I am interested in how endocrine systems work to modulate animals interactions with their environment. Specifically, I’m interested in studying how hormones work to balance out stress and reproduction by changing health and behavior.
Projects that students in my lab are currently working on include:

• Studying the impact of stress and reproductive hormones on memory and learning in song bird species.
• Exploring the physiological mechanisms that allow stress to inhibit reproduction.
• Studying the interactions between parenting, health, and hormones like corticosterone and prolactin in breeding eastern bluebirds (with Dr. Judy Guinan).
• Exploring how major royal jelly proteins modulate growth and reproduction in insects and other arthropods.

Some of my past research has explored differences in neuroendocrinology in native and invasive songbirds in Tibet, variation in hormone receptor patterns in expanding populations of songbirds in the Pacific Northwest, sex differences in cognitive abilities in songbirds, and species variation in natural fear and stress responses in old world monkeys. In my lab we use a wide range of techniques to study and experimentally manipulate physiology, including ELISA hormone assays, behavioral observations, histology, immune assays, neurohormonal modulation, and in situ hybridization. We also spend a lot of time in the field catching birds in big nets and a lot of time in the lab working with bugs in tanks.

If you think you might be interested in learning more about the research projects in my lab please contact me directly.