Faculty Research

William K. Hayes, Ph.D
My research interests are in the areas of tropical marine ecophysiology, coral reef biodiversity and conservation, and marine invertebrate and vertebrate physiology and ecology. Although based at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California, my research takes me to some great places around the globe.
With some of the most interesting organisms to work on and some of the most beautiful places on the planet to work in, I have what I consider to be one of the best jobs in the world!

Stephen G. Dunbar, Ph.D
My research interests are in the areas of tropical marine ecophysiology, coral reef biodiversity and conservation, and marine invertebrate and vertebrate physiology and ecology. Although based at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California, my research takes me to some great places around the globe.
With some of the most interesting organisms to work on and some of the most beautiful places on the planet to work in, I have what I consider to be one of the best jobs in the world!

Leonard Brand, Ph.D.
My research interests are in the areas of tropical marine ecophysiology, coral reef biodiversity and conservation, and marine invertebrate and vertebrate physiology and ecology. Although based at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California, my research takes me to some great places around the globe.
With some of the most interesting organisms to work on and some of the most beautiful places on the planet to work in, I have what I consider to be one of the best jobs in the world!

H. Paul Buchheim, PhD
My research interests are in the areas of tropical marine ecophysiology, coral reef biodiversity and conservation, and marine invertebrate and vertebrate physiology and ecology. Although based at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California, my research takes me to some great places around the globe.
With some of the most interesting organisms to work on and some of the most beautiful places on the planet to work in, I have what I consider to be one of the best jobs in the world!

Kevin E. Nick, PhD
My research interests are in the areas of tropical marine ecophysiology, coral reef biodiversity and conservation, and marine invertebrate and vertebrate physiology and ecology. Although based at Loma Linda University, in Loma Linda, California, my research takes me to some great places around the globe.
With some of the most interesting organisms to work on and some of the most beautiful places on the planet to work in, I have what I consider to be one of the best jobs in the world!
Student Research

Matthew Ingle
First year Ph.D Student
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Matt is interested in understanding the relationships between parasite evolution and density of host species. He is especially interested in parasites of the North American raccoon Procyon lotor.

Noemi Duran
Second year Ph.D Student from Spain
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Noemi will be working with the Protective Turtle Ecology Center for Training, Outreach and Research (ProTECTOR) on sea turtle research in Honduras.

Lindsey Damazo
First year Master's Degree Student
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Lindsey will be working with the Protective Turtle Ecology Center for Trainnig, Outreach, and Research (ProTECTOR) in Honduras.

Noel Wingers
Second year Master's Degree Student
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Noel will be working with the Protective Turtle Ecology Center for Training, Outreach and Research (ProTECTOR) in Honduras.

Melissa Blackmer
Second year Master's Degree Student
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Melissa will be working with California Sea Hares (Aplysia californica) investigating the interactions between nociception, learning and memory.

Carlos Cerna
First year Master's Degree Student
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Carlos is a Master's in Biology student who is currently developing his research project and proposal.

Maria Kim
Fourth year Master's Degree Student
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Thesis title:Chemical Messaging in the Hermit Crab, Parurus samuelis
Maria is working on hermit crab research in Southern California. Her research involves finding the source of chemical communication in hermit crabs and the chemical messages involved in relaying information to the animals that a hermit crab may encounter.

Nathan Strub
Second year Master's Degree Student
Stephen G. Dunbar's Lab
Nathan is focusing his research on the toxic algae of the Salton Sea in southern California. His work is investigating seasonal patterns in blooms, toxicity, and the impacts of toxins on lake fauna. The work has wide-ranging implications for the management of the Sea and the fauna that use the Sea as foraging and breeding habitat.

Allen Cooper
M.S. in Progress
William K. Hayes' Lab
Behavioral ecology of venom expenditure by Scolopendra centipedes.

Aaron Corbit
M.S. in Progress
William K. Hayes' Lab
Rattlesnakes on the edge: behavioral ecology of Red Diamond Rattlesnakes (Crotalus ruber) at the interface with human residential areas. Research website.

Gerad Fox
M.S. in Progress
William K. Hayes' Lab
Behavioral ecology of venom expenditure in the Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis).

David Nelson
M.S. in Progress
William K. Hayes' Lab
Behavioral ecology of venom use and venom ontogeny in the Black Widow Spider, (Latrodectus hesperia).

Carl Person
M.S. in Progress
William K. Hayes' Lab
Phylogeography and speciation in select rattlesnake species.