Current students/lab members
Emily Pody, PhD student
I am currently a PhD student in the Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology Program at Texas State University. My research in the Schwalb lab will focus on native freshwater mussels. I obtained my MS with a thesis titled, “Factors associated with acoustic bat presence during spring emergence in the Appalchian Mountains of western Virginia” from Marshall University in 2024.
Andreia Alves, PhD student
I am currently a PhD student in the Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology Program at Texas State University. I’ll be working with macroinvertebrates in intermittent streams. I obtained my MS at Federal University of Bahia (Brazil), 2019; the title of my thesis was “Drivers of benthic metacommunity structure along tropical estuaries”.
Justin Greenfield, MS student
I graduated with a BS in zoology from Mars Hill University in the fall of 2020. I joined the Schwalb lab as an aquatic resource MS student in the spring of 2024. I am currently investigating the impact of flooding on native freshwater mussels.
Christine Adams, MS student
I am examining the impact of predation on zebra mussels in Canyon Lake.
Nicole Grob, Grant specialist
I received my B.S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from Utah State University in 2021. I love freshwater ecosystems, I enjoy studying them as much as I love spending time in them. Most of my field experience came from working with the State of Colorado and the State of Utah as a Fisheries Technician. As the Grant Specialist for Dr. Schwalb’s Stream Ecology Lab, one of my main focuses is monitoring the Zebra Mussel population at Canyon Lake. I also assist TPWD with the statewide sampling of at-risk lakes for Zebra Mussel introduction. Outside of the lab, my passions involve the outdoors, art, and rollerblading.
Ethan (Cole) Ames,
I am currently an undergraduate majoring in Wildlife Biology. I started as a Field Technician in May 2023.
Schwalb lab Alumni
Mariana Perez Rocha, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate 2021-2025
Senior Scientist at Lower Colorado River Authority
Sarah Stannard, graduated 2025
Thesis: “Risky business: Evaluating the risk of catfish mediated dispersal of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
Program Specialist at the Texas Water Resources Institute
Eleanor Krellenstein, graduated 2024
Thesis: “Assessing the distribution and survival of mussel communities in the upper Colorado River basin, Texas after exceptional drought conditions”
Biologist at SWCA Environmental Consultants
Kiara Cushway, graduated 2023
Thesis: “Go with the flow: impacts of high and low flow conditions on freshwater mussel assemblages and distribution”
published in PlosOne
Also published her first chapter on ecological refuges in Freshwater Biology
Works with USACE-ERDC
Emily Lorkovic, graduated 2023
Thesis: “Two invaders, one ecosystem: Exploring interactions between Dreissena polymorpha and Hydrilla verticillata.”
Wildlife & Fisheries Biologist, Meadows Center
Meghan Martinski, graduated 2023
Thesis: “Freshwater mussels vary in substrate preference and mobility in pairwise behavioral experiments.”
Junior Biologist, GEI Consultants, Michigan
Ericah Beason, graduated 2021
Thesis “Impact of zebra mussels on physiological conditions of unionid mussels in Texas. ”
published in Aquatic Sciences [Link to article]
State Malacologist Freshwater Mussel Program Coordinator in South Carolina
David Swearingen, graduated 2021
Thesis: “The impact of summer mortality of invasive zebra mussels on nutrient cycling in a Texas Reservoir”
Research assistant in Schwalb Stream Ecology lab until August 2022; published on thermal limitation of zebra mussels in Texas [Link to article]
Dissertation: “The role of life history strategies and drying events for mussel communities: a multiscale approach”
Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Kayla Hayes, graduated 2020
Thesis “Comparing life history traits and responses to envrionmental variation between mussel species in the San Saba River”
Environmental Specialist with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Alison Tarter, graduated 2019
Thesis “Distribution of unionid mussels in the Big Thicket region of Texas. Texas State University”
published in Hydrobiologia [Link to article]
Research associate with the Southern Regional Climate Center (SRCC)
Brittney Sanchez, graduated 2018
Thesis “Detectability affects the performance of survey methods: A comparison of sampling methods of freshwater mussels in Central Texas”
published in Hydrobiologia [Link to article]
Stacey Britton, graduated 2018
co-advised with Dr. Dutton
Thesis “Impact of environmental contaminants on the Threeridge mussel (Amblema plicata) in the Guadalupe River basin, Texas.”
Department of Ecology in the Water Quality Program, Washington
Rebecca Zawalski, graduated 2017
Thesis: “Benthic macroinvertebrate metacommunity structure of the Guadalupe River Basin, TX.”
published in Freshwater Ecology [Link to article]
Water Quality Project manager,
Merrimack River Watershed Council, Massachusetts
Ashley Seagroves, graduated 2017
Thesis “Reproductive ecology of Lampsilis bracteata (Bivalvia: Unionidae)”
published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems [Link to article]
Aquatic Biologist with USFWS in Jackson, Mississippi
Jenae Olson, graduated 2016 Thesis: “Dispersal of zebra mussels downstream of an invaded reservoir.”
published in Aquatic Invasions [Link to article]
Veterinary Technician, Sioux Falls, SD
Bianca Hernandez, graduated 2016
Thesis: “Movement behavior of unionid mussels in Central Texas”
published in Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems [Link to article]