THE (always serious) CEAL LAB

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Research interests

I lead the Comparative Animal Ecophysiology Lab, and my research broadly focuses on understanding how animals work in the context of their environment. My lab group studies the ecology, physiology, behavior, and evolution of large carnivorous predators (Seals! Whales! Wolves! Oh my!) to understand how individuals, populations, and species are coping with rapidly changing environments.

I earned my PhD in Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz (2019), where I studied variation and flexibility in the foraging ecology of pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses). I have a MS in Biology from San Diego State University (2013), where I studied the functional cranial morphology of seals. I earned my BS (2007) from Trinity University, where I majored in Biology and History.

Fun Facts

I am an avid and fast reader (mostly fiction books), a COVID-inspired gardener, a slow but steady runner, a world traveler, and mother of two hilarious, busy, and awesome sons.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

Research Interests

I’m an integrative ecologist, I work in the interdisciplinary waters between foraging ecology, behavioral ecology, population ecology, ecophysiology and socioecology. My research explores predator-environment interactions by combining methods such as: diet estimators, geospatial analysis, computer vision, machine learning, and social sciences. By integrating multiple lines of research, different methods and working together with a variety of institutions (government agencies, NGOs, and tour operators) I aim to use advanced ecological knowledge to help building science-based conservation and monitoring programs.

Fun Fact

I was a cuban salsa instructor for 18 years of my life. I still love the music. I am a coffee geek too

Research Interests

I am a marine mammal ecophysiologist interested in how individual variation in physiology and behavior influences life history strategies and ecological roles. My PhD research focused on leopard seals, using stable isotopes, hormone profiles, and behavioral observations to examine intraspecific variation in foraging, reproductive strategies, and stress physiology. As a postdoctoral researcher, I am expanding on this work by investigating leopard seal reproductive biology through field observations, necropsy-based anatomical studies, and analysis of historical museum specimens to assess lifetime reproductive success. My work aims to fill critical gaps in our understanding of this apex predator amid rapid environmental change.

Fun Facts

I love food—especially dessert. I also love to travel (mostly so I can try more fun foods and different desserts around the world)!

GRADUATE STUDENTS

*Note: Some CEAL grad students are at the University of Rhode Island, while others are finishing up at Baylor University.

Research Interests

I am broadly interested in the adaptations marine mammals have evolved to tolerate and manipulate the marine environment. I like to work at the intersection of several physiological disciplines including anatomy, biomechanics, and gas dynamics to answer questions about the evolution of aquatic maneuvering capacity and diving capabilities. I particularly enjoy comparing these physiological adaptations across marine mammal taxa (I study ALL marine mammals *except for manatees).

Fun Facts

I was a competitive gymnast for most of my life, so many of my interest and hobbies fall under what I would consider to be “active artistry” (ex., aerial silks, yoga, dancing).

Research Interests

I am broadly interested in mammalogy, wildlife population dynamics, predator-prey dynamics, hybridization, and animal behavior. My research investigates the ecological, morphological, and behavioral ramifications of hybridization in wolves and coyotes. Specifically, I am interested in how hybridization impacts hormone profiles, craniodental morphology, and prey selection in coyotes with recently discovered red wolf ghost alleles in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. 

Fun Facts

I ran cross country, indoor, and outdoor track in undergrad. I still enjoy trail running and have lightly dabbled in ultras.

Research Interests

My research interests broadly include mammalian predator ecology, behavior, physiology and conservation. My goal is to understand how mammals are responding to rapid environmental change, so we know where to direct conservation efforts. I am currently researching how gray wolves in North America utilize aquatic habitats. As gray wolves are not typically associated with aquatic environments, the magnitude of these interactions remains poorly understood. My master’s research focused on mammalian mesopredator spatial distributions along urban-rural gradients.

Fun Facts

I am an avid hiker, especially in new locations where I can explore the local flora and fauna. I also enjoy cooking and anything related to coffee & tea. My free time is usually spent watching David Attenborough nature documentaries, spoiling my lovely kitties and complaining about the heat.

CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS

FORMER CEAL TEAM MEMBERS

Graduate students

Nicholi Brown, MA (Baylor, 2023) - Photo identification of leopard seals

Aaron Kirkpatrick, PhD (Baylor, 2022) - Northern elephant seal physiology (*adopted lab member)

Undergraduates - Graduated and/or moved on

Mahita Shankar (Baylor, 2024) - 3D scanning + morphological analyses of canids

Samuel Rivera (Baylor, 2024) - Dissection + morphological analyses of marine mammals

Azana Best (Baylor, 2024) - Stable isotope analysis + all things leopard seal biology

Courtney Horton (Baylor, 2024) - Biomechanical analysis of marine mammals

Marcus Botos (Baylor, 2022) - 3D scanning + morphological analyses of caniformes

Jaelyn Anderson (Baylor, 2024) - Whiskers Stable Isotopes Analysis of pinnipeds