition into systematics and phylogenetics at Texas Tech University. For my Ph.D., I am interested in studying the biogeography of Caribbean bats. My dissertation will include the phylogeography and phylogenetics of the genera Myotis, Ardops, Pteronotus, and Sturnira. Currently, my main focus is on the phylogeography and diversification of Myotis species from the Caribbean and other portions of the Neotropics.
		Hugo Mantilla-Meluk Research Assistant hugo.mantilla@ttu.edu Ph.D. student, Systematics and Evolution, Texas Tech University B. S., Universidad Nacional de Colombia Visiting Scholar Duke University(Organization for Tropical Studies OTS) Group of specialist on Colombian mammals UICN Grupo de Manejo de Fauna Silvestre Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó, Colombia Grupo de Mamíferos de Alta Montaña Universidad Distrital de Colombia Associate Researcher Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. My research is focused on modeling the phylogeographic and evolutionary patterns of Neotropical mammalian species through the search of general patterns and principles. My work includes the integration of ecological and evolutionary novel ideas through data synthesis and cutting edge analytical approaches (e.g, computation, modeling, data management) such as the implementation of Geographic Information Systems to perform molecular systematic analyses in order to elucidate modes of mammalian speciation. I am especially interested in those groups of bats and primates that exhibit wide ranges of distribution in the Neotropics. I am also in charge of the cooperative programs between Texas Tech University and Colombian Institutions. These programs have as a main goal to document and model biodiversity patterns of Colombian mammalian species. During my tenure here, my research has been honored with several awards including: The Karl Koopman Award (the highest award given by the North American Symposium of Bat Research), the Texas Genetics Society Award, the ESRI International Conference of Users Award, the William B. Davis Award and the Robert Packard Award from the Texas Society of Mammalogists, the first place in the Graduate Student Research Poster Competition at the TTU Association of Biologists conference, and recently the Horn Professors Award, which is the most important recognition for a graduate student at Texas Tech.
		M. Raquel Marchán R. Curatorial Assistant, Mammal Collection, NSRL, Museum of Texas Tech University Dermested Technician, Mammal Collection, NSRL, Museum of Texas Tech University raquel.marchan@ttu.edu M.S., Department of Biology, Texas Tech University B. S., Biology, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, 2006. Associate Researcher Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador My thesis project focused on analyzing the cranial morphometrics of the Caribbean populations of three taxa of Artibeus. Using phenotypic data the morphological variability will be evaluated to provide an interpretation and understanding of the basis for delineation of species limits as compared with the molecular information. Alternatively, the continental populations of A. lituratus in Central America will be analyzed to obtain insights into the subtle morphological differences between these species. My study focuses on morphological differentiation within and among populations of these neotropical bats, using a size-adjusted multivariate statistical approach, and a qualitative characters analysis. In addition, the software for niche modeling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be selected to predict geographic distribution of species such as Artibeus lituratus in Central America. This information will be used to test the hypothesis that the differences in size between the two subspecies of lituratus in Central America is a response of geographic variation influenced by environmental factors. On the other hand, I have a research assistantship at the Museum where my research involves the curation, data management and organization of the mammal collection at the NSRL.
		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. Student, Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University M.S., Wildlife Ecology, Texas State University-San Marcos, 2008 B.S., Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2004 During my undergraduate years, I was a field assistant for a project which surveyed the diversity of bats in Kisatchie National Forest, I accepted an internship at USFWS, and I participated in a study abroad program with the School for Field Studies in the rainforest of Queensland, Australia. These experiences led to my decision to further my education and begin my own research working with bats. For my master’s research I investigated the population genetic structure of Myotis velifer throughout Texas. Through the charity of others, I was able to extend my sampling range to California as well as loan tissues from Mexico and Central America. I am continuing to focus my research on investigating genetic patterns among bats; however, now my focus is investigating species boundaries. For the first chapter of my dissertation, I have been granted research awards from the Texas Academy of Sciences and Texas Tech University Association of Biologists.
		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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