Current lab members

Meet the team (i.e. lab nestlings)!

Riley Dodd (she/her), ‘25

I am a senior Biology major on the pre-med/health track. I am interested in neurodevelopment and am currently looking at comparing developmental expression of a vocal learning gene in cross-fostered finches.

Alex Meyers (she/her), ‘25

I am currently a senior at Davidson College, where I am studying Biology and Digital Studies. I am interested in wildlife biology and conservation, and I am currently researching parental behavior and care.

Rory Mullis (he/him), ‘26

I am a junior biology major with a focus in genetics and neuroscience. I am interested in the interplay between genetics and neuroendocrinology and am currently researching gene expression and epigenetic factors of sexual differentiation in the brain of chicken embryos.

 

Jayme Rodriguez (she/her) ‘26

I am a junior at Davidson College and majoring in Biology. Specifically, I am fascinated by the world of animal behavior and how that is impacted and changed by human influence. Currently, I am researching the extent of bird-window collisions on Davidson campus.

Mallie Roley (she/her), ‘25

I am a senior Biology major with a minor in Public Health at Davidson College. My current research focuses on investigating the expression of CNTNAP2, an autism-risk gene, across developmental stages in zebra and society finches.

Future student…

I am recruiting students for Spring and Summer 2024! Learn more here: https://www.davidson.edu/academic-departments/biology/research

 

Meet the alumni (i.e. lab fledglings)!

Naima Charles (she/her), ‘27

I am a sophomore studying Psychology and Biology on the Pre-med track. I am interested in behavioral health and am currently researching parental care and familial relationships in birds.

Rohan Doddavaram (he/him), ‘27

I am a sophomore intended biology major from Bangalore, India. My work with Dr. Baran involves tracing the evolutionary heritage of the white-throated sparrow, and studying genetic diversity in chromosome 3 of their genome.

Allison Kim (she/her), ‘27

I'm a sophomore at Davidson College studying Psychology and Neuroscience. I dream of becoming a psychiatrist. I am interested in how the brain changes in response to social and environmental changes. In Dr. Baran's lab, I am examining the effect of cross-fostering on stress physiology.

Aileen Valencia (she/her), ‘26

I am a pre-vet biology major. I am interested in wildlife conservation and veterinary research. In Dr.Baran’s lab I am researching the effects of cross-fostering on stress physiology.