Lab Head
Meet the Scientists of the Genomics & Microbiology Research Lab
Dr. Julie Horvath
Meet Julie
A comparative evolutionary genomicist interested in understanding the evolutionary forces that have shaped human and non-human primate genomes and connect to health and disease.
Dr. Marianne Barrier
Lab Manager
Meet Marianne
I want to know how everything works! I also love sharing all of the awesome things I’ve learned to get others excited about science and exploring the world around them every day!
Dr. Heather Evans
Conservation Geneticist
Meet Heather
A conservation geneticist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. She works closely with species biologists in using genetics to identify, track, and manage wildlife populations.
Christina Roche
Research Associate
Meet Christina
I have fraternal twins and beat the 2X odds of having twins again the second round with the birth of a singleton. Genetics – always a fun surprise!
Dawn Stancil
NC Central University Graduate Student
Meet Dawn
Dawn is inspired by research because she gets to work with organisms that no one can see! She does this by collecting DNA and using the DNA sequence to identify them! Microbes RULE!
Bill Studabaker
Research Volunteer
Meet Bill
Bill has been helping the lab by learning multiple types of data analysis and sharing what he learns with the lab. Most recently, he's been exploring CRISPR elements in bacterial sequences.
Jaylon Morehead
Georgetown University
About Jaylon
My motivation for further study is to be challenged with scientific coursework, expand my industry laboratory experience through offered internships, and aid my journey to become a Doctor of Dental Medicine.
Meagan Maxwell
NC State University Intern
Meagan has been exploring the MG-RAST and PICRUSt2 packages for analyzing data from multiple lab projects.
Patrick Jacobs
NC Central University Student Researcher
Research Interests
Statistical Analysis
Condensed Matter Physics (Topological and dynamical physics, fluid dynamics, and phase transitions in
condensed matter systems; the relationship between the individual and aggregate properties of objects)
Dr. Bryan Stuart
Research Curator of Herpetology
Research Interests
Bryan's research interests are in the biodiversity, systematics, biogeography and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, both in North Carolina and abroad.
Past Scientists We Were Fortunate to Have in the Lab
Barrett Briggs
Wingate University Intern 2020
Carley McGrath
Technician 2020
Genessis Picardo Nunez
NC Central University Intern
Katie Jenkins
NC State University Intern
About Katie
Research Interests: Evolutionary Genetics, Human Microbiome
Why do you love science?: We are making sense of the unknown
Kara Carlson
Technician
Why I love science
Her work at the museum incorporated her research interests including wildlife, conservation, and genetics, but focused mainly on the genetics aspect.
Dr. Dan Fergus
Molecular Biologist
Why I love science
I enjoy solving problems and trying to better understand the natural world.
More to come...