About our mentors
Collaborative Research Units
The LAGNiAppE training program is a collaborative initiative led by LSU-based mentors and partner co-mentors from various institutions across Louisiana. Discover more details below.
Mentors 2024-2025
Dr. Rebecca Christofferson
Patterns of Emergence and Transmission of Viruses
School of Veterinary Medicine-Pathobiological Sciences
Dr. Jacob Esselstyn
Evolutionary history of small mammals
Biological Sciences - Museum of Natural History
Dr. Gaurav Kandlikar
Origins, Structure, Maintenance, and Consequences of Diversity
Biological Sciences
Dr. Morgan Kelly
Ecology, Evolution and Conservation of Marine Invertebrates
Biological Sciences
Dr. Laura Lagomarsino
Phylogenetics, Systematics, and Macroevolution of Angiosperms
Biological Sciences
Dr. Christine Lattin
Neurotransmitters, Hormones, Neophobia and Environmental Stress
Biological Sciences
Dr. Nicholas Mason
Avian Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation
Biological Sciences - Museum of Natural History
Past Mentors
Dr. Brant Faircloth
Evolutionary History of Species, Populations, Individuals and Molecular Evolution
Biological Sciences
Dr. Michael Polito
Environmental Change within Marine and Coastal Communities
Ocean Sciences Department at the University of California Santa Cruz
Co-mentors 2024-2025
We are working to determine who will join us as co-mentors for the new cohort. Stay tuned.
Past Co-mentors
Dr. Loren Cassin Sackett
Evolutionary Diversity Across Spatial and Temporal Spaces
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Dr. Kathleen Ferris
Genetic, Phenotypic and Environmental Basis of Adaption and Speciation
Tulane University
Dr. Alex Gunderson
Physiological and Evolutionary Ecology in a Changing World
Tulane University
Dr. Nastassia Jones
Teaching and Learning for Underrepresented Minorities in STEM
Southern University
Dr. Francesca Mellieon-Williams
Education of Young People
Southern University
Dr. Catherin Newman
Genetic and Epigenetic Responses to Substances Abuse
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Dr. Jordan Dowell
Evolution of Chemical Diversity and Effects on Organisms Interactions
Louisiana State University
Dr. Allyn Shoeffler
Structure-Function Relationships in Biological Macromolecules
Loyola University New Orleans
Dr. Hector Douglas
Integrative Biology and Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Marine Sciences
Grambling State University
Dr. Samantha Gerlanch
Natural Products Discovery and Purification of Cyclotides and Other Phytochemicals
Dillard University
Program Coordinator
Dr. Ana Salgado
Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Environmental Stress and Ecology
Biological Sciences
Email: amald@lsu.edu