THE CASSIN SACKETT LAB
  • Home
  • Research
  • People
  • Publications
  • Teaching & Outreach
  • Equity & Inclusion
  • Photography
Lab Members
Vertical Divider
Imagen

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture


Loren Cassin Sackett, Assistant Professor​ (she/her)
I am an evolutionary biologist whose research centers around the evolution of small populations and the influence of pathogens on evolution of their hosts. I currently focus on two main systems: avian malaria in Hawaiian honeycreepers and sylvatic plague in prairie dogs. I am working to characterize the genomic basis of recently evolved resistance/tolerance and to better understand spatial, genomics and ecological constraints on adaptation. 

You can find my CV on this page (or download a pdf here), visit my GitHub page, check out my current projects here, and follow my adventures in science and travel on Instagram.
​


Graduate Students:

​Gabrielle Atkinson (she/her): I am a PhD student studying Environmental and Evolutionary Biology; my research interests include using genetics/genomics to study how the introduction of a pathogen can affect the evolution of the host species and the dynamics of an ecosystem. I am specifically interested in avian diseases, and studied avian malaria in Hawaiian Honeycreepers under Dr. Sackett as an undergraduate at the University of South Florida, where I received my Bachelor's in Biomedical Sciences. In my free time I enjoy playing or watching soccer and eating pizza.

​
​Anna Jackson (she/her): I am a Master's student studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and am currently exploring the genetic structure of the Gunnison's prairie dog as it interacts with climate, geography, and disease (specifically sylvatic plague). I earned my Bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University where I studied the evolution of Caribbean iguanas, and I served in the Peace Corps post-graduation before joining the Cassin Sackett lab. You can find me running long distance around Lafayette or alligator-observing on campus!
​
Carlos Campos: I am a PhD student in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology. I joined the Cassin Sackett lab in the fall of 2021. My research interest is how environmental factors impact the genomic evolution of threatened avian species. I will be studying how the genomes of Hawaiian honeycreepers have changed over time since the introduction of avian malaria to the Hawaiian islands. I previously worked on endangered parrot population genetics at New Mexico State University where I graduated with a Bachelor's in Biology in 2019 before working as a lab tech for 2 years post graduation. In my free time, I enjoy going for a stroll through the park with my son!


Jordan Love (he/him): I am a PhD student in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology. I joined the Cassin Sackett lab in the fall of 2022. My research interests focus on the genetics/ genomics of pathogens as well as their vectors, and my main interest in the lab is discerning the species of fleas that carry Yersinia pestis, applying phylogeographic techniques to help explain plague dynamics in Gunnison's prairie dogs. I received my Bashelor's of Science in Chemistry-Premed at Louisiana Tech University and my Master's of Science in Biology at Mississippi College. In my free time I enjoy listening to music and watching any type of sports.
Undergraduate Students:

Carolina Thomas Rojas: I'm a Biologist and Microbiologist at Universidad de los Andes, Colombia and I studied gut parasites and the relationship between helminths and microbiota in capybaras under direction of Dr. Sackett and Dr. Crawford. Currently I'm working remotely as a research assistant of the Cassin Sackett Lab. My interests are oriented towards medical field and research projects related to microbial ecology, infectious and parasitic diseases in wildlife mammals, and wildlife conservation biology. In my free time I enjoy swimming and going to the park with my dog.

​
​
Mackenzie Hebert (she/her) is an undergraduate at the University of Louisiana and is interested in prairie dog genetics. She also hopes to one day work in the medical field.​

Picture
Picture
Prospective Graduate Students:
I am accepting new graduate students with the right fit. Masters' students may come into the lab to work on existing projects, but I expect PhD students to design their own dissertations (preferably working in one of my existing systems, but I can be convinced otherwise with a good project). I am eager to mentor students with interests in evolution, conservation, wildlife infectious disease, bioinformatics, and related topics, especially those from minoritized identities. Somos un grupo bilingüe, y los hispanohablantes son bienvenidos!

About you: You are highly motivated, hard-working and curious. You have experience in--or the desire to learn--genetic, genomic and bioinformatic techniques to understand evolution. You are tolerant of and willing to work respectfully with diverse groups of people.
​


Collaborators:
Our lab is fortunate enough to collaborate with exceptional scientists in academia, nonprofits, management agencies, and education outreach.

​Joe Busch (Northern Arizona University)
Susette Castañeda Rico 
(Smithsonian Institution)
Center for Conservation Genomics (Smithsonian Institution)

Cali Crampton & Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project
Andrew Crawford (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia)
​Ana Davidson (Colorado State University)

Rebecca Dikow 
(Smithsonian Institution)
Nina Fefferman (University of Tennessee)
Rob Fleischer (Smithsonian National Zoo)

Dina Fonseca (Rutgers University)
Jeff Foster (University of New Hampshire)
​Marm Kilpatrick (UC Santa Cruz)

Nic Kooyers (University of Louisiana)
Andy Martin (University of Colorado)
Hanna Mounce & Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project

Eben Paxton (U.S. Geological Survey)
Kristina Paxton (University of Hawaii, Hilo)
Katie Richgels (USGS National Wildlife Health Center)

​Tonie Rocke (USGS National Wildlife Health Center)
Amy Seglund (Colorado Parks & Wildlife)
Kevin Shoemaker (University of Nevada, Reno)

Mirian Tsuchiya (Smithsonian Institution)
​Dave Wagner (Northern Arizona University)


Vertical Divider

Lab alumni:
​Sydni Joubran, M.S., now a research assistant at the New Iberia Research Center

​
Erin Arnold, former lab manager, now a biologist at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

Undergraduates:
Jeanette Calarco, now a PhD student at the University of South Florida
Rebecca Harripersaud
​Charné Hill, now a medical laboratory science student, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Univ.
​Chadwick Kaufman
Jeanette Miller, now a PhD student at Vanderbilt University
Brenden Scott, now a research assistant at San Diego Zoo


Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Research
  • People
  • Publications
  • Teaching & Outreach
  • Equity & Inclusion
  • Photography