Meet the lab
Robin Tinghitella Department of Biological Sciences
Assistant Professor University of Denver, CO 80208
PhD University of California-Riverside (2008) Office: Boettcher West 243
BS University of Portland (2002) Lab: Boettcher West 13
CV: tinghitella_cv_updated_1_2018.pdf Office Phone: 303-871-3658
Email: robin.tinghitella@du.edu
Post-docs
E. Dale Broder
Ph.D. Colorado State University, 2016
I have broad interests that include animal behavior, evolution, and fisheries biology as well as science communication and education. My biological research investigates the role that phenotypic plasticity plays in the evolutionary process, and I have explored a variety of traits such as mating behavior, learning, genitalia, handedness, and metabolism. I am excited to continue my science education research as a postdoctoral fellow in IRISE (Interdisciplinary Research Incubator for the Study of inEquality). I'm exploring how authentic science and dissemination shape scientific self-efficacy and participation in STEM for underrepresented students. I am passionate about providing positive science experiences for K-12 and undergraduate students with a larger goal to increase diversity and retention
in STEM fields. https://dalebroder.wordpress.com
Ph.D. Colorado State University, 2016
I have broad interests that include animal behavior, evolution, and fisheries biology as well as science communication and education. My biological research investigates the role that phenotypic plasticity plays in the evolutionary process, and I have explored a variety of traits such as mating behavior, learning, genitalia, handedness, and metabolism. I am excited to continue my science education research as a postdoctoral fellow in IRISE (Interdisciplinary Research Incubator for the Study of inEquality). I'm exploring how authentic science and dissemination shape scientific self-efficacy and participation in STEM for underrepresented students. I am passionate about providing positive science experiences for K-12 and undergraduate students with a larger goal to increase diversity and retention
in STEM fields. https://dalebroder.wordpress.com
Graduate Students
Whitley Lehto
PhD Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2019
http://watchwhitleyscience.weebly.com/
Whitley is fascinated by the evolutionary developmental biology of behavioral phenotypes. More specifically, she is interested in the developmental plasticity of female mate choice and male sexual signals as governed by maternal and paternal effects. Her objective is to study the influence of ecological stressors on threespine stickleback parental behavior and how that affects offspring
reproductive behavior and fitness.
PhD Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2019
http://watchwhitleyscience.weebly.com/
Whitley is fascinated by the evolutionary developmental biology of behavioral phenotypes. More specifically, she is interested in the developmental plasticity of female mate choice and male sexual signals as governed by maternal and paternal effects. Her objective is to study the influence of ecological stressors on threespine stickleback parental behavior and how that affects offspring
reproductive behavior and fitness.
Gabrielle Gurule-Small
MS Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2018
Gabby is interested in the role that behavioral ecology can play in conservation. Her MS thesis
investigates how anthropogenic road noise affects mate location and reproductive success in the Pacific
field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus.
Claudia Hallagan
MS Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2018
Co-advised with Shannon Murphy
Claudia is investigating the fitness effects of female age at mating, using the Pacific field cricket,
Teleogryllus oceanicus as a model system.
MS Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2018
Co-advised with Shannon Murphy
Claudia is investigating the fitness effects of female age at mating, using the Pacific field cricket,
Teleogryllus oceanicus as a model system.
Clara Jenck
MS Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2019
Co-advised with Tom Quinn
clarajenck.weebly.com
Clara is investigating population genomics of freshwater threespine sticklebacks from WA and OR as part
of a large project investigating how male competition and sexual signal change influence speciation in this
system.
MS Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2019
Co-advised with Tom Quinn
clarajenck.weebly.com
Clara is investigating population genomics of freshwater threespine sticklebacks from WA and OR as part
of a large project investigating how male competition and sexual signal change influence speciation in this
system.
Jake Wilson
MS Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2019
Co-advised with Shannon Murphy
Jake is investigating fitness effects of female age a mating, with a particular focus on how maternal age
impacts sons' reproductive success.
MS Student in Ecology and Evolution
Expected 2019
Co-advised with Shannon Murphy
Jake is investigating fitness effects of female age a mating, with a particular focus on how maternal age
impacts sons' reproductive success.
Current Undergraduate Students
Anne Bowen, Lauren Tyree, Lukas Sloan, Jared Smith, Ambree Campbell, Adam Begeman, Kallie Feldhaus, Kathryn Ziegner, Sophia Anner, Jossie Boynton, Abby Horton, Brian Oberlies, Laura Braun, Josie Evans, Mackenzie Day, Madie Sweet, Sophia Fitzgerald
Anne Bowen, Lauren Tyree, Lukas Sloan, Jared Smith, Ambree Campbell, Adam Begeman, Kallie Feldhaus, Kathryn Ziegner, Sophia Anner, Jossie Boynton, Abby Horton, Brian Oberlies, Laura Braun, Josie Evans, Mackenzie Day, Madie Sweet, Sophia Fitzgerald
Lab Alumni
Ross Minter
MS Ecology and Evolution 2015
Ross completed his thesis on the roles of male and female cognition in mate choice in threespine sticklebacks.
Now: Lab Tech UC Denver
Kyle Robrock
BA Ecology and Biodiversity BA GIS 2017 Now: DU swimming coach! 
Brian Ketterman
BS Biology and Psychology 2016 Honors Thesis Student Now: Medical School at Duke 
Faith Lierheimer
BS Biology 2016 Now: Working outside of science |
Aaron Sexton
BS Ecology and Biodiversity 2017 Now: PhD student at U of Louisville 
Becca Hollmann
BS Biology 2013 MS, UC Denver 2017 
Gus Kitchell
BS Ecology and Biodiversity 2016 Honors Thesis Student Now: Environmental Consultant |
Jolysa Gallegos
BS Biology and Psychology 2015
Honors Thesis Student
MS, Colorado State Univ 2016
Now: Medical School
BS Biology and Psychology 2015
Honors Thesis Student
MS, Colorado State Univ 2016
Now: Medical School
And, many others who have done at least one quarter of research in the lab, including:
Austin Adams
Miranda Fleishhacker
Dalton Larrinaga
Grace Fierle
Morgan Ziegler
Bailey Rojewsky
Aimee Molloy
Joey Fisher
Emrys Andromeda-Focht
Emma Phillips
Annie Halseth
Mikki Mesfin
Ian Moffit
Austin Adams
Miranda Fleishhacker
Dalton Larrinaga
Grace Fierle
Morgan Ziegler
Bailey Rojewsky
Aimee Molloy
Joey Fisher
Emrys Andromeda-Focht
Emma Phillips
Annie Halseth
Mikki Mesfin
Ian Moffit
