Dr. Lorian Schweikert
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Principal Investigator
Credit: Ted Harty
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology at UNCW. I earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the University of Tampa and a doctorate in Biology from the Florida Institute of Technology. After, I studied sensory ecology in postdoctoral positions at Duke University, Florida International University, and the Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology.
From this journey, my advice to you is to dare to take risks and to embrace the uncertainty that comes with conducting science and working toward a career in biology. It’s OKAY not to have all the answers in work or life, and ultimately accepting that will not only make you happier, but a better scientist.
Science is for everyone, and my lab has no greater priority than to advance that truth by fostering diversity and inclusion in science and beyond through our actions, thoughts, and words. Our goal is to actively combat injustice in academia of marginalized groups by engaging in steps that include, but are not limited to: seeking education about the history of discrimination in academic biology, completing training against implicit bias, microagressions, and related behaviors, and advocating for cultural change toward equity in our interaction with other Seahawks, the public, and the larger scientific community. As a member of this lab, one is also a member of a university community that values and upholds these principles. UNCW's Diversity and Inclusion Statement is accessible here.
Graduate Students
PhD Student
Lydia Naughton
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B.S. Neuroscience, Bucknell University
Ph.D. Integrative, Comparative, and Marine Biology, UNCW (sought)
Interests: I am curious about how animals sense and interact with their environment in different ways. I am especially interested in understanding the sensory/neural basis of behaviors such as skin color change and camouflage.
Email: lfn1671@uncw.edu
Publications:
Schweikert, L.E., Bagge, L.E., Naughton, L.F., Bolin, J.R., Wheeler, B.R., Grace, M.S., Bracken-Grissom, H.D., and S. Johnsen (2023). Dynamic light filtering over dermal opsin as a sensory feedback system in fish color change. Nature Communications, 24:4642
Naughton, L.F., Kruppert, S., Jackson, B., Porter, M.E., & Donatelli, C.M. (2021). A Tail of Four Fishes: An Analysis of Kinematics and Material Properties of Elongate Fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology, icab060.
Freeman, M. Z., Cannizzaro, D.N., Naughton, L.F., & Bove, C. (2021). Fluoroquinolones-Associated Disability: It Is Not All in Your Head. NeuroSci, 2(3), 235–253.
Vanessa Moreno
PhD Student
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B.S. Marine Biology, Florida International University
MS.c. Marine Biology, UNCW
Ph.D. Integrative, Comparative, and Marine Biology, UNCW (sought)
Interests: My interests consist of the factors that affect vision and ecological adaptations in fish, particularly in the way organisms use their senses to “see” their surroundings. Areas of interest include skin sensory systems of fish required for camouflage.
Email: vmm6449@uncw.edu
Publications:
Moreno V.M. and Schweikert L.E. 2024. Visual acuity of the summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) captures spatial information relevant to dynamic camouflage at close range. The Anatomical Record, 1–19. *Special Issue, "Sensory World of Vertebrates"
Schweikert L.E and Thomas K.N, Moreno V.M, Casaubon A, Golightly C, Bracken-Grissom HD. 2022, Ecological predictors and functional implications of eye size in deep-sea shrimps. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.10: 787315.
Rejana (Jenna) Pullarkat
MSc Student
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B.S. Marine Biology, Minor in Neuroscience, UNCW
MS.c. Marine Biology, UNCW (sought)
Interests: My interests are centered around understanding how a unique set of environmental conditions may affect marine animals' visual perception. More specifically, I am focused on the level of photosensitivity in the eyes of marine mammals as I plan to study melanopsin expression with the use of immunohistochemistry techniques.
Email: rrp7059@uncw.edu
Russell Ward
PhD Student
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B.S. Biology, West Virginia University
MS.c. Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Ph.D. Integrative, Comparative, and Marine Biology, UNCW (sought)
Interests: I am interested in the way animals sense their environment, and how they process sensory signals to modulate behavioral and physiological outputs. Specifically, I am investigating dermal photoreception in the summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and how this unique sensory system may help facilitate or modulate dynamic color change.
Email: rhw6057@uncw.edu
Publication:
Ward, R.H., Quinn, T.P., Dittman, A.H., and Yopak, K.E. 2024. The effects of rearing environment on organization of the olfactory system and brain of juvenile sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 64(1), 92-106.
Undergraduate Students
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Umut Ayoglu
BS Student
B.S. Marine Biology, Minor in Oceanography, UNCW (sought)
Interests: I have a desire to learn more about evolutionary backgrounds of bioluminescent light organs of deep-sea animals. Especially the relations between visually sensory organs and bioluminescent organs make deep sea such a special place to ask questions about origins of life and how it shaped. I hope to answer some questions and come up with new ones during my journey to depths.
Email: ua4723@uncw.edu
Julie Degnan
BS Student
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B.F.A Dance, University of the Arts
B.S. Marine Biology, UNCW (sought)
Interests: After retiring from a professional career in classical ballet, I became curious about the ways in which performative art and science are interconnected. Performative movement is a universal language and behavior that exists not only in humans but in numerous animals on land and in water. I am interested in applying what I have learned in my dance career to the exploration of the relationship between performative movement and visual perception/communication, particularly within aquatic organisms.
Email: jjd4338@uncw.edu
Isabelle Kuhn
BS Student
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B.S. Biochemistry, Minor in Marine Biology, UNCW (sought)
Interests: I have always had a passion for science, and I love to research and learn as much as I can across all specialties! My current interests lie in exploring the intersection of biochemistry and marine biology. I am excited to apply my knowledge and previous experiences in biopharmaceutical ophthalmology R&D as well as analytical and environmental chemistry to investigate the sensory capabilities of hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) utilizing methods such as immunohistochemistry and microscopy.
Email: ivk1869@uncw.edu
Mike McKimm
BS Student
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B.S. Biology, Minor in Chemistry, UNCW (sought)
Interests: I have an intense interest in the biodiversity of the deep sea and would love to explore what makes it possible for so many different organisms to not only survive but also coexist at such extreme depths. The equipment used by researchers, like submersibles, to probe the ocean deeps are also incredibly fascinating to me. I’m still trying to figure out how to best apply the experience of my military career to my academic one, but hope to continue to build my path towards becoming a successful researcher and scientist, one day at a time.
Email: mlm2765@uncw.edu
Marq Robinson
BS Student
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B.S. Marine Biology, UNCW (sought)
Interests: I've developed an interest in understanding how organisms interact with their environment and how these interactions can be traced and explained through organic material over time. Specifically, I'm interested in looking at how isotopes can be used to look at how marine mammals eat, migrate, and their age.
Email: tr2861@uncw.edu
Lab Alumni
