Dr. Pamela Puppo
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences
Curator, Marshall University Herbarium (MUHW)
pamela.puppo[at]marshall.edu
Ph.D. University of Porto and University of Lisbon, Portugal
M.Sc. University of Missouri-St. Louis and the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO
B.S. Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru
I am intrigued by the different factors that facilitate rapid species' diversifications. For several years I have been studying how the geological history of an island, inter-island colonization, and hybridization affect the diversification process of insular taxa. I have been studying this in genus Micromeria (Lamiaceae) in the Canary Islands using morphometric analyses, single nuclear markers, microsatellites, and RAD-sequencing. I am a taxonomist at heart specializing in Canarian Micromeria and the Andean genus Calceolaria (Calceolariaceae). More recently, I am exploring the applications of metabarcoding and environmental DNA to study plant-pollinator interactions.
Graduate Students:
Rebecca Foy
Rebecca Foy is from Aurora, West Virginia, and earned a degree in Biological Sciences from Marshall University in 2022. She was an undergraduate in the lab from summer 2021 until her graduation in Spring 2022. After graduating, she spent a year exploring careers in research and conservation. She battled invasive plants, performed biological surveys, and led environmental education at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, then waded through mudflats studying marine worms in Acadia National Park. She has returned to Marshall to study native bees and pursue her love of learning. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, poetry, making art, and spending time with family.
Rebecca Foy is from Aurora, West Virginia, and earned a degree in Biological Sciences from Marshall University in 2022. She was an undergraduate in the lab from summer 2021 until her graduation in Spring 2022. After graduating, she spent a year exploring careers in research and conservation. She battled invasive plants, performed biological surveys, and led environmental education at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, then waded through mudflats studying marine worms in Acadia National Park. She has returned to Marshall to study native bees and pursue her love of learning. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, poetry, making art, and spending time with family.
Erica Edinger
Erica is from Wheeling, West Virginia. She is majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in GIS. She is currently doing the Accelerated Master's Degree in Biological Sciences. As part of her dissertation, she will be using eDNA to detect wood-boring beetles.
Erica joined the lab in Fall 2022 and has worked on research including herbarium database management and using DNA barcoding to identify the pollinators of wild ramps. In the future, she would like to pursue a doctorate and work as an entomologist. In her spare time, Erica enjoys reading, hiking, practicing scientific illustration, and baking.
Erica is from Wheeling, West Virginia. She is majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in GIS. She is currently doing the Accelerated Master's Degree in Biological Sciences. As part of her dissertation, she will be using eDNA to detect wood-boring beetles.
Erica joined the lab in Fall 2022 and has worked on research including herbarium database management and using DNA barcoding to identify the pollinators of wild ramps. In the future, she would like to pursue a doctorate and work as an entomologist. In her spare time, Erica enjoys reading, hiking, practicing scientific illustration, and baking.
Noah Adkins
Noah is from Barboursville, West Virginia, and earned a bachelor's degree in biology from West Virginia University in December 2023. He worked in two different labs as an undergrad; the first focused on soil ecology, the second on plant phylogenetics where he conducted his undergraduate thesis research. After graduating, he worked with WVDNR assisting in land and wildlife management at Beech Fork WMA and East Lynn WMA. He returned to the Huntington area to study long-horned bee phylogenetics while being close to home. In his free time, Noah enjoys hiking, fishing, video games, and music.
Noah is from Barboursville, West Virginia, and earned a bachelor's degree in biology from West Virginia University in December 2023. He worked in two different labs as an undergrad; the first focused on soil ecology, the second on plant phylogenetics where he conducted his undergraduate thesis research. After graduating, he worked with WVDNR assisting in land and wildlife management at Beech Fork WMA and East Lynn WMA. He returned to the Huntington area to study long-horned bee phylogenetics while being close to home. In his free time, Noah enjoys hiking, fishing, video games, and music.
Undergraduate students:
Clara Minnich
Clara is from Charleston, West Virginia. She is a third-year student majoring in biology with a minor in professional writing. She plans to pursue work as a field biologist. When she has free time, she likes to write, and spend time with her family.
Clara joined the lab in Spring 2023 and is currently a student-worker at the Marshall University Herbarium.
Clara is from Charleston, West Virginia. She is a third-year student majoring in biology with a minor in professional writing. She plans to pursue work as a field biologist. When she has free time, she likes to write, and spend time with her family.
Clara joined the lab in Spring 2023 and is currently a student-worker at the Marshall University Herbarium.
Hind Jamal
Hind is from Lebanon, Middle East. She is a senior majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in psychology. She plans on becoming a Family and Marriage therapist. Hind is a social butterfly, she likes meeting new people and forming friendships. She loves greenery and flowers and radiant colors! Her hobbies are nature photography and interior decorating.
Hind joined the lab in Fall 2024 and is helping process specimens at the Marshall University Herbarium.
Hind is from Lebanon, Middle East. She is a senior majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in psychology. She plans on becoming a Family and Marriage therapist. Hind is a social butterfly, she likes meeting new people and forming friendships. She loves greenery and flowers and radiant colors! Her hobbies are nature photography and interior decorating.
Hind joined the lab in Fall 2024 and is helping process specimens at the Marshall University Herbarium.
Lab Alumni:
GRADUATE STUDENTS
- Moses Shafer, MS in Biological Sciences 2024. Present: Staff Scientist, Alliance Consulting Inc., Beckley, WV.
- Abagail Parker, MA in Biological Sciences 2024. Present: Research Assistant, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
- Mary Zulauf, MA in Biological Sciences 2024.
- Zachary (Zach) Shamblin, MS in Biological Sciences 2022. Present: Herbarium Curatorial Assistant, Claude E. Phillips Herbarium, Delaware State University.
- Madeline (Maddy) Thompson, MA in Biological Sciences 2022. Present: Clinical Research Coordinator at Minnesota Clinical Study Center, Blaine, MN.
- Anthony Siminski, major in Environmental Sciences. Anthony helped with digitization of the fungi collection at the Marshall University Herbarium during the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters.
- Addison Bounds, major in Biological Sciences. Addison helped with transcription of the Marshall University Herbarium during the Spring 2023.
- Hamza Jafary, BS in Biological Sciences 2023. Present: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg. Hamza was an undergraduate in the lab from Spring 2021 until his graduation in Spring 2023.
- Jacob Webb, BS in Biological Sciences 2023. Present: Forestry Technician, Forest Service, Pedro, OH. Jacob was an undergraduate in the lab from Summer 2022 until his graduation in Spring 2023.
- John Mamas, Environmental Science, Chatham University, PA. John was an undergrad working in the lab during Summer 2022 as part of the Consortium for Plant Invasion Genomics (CPING) REU.
- Rachael Caudill, BS in Biological Sciences 2023. Rachael was an undergrad in the lab from Spring 2021 to Spring 2022.
- Payton Stamper, BS in Biological Sciences 2023. Payton worked in the lab during Fall 2021 as a Creative Discovery Awardee.