Current students/lab members
Mariana Perez Rocha, PhD Postdoctoral Associate:
I am working on various metacommunity ecology projects as part of a collaborative project funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
I did my Ph.D. at University of Oulu (Finland), 2018; Dissertation on “Large-scale patterns of biodiversity in northern streams: insights from species, traits, and phylogeny”. More about my research here.
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”.
Sarah Stannard, MS student
I have a BS in wildlife biology from Texas State and joined the Schwalb lab in Spring 2023 to work towards my MS in Aquatic Resources. I am examining the role of predation in population dynamics and dispersal of zebra mussels.
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.
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
Eleanor Krellenstein, graduated 2024
Thesis: “Assessing the distribution and survival of mussel communities in the upper Colorado River basin, Texas after exceptional drought conditions”
Kiara Cushway, graduated 2023
Thesis: “Go with the flow: impacts of high and low flow conditions on freshwater mussel assemblages and distribution”
Works with USACE-ERDC
Emily Lorkovic, graduated 2023
Thesis: “Two invaders, one ecosystem: Exploring interactions between Dreissena polymorpha and Hydrilla verticillata.”
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]
She could not get enough and hung around as research assistant in the lab until December 2022 leading an ammonia toxicity project when she started a Biologist position with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources propagation work with the federally endangered Carolina Heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata).
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”
Currently 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]