
JAMIE VOYLES
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
University of Nevada, Reno
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557-0325
Email: jvoyles@unr.edu
Google Scholar Website
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
University of Nevada, Reno
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557-0325
Email: jvoyles@unr.edu
Google Scholar Website
Graduate Students

Ciara Sheets
cnsheets95@gmail.com
I graduated from the University of Tennessee in Wildlife and Fisheries in 2018. As an undergraduate, my research focused on Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) susceptibility and detection techniques. I have a wide variety of of research interests and experiences from working at the Knoxville Zoo to mist netting for bats in Belize. I will be focusing my graduate research on the effects of climate change on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).
cnsheets95@gmail.com
I graduated from the University of Tennessee in Wildlife and Fisheries in 2018. As an undergraduate, my research focused on Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) susceptibility and detection techniques. I have a wide variety of of research interests and experiences from working at the Knoxville Zoo to mist netting for bats in Belize. I will be focusing my graduate research on the effects of climate change on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).

- Keely Biggs
- keelyfish@aol.com
- https://keelybiggs.weebly.com/
- Keely is interested in using laboratory and field techniques to investigate host-pathogen dynamics between frogs and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (BD) as well as host immune defenses that allow some species to overcome disease. Keely received her B.S. in Biology at Nevada State College where she investigated host immune responses to Toxoplasma gondii infections, as well as bacterial antibiotic resistance gene presence in soils and wastewater. In her past life she worked as an aquarium curator and has participated in conservation research in Costa Rica working with endangered sea turtles.
Lab Members

Alexa Lindauer
Graduated M.S. Student from the Voyles Lab and current Research Technician
alexalindauer@gmail.com
My research focuses on environmental factors driving wildlife disease. Using lab- and field-based approaches, I am examining the effects of temperature and water availability on pathogen virulence and host susceptibility to disease. I study the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis which is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and is responsible for amphibian species declines and extinctions around the world. My research questions are conservation-driven and aim to provide land managers with empirical evidence that informs recovery efforts for at-risk amphibian species.
Graduated M.S. Student from the Voyles Lab and current Research Technician
alexalindauer@gmail.com
My research focuses on environmental factors driving wildlife disease. Using lab- and field-based approaches, I am examining the effects of temperature and water availability on pathogen virulence and host susceptibility to disease. I study the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis which is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and is responsible for amphibian species declines and extinctions around the world. My research questions are conservation-driven and aim to provide land managers with empirical evidence that informs recovery efforts for at-risk amphibian species.

Ian Latella
Research Technician
pituophian@gmail.com
"with great beard comes great responsibility...."
Research Technician
pituophian@gmail.com
"with great beard comes great responsibility...."

Tiffany May
aurora6853@gmail.com
I have been working in the Voyles Lab since the spring of 2017 and graduated with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from UNR in December 2017. I come from a varied background that includes a degree in Anthropology and Museum Studies, graduate coursework in Medieval archaeology from Central European University, and training in theatrical set design. I am passionate about conservation outreach and education, as well as amphibian disease and ecology.
aurora6853@gmail.com
I have been working in the Voyles Lab since the spring of 2017 and graduated with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from UNR in December 2017. I come from a varied background that includes a degree in Anthropology and Museum Studies, graduate coursework in Medieval archaeology from Central European University, and training in theatrical set design. I am passionate about conservation outreach and education, as well as amphibian disease and ecology.

Ptarmigan "Targy"
Official lab mascot and booster of morale
Official lab mascot and booster of morale
Undergraduate Researchers

Ryan Shih
ryanshih35@nevada.unr.edu
ryanshih35@nevada.unr.edu

Serena Phen
serenaphen@nevada.unr.edu
serenaphen@nevada.unr.edu

Taylor Disbrow
taylor.disbrow7@gmail.com
taylor.disbrow7@gmail.com
Previous Post docs

Goncalo M. Rosa, PhD
goncalo.m.rosa@gmail.com
My main interest is on emerging diseases and amphibian declines, understanding population trends and viability. Particularly I focus my research on 1) patterns of pathogen origin and spread, 2) differential host susceptibility to virulent pathogens, and 3) understanding the long-term of host-pathogen dynamics through modeling data generated from both field and lab. I favour a multidisciplinary approach recurring to different tools, in order to produce data that can be applied to a better population management and effective conservation.

Mason Ryan, PhD
https://masonjryan.weebly.com/
mjryan42@gmail.com
https://masonjryan.weebly.com/
mjryan42@gmail.com
Previous Graduate Students

Gabriela Rios-Sotelo
gabriela18@gmail.com
http://griossotelo.weebly.com/
My interests are in host-pathogen dynamics of emerging fungal diseases of wildlife. Deadly fungal diseases are on the rise globally making significant impacts to agriculture and wildlife. I study the emerging bat fungal disease, White Nose Syndrome. I am most interested in how abiotic factors shape host physiology and pathogen biology. I am also interested in herpetology, disease ecology, immunology, global health and wildlife conservation. For my MS, I attended San Francisco State University and studied amphibian disease, chytridiomycosis, specifically investigating the historical disease patterns of the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Japanese amphibians collected in natural history museums. For my undergraduate degree, I attended UC Berkeley and worked in an exercise physiology lab, testing energy metabolism during exercise.
gabriela18@gmail.com
http://griossotelo.weebly.com/
My interests are in host-pathogen dynamics of emerging fungal diseases of wildlife. Deadly fungal diseases are on the rise globally making significant impacts to agriculture and wildlife. I study the emerging bat fungal disease, White Nose Syndrome. I am most interested in how abiotic factors shape host physiology and pathogen biology. I am also interested in herpetology, disease ecology, immunology, global health and wildlife conservation. For my MS, I attended San Francisco State University and studied amphibian disease, chytridiomycosis, specifically investigating the historical disease patterns of the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Japanese amphibians collected in natural history museums. For my undergraduate degree, I attended UC Berkeley and worked in an exercise physiology lab, testing energy metabolism during exercise.

Cassidi Dobos
cassidicobos@gmail.com
Cassidi has been working with the Turner Endangered Species Fund since April 2014. She is currently working on the Chiricahua leopard frog project at the Ladder Ranch in New Mexico. She earned her B.S. in Wildlife Science with a minor in Biology from New Mexico State University in 2012. While pursuing her degree, she worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a variety of projects including riparian restoration along the Rio Grande. Cassidi’s professional interest include conservation of threatened and endangered species and habitat restoration.
cassidicobos@gmail.com
Cassidi has been working with the Turner Endangered Species Fund since April 2014. She is currently working on the Chiricahua leopard frog project at the Ladder Ranch in New Mexico. She earned her B.S. in Wildlife Science with a minor in Biology from New Mexico State University in 2012. While pursuing her degree, she worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a variety of projects including riparian restoration along the Rio Grande. Cassidi’s professional interest include conservation of threatened and endangered species and habitat restoration.

Kristin Charles
kristincharles@nevada.unr.edu
kristincharles@nevada.unr.edu

Rachel Perez
Graduate Student
perezrachel617@gmail.com
My general interests lie under the themes of epidemiology, disease ecology, and conservation. Particularly, I am interested in understanding the effects the environment can have on host-pathogen interactions and susceptibility to disease. I am working on understanding effects of seasonal change on the dynamics of amphibians and the chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatis, in the Neotropics.

Cecelia Ogunro
Graduate Student
temilade4ever@yahoo.com
I have a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science (Major in Animal Science). My research work is focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms used by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) pathogen to increase viability and growth in culture and on frogs. I love studying microorganisms and understanding how they can affect production in plants and animals.
Graduate Student
temilade4ever@yahoo.com
I have a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science (Major in Animal Science). My research work is focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms used by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) pathogen to increase viability and growth in culture and on frogs. I love studying microorganisms and understanding how they can affect production in plants and animals.

Amanpreet Kohli
Graduate Student
amanpreetjkohli@gmail.com
Aman recently started a PhD program at Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences. Good luck Aman!
Graduate Student
amanpreetjkohli@gmail.com
Aman recently started a PhD program at Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences. Good luck Aman!
Previous Research Assistants/Lab Members

Claire Hyde
clairehyde@nevada.unr.edu
clairehyde@nevada.unr.edu

Patience Gbafa
pegbafa@gmail.com
Patience recently graduated and left our lab to travel the world. Good Luck PEG!
pegbafa@gmail.com
Patience recently graduated and left our lab to travel the world. Good Luck PEG!

Joshua Herbert

Josh Minster and Delaney Miller are the instigators on the left.
Delaney is now in a doctoral program, studying microbiology, at the University of Indiana.
Delaney is now in a doctoral program, studying microbiology, at the University of Indiana.

Carley Barron
cbarron@nmt.edu
Carley was recently accepted to multiple DVS, PhD programs. We're excited to hear which one she chooses.
cbarron@nmt.edu
Carley was recently accepted to multiple DVS, PhD programs. We're excited to hear which one she chooses.

Rachel Rupert
rrupert@nmt.edu
rrupert@nmt.edu

Olivia Chavez
ochavez@nmt.edu
I am a Biology major at New Mexico Tech. I plan to pursue a masters and doctorate degree in either Entomology or Herpetology. Recently I have become a member of the Voyles' lab studying various aspects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. I enjoy studying details of insect exoskeletons, and relaxing with my Siamese cat and Albino ball python.
ochavez@nmt.edu
I am a Biology major at New Mexico Tech. I plan to pursue a masters and doctorate degree in either Entomology or Herpetology. Recently I have become a member of the Voyles' lab studying various aspects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. I enjoy studying details of insect exoskeletons, and relaxing with my Siamese cat and Albino ball python.