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Reade B. Roberts, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences Director, Graduate Program in Genetics Co-Director, Environmental Health Research Experiences for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools Professional Development Program Genetics & Genomics Initiative Center for Human Health & the Environment W. M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology Comparative Medicine Institute PhD, Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University BS, Biochemistry, Susquehanna University The overarching strategy of my research program is to inventively fill gaps in biological knowledge by drawing on unexpected tools in the existing diversity of life. I love the pursuit of linking differences in complex traits to specific evolved genetic changes. My ultimate goal is to produce new knowledge with dual impact - informing both our understanding of how genes and species evolve, and providing basic biology insights that may improve the human condition. When I'm away from the lab, I love to spend time with my family, which includes retired racing greyhounds. Having adopted a few of my own over the years, and fostered many more until they have found permanent homes, I enjoy promoting adoption and awareness of the breed. I'm also an avid collector of vinyl records across genres, and am always looking for new discoveries. Contact: 0ffice: 2552B Thomas Hall phone: 919-515-4248 email: reade_roberts[at]ncsu.edu |
Postdocs
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Ashley Elias
National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow PhD, Purdue University BS, University of Florida Ashley is using genomic approaches to identify novel sex determination genes, and explore how sex chromosomes and autosomes evolve in cichlids. As an evolutionary biologist, Ashley is broadly interested in using genetic and genomic tools to answer questions related to ecologically relevant variation in fishes. Her dissertation research focused on exploring the genetic associations of behavioral and life history traits in salmonids, and she will be continuing to use molecular and bioinformatic approaches in the Roberts lab. Outside of the lab, Ashley spends her time with her pug and exploring creative outlets, such as crafts and cake decorating. She enjoys trying new restaurants and science related humor. personal website: www.AshleyElias.science email: achinba[at]ncsu.edu |
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Patrick Ciccotto
PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore County MS, Penn State University BA, Bucknell University Pat is an ichthyologist interested in the evolution of morphological, behavioral, and ecological diversity in freshwater fishes. His dissertation research examined the relative roles of sexual and ecological selection on the diversity of male nuptial color of North American stream fishes known as darters (Percidae: Etheostomatinae). In the lab, Pat is working on quantifying phenotypic variation between species using geometric morphometric and histological techniques to be used in genetic mapping studies in the Roberts lab. Pat spends his free time hiking, reading, and enjoying the company of his wife and two sons. |
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Emily Moore
PhD, Genetics, North Carolina State University MS, Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University BS, Biology, University of Colorado BA, Philosophy, University of Colorado Emily would love to identify the genetic architecture underlying species-specific behaviors in African cichlids, to better understand the molecular mechanisms and evolution of complex vertebrate behaviors. When she isn't filming fish doing things or playing with nucleic acids, Emily likes to add to the Roberts Lab Lego Empire and design vector graphics. |
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Melissa Lamm
PhD, Zoology, North Carolina State University BA, Biological Sciences, Rutgers University Melissa is broadly interested in environmental and genetic influences on phenotype, particularly sexual phenotype and behavior. Her graduate research investigated neurotransduction of social and abiotic environmental signals into reproductive responses (including sex), using the socially-induced sex-changing bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) as a model. In the Roberts lab, Melissa is investigating the genetic bases of phenotypic sex in the African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni as part of an effort to understand the evolution of sex determination systems in African cichlids. Outside of the lab, Melissa enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts, spoiling her two strong-willed rabbits, hiking with her husband, and being pulled uphill by her dog on those hikes. |
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Graduate Students
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Kate Coyle
Program in Genetics Department of Biological Sciences BS, Biology, Case Western Reserve University Kate is interested in using molecular and bioinformatic approaches to investigate complex traits in an evolutionary context. She is currently focused on understanding how host genomes evolve to control their associated microbiota, using a combination of metagenomic and comparative genomics techniques. Outside of the lab, Kate spends her evenings playing video games, baking cookies, and trying to take over the world. She also volunteers at the Wake County SPCA and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and moonlights as the Easter Bunny. |
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Erin Peterson
Program in Genetics Department of Biological Sciences BS, Genetics, Clemson University Erin's research explores genetic interactions during the evolution of sex determination, including anatomical and transcriptional differences among cichlids with different sex determination systems. |
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Aldo Carmona-Baez
Program in Genetics Department of Biological Sciences BS, Genomic Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Aldo uses integration of a variety of genomic data sets to understand evolution of trophic specialization in East African cichlids. |
Staff
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Natalie B. Roberts
Lab Manager BA, UNC-Chapel Hill As lab manager in the Roberts Lab, Natalie maintains a research project, assists with running the lab, and oversees the fish facility. Her current project explores impacts of maladaptive diets on whole organism physiology. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, gardening, crochet and hanging out with her dogs. She also loves to travel and experience new places. |
Students
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Maggie Cline
Genetics Undergraduate Maggie provides invaluable support in our fish facility, and has research project working to understand the evolution of sex determination in Astatotilapia. |
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Nishi Shah
Comparative Medicine Institute Undergraduate Nishi is characterizing the vole vaginal microbiota in a collaboration between our lab and the lab of Lisa McGraw. |
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Briana Williams
Biology Undergraduate Briana provides great support in the fishroom and molecular lab, including helping with the mapping of sex determination in cichlids, and a project working with mitochondrial DNA to understand relationships of lion fish populations. In her free time she enjoys reading, catching up on Game of Thrones, and spending time with her dog. |
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Clare Stull
Biology Undergraduate Clare helps with the maintenance and care of the fish facility and assists with several projects around the lab. She is interested in the evolution of morphological traits in cichlids. Clare spends her free time painting, watching Netflix, and discovering new restaurants. |
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Kathryn Jenkins
Comparative Medicine Institute Undergraduate Katie focuses on the impact of host genetics and lifestyle on human skin microbiota for her research project, and performs a variety of techniques from recruiting and sampling participants, to producing and analyzing high-throughput sequencing libraries. |
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Sophia McNatton
Genetics Undergraduate Sophia has extensively analyzed behavioral data to support QTL mapping projects, and has her own project identifying ecologically relevant morphological traits and mapping the genes controlling their variation. |
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High School Teachers
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Gerald "Jovann" Sharpless
BS, Family & Consumer Sciences, Foods & Nutrition, NC Central University 2019 Fellow, Environmental Health Research Experiences for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools Professional Development Program Jovann teaches high school at the Southern School of Energy & Sustainability in Durham. His project in the lab involving surveying and fine-mapping sex determination chromosomes in previously untested cichlid fish species. |
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Madison Wagner
BS, Biology, University of Rochester 2019 Fellow, Environmental Health Research Experiences for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools Professional Development Program Madison teaches high school biology and earth science at Northern High School in Durham. When not busy inspiring the next generation of scientists, she enjoys eating ice cream, trying new restaurants, and going to concerts. In the Roberts Lab, Madison performs experiments to survey and fine-map sex determination loci in previously untested cichlid fish species. Link: Professional Webpage |
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Doreene McGill
BS, Biology, Fayetteville State University 2018 Fellow, Environmental Health Research Experiences for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools Professional Development Program Doreene teaches high school biology at Wakefield High School. As part of an NIEHS funded professional development program, she is working in the Roberts Lab to gain hands on lab experience as well as ideas for incorporating research into education curriculum and lessons. Her project tests associations between genetic markers and gastrointestinal traits. Link: Professional Profile |
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Linda Dion
BS, Virginia Tech 2017 Kenan Fellow Linda is a high school science teacher at Holly Springs High School. As part of a Kenan Fellowship, she is working in the Roberts Lab to gain hands on lab experience as well as ideas for incorporating research into education curriculum and lessons. She loves to paint, hike and work on home renovation projects in her spare time. Links: Kenan Fellows Blog School Website |
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April Bernier
BA, Biology, Smith College 2016 Kenan Fellow April is a high school biology teacher at Johnston County Early College Academy. She is spending part of the summer in the Roberts Lab as part of a Kenan Fellowship. During this time, she is hoping to get hands on experience with much of what is happening in the lab, write curriculum to bring this experience into her classroom, and take lots and lots of pictures of fish. Links: Kenan Fellows Blog School Website |
Former Lab Members
(and current position)
(and current position)
Post Doc
Amanda Cass, Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology, James Madison University
Master Student
Lynea Bull, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Undergraduate Researchers
Adam Miranda, Post-bac Internship, National Institute of Environmental Health Science
Jessie Potts, Research Technician, Merck-Eurofins
Allyson Ryan, Post-bac Internship, EMBL Heidelberg
Ameya Kulkarni, Genetics PhD Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Jonathan Tufts, DVM Program, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
Logan Caldwell, High School Science Teacher, Wake County NC
Staff
Jodie White, Graduate Program in Genetic Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Kaitlyn Stanley, Molecular Technologist, Labcorp Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology
