PI: Jake Esselstyn
I am a mammalian systematist with general interests in evolutionary biology and biogeography. My research explores questions of phylogeny, island biogeography, and taxonomy, but my students’ interests expand the general lab efforts to include topics such as co-evolution and community ecology. All of our research relies heavily on voucher specimens held in natural history museums. As such, we place a premium on contributing to the growth, use, and value of museum collections. In recent years, we’ve collected mammal specimens in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Southeastern U.S.
Grad Students:
Spenser Babb-Biernacki is a PhD student interested in co-evolution between mammals and their pathogenic fungi. Spenser has a Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and is supported by a fellowship from the Louisiana Board of Regents. She is co-advised by Vinson Doyle, a collaborator in LSU’s Department of Plant Pathalogy and Crop Physiology.
Heru Handika is a PhD student interested in the biogeography and systematics of Southeast Asian mammals. He received his Bachelors degree from Andalas University and his Masters degree from the University of Melbourne. Heru has joined countless field expeditions, including work on Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and in the Philippines. His Masters thesis examined the systematics and biogeography of Bunomys, a group of mice endemic to Sulawesi.
Austin Chipps is a PhD student interested in population genetics and molecular evolution. He received his Bachelors degree from Central College and his Masters degree from Texas Christian University. His Masters thesis examined the population genetics of bats in south Texas.
Darwin Morales-Martínez is a PhD student with interests in Neotropical mammal diversity. Darwin received his BS and MS from Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He has an impressive research record, primarily focused bat systematics and natural history (Google Scholar).
Post Baccalaureates:
Ellie Bollich is participating in the LaGNiAppE scholars program at LSU. She is working on the systematics of Sumatran shrews. Ellie received her B.S. in Zoology from Colorado State U. in 2024.
