Bewick Lab Members
Sharon Bewick (PI) I am interested in a range of questions involving population and community ecology. I'm particularly fond of big field systems, but I also like to incorporate a small amount of lab work and a large amount of theory. Currently, most of my research focuses on how population and community processes operate across scales from microorganisms to macroorganisms. In keeping with all other lab members, I am pictured holding a herp from one of our field sites. Contact: [email protected] |
Graduate Students
Drew Kanes
I grew up close to Boston, Massachusetts and am studying at Clemson with the hope of establishing a career in wildlife research and working in conservation with endangered species. I have been involved with the Bewick lab since Fall 2019 (formerly as an undergraduate) with the intent of expanding my knowledge and experience of wildlife research while also collaborating with some great people along the way. I love being outdoors in my spare time and enjoy playing guitar as well as banjo. Contact: [email protected] |
Zachary Laughlin I am fascinated by just about everything biology, but I am particularly fascinated with ecology. I hope to become a research professor in the future and aide in wildlife conservation. I love to think outside the box for answers to all sorts of questions. Recently I have started studying the microbiomes of amphibians and reptiles and I am fascinated by this field. My research currently focuses on amphibian microbiomes and influences on them such as genetics and environmental factors. I enjoy the outdoors, reading comic books (yep, I’m that nerdy), and spending time with friends and family. Contact: [email protected] |
Daniel Malagon I am generally interested in all things biology. Life is a very fun and complex thing to study! In the past I have studied plant mating system evolution in Collinsia and amphibian disease epidemiology with a focus on Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. From these projects I have developed an interest in testing general ecological concepts at a microbial scale. Currently, I am studying microbiomes in insects and salamanders. I also enjoy rock climbing, aquascaping, and my two cats. Contact: [email protected] |
Kaitlyn Meadows Howdy! I’m a graduate student passionate about wildlife conservation and interested in wildlife health and global change ecology. As you may guess, that makes me extremely interested in how processes pertaining to wildlife health are affected by a changing climate. Before starting graduate study at Clemson, I worked at Zoo Knoxville as a Herpetology Keeper, where I expanded my love of amphibians to all things herps (and grew a special fondness for turtles and tortoises). My current research is focusing on salamander skin microbiomes and I am excited to apply this knowledge to understanding diseases and health of herpetofauna! Contact: [email protected] |
Sandra Tsiorintsoa I grew up in Madagascar which is known for its wildlife. I am also majoring in mathematics. Combining my love of nature and mathematics, I am fascinated by the applications of mathematics in biology. I did a masters project in algebraic biology in 2018. This enriched my interest in mathematical biology. I decided to explore further, so I am currently working on functional redundancy in microbial communities. I enjoy spending my spare time with my family and friends, hiking, dancing, or attending a fitness class. (Technically, Sandra is not holding a herp... but birds are practically herps, right?) Contact: [email protected] |
Research Technician
Ben Camper I am broadly interested in studying community ecology, macroecology, and conservation. I explored various biological disciplines as an undergraduate at Clemson University including physiological ecology, herpetology, population ecology, community ecology, macroecology, and macroevolution. I’ve since taken several bouts to the neotropics and continue to manage various desert lizard projects within the lab. Contact: [email protected] |
Undergraduate Students
Simon Dunn I am interested in all things pertaining to science, across any subject. My true passion however is for the life sciences. Specifically, I am interested in researching various questions on Evolution, Phenology, Behavior, genetics, and Ecology. I have been investigating these questions in the Bewick lab, primarily by assisting Daniel in studying the microbiomes of insects. Additionally, I am beginning to study pseudoscorpions in my research. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy hiking, rock climbing, and a good book. Contact: [email protected] |
.Lily Margeson
Hi! I'm an undergrad Environmental and Natural Resources major with a conservation biology concentration and an English minor. I think ecology is super neat and I love all living things, especially inverts and fungi. I'm currently working with Zoraptera (and Daniel), although in the future, I hope to branch out into other taxa (partly because I feel guilty killing the inverts and partly because Zoras are a pain to find). When not in the lab, I enjoy listening to music and stopping every five minutes on walks to look at a bird/rock/lizard/mushroom. Contact: [email protected] |
Lab Alumni
Anna Hewitt (currently an aquatics tech at UNC-Chapel Hill)
I majored in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and minoring in Sustainability and Art. Ecology and conservation are my primary interests, with the application of concepts from evolution, genetics, biogeography, and natural history to better understand natural systems. My past projects have included studying craniofacial gene mutations in zebrafish, determining the venom composition of Hallberg's cloud forest snake, and assessing animal communities in disturbed longleaf pine ecosystems. Herpetofauna are my study organisms of choice--snakes are my absolute favorite and I have two as pets, along with a bearded dragon and a cat! Riley Manuel (currently a PhD student at University of Michigan) I majored in Microbiology with a concentration in Biomedicine. My focus was on microbial systems and how they are influenced by their respective environment– whether that be a living host or a fermentation crock. During my time at Clemson, I developed a passion for herpetological microbiomes and assisted with projects both in the lab and in the field. I hope to continue my education by pursuing further topics in microbial ecology. In my free time I can be found dabbling in food science, hiking with friends, or hanging out with my cat. Contact: [email protected] |