"Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who'll argue with you." - John Wooden
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"Our emphasis is on execution, not winning." - Pat Summitt
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Members of the TN Tech Devo Eco Lab
Joshua M Hall: Lab ASI (Advisor to Student Investigators)
I spent my childhood chasing lizards over the hills Tennessee. That is when and where I developed a deep love for the natural world. I earned a B.S. in Biology and Writing at Union University (Jackson, TN) and then a MS in General Biology from Mississippi State while I was a TN Public School Teacher. I left the classroom in 2015 to pursue my PhD in Biology at Auburn University, and now I am back in Tennessee...chasing lizards again. Email: jmhall(at)tntech.edu Curriculum vitae Google Scholar Profile ResearchGate |
Graduate Students

Julia Thulander: MS Student
I received my B.S. in the spring of 2020 from Dickinson College and worked on the kinematics of American toads during my senior year. My thesis at Tennessee Tech will be focused on Streamside salamanders (Ambystoma barbouri) and the effects of heat stress on early development. I will be incubating field collected eggs in the lab at varied temperatures to monitor growth rates, developmental defects, body mass and snout-to-vent length. I am hopeful that this information will aid in the conservation efforts of the species and potentially lead to successful assurance colonies.
I received my B.S. in the spring of 2020 from Dickinson College and worked on the kinematics of American toads during my senior year. My thesis at Tennessee Tech will be focused on Streamside salamanders (Ambystoma barbouri) and the effects of heat stress on early development. I will be incubating field collected eggs in the lab at varied temperatures to monitor growth rates, developmental defects, body mass and snout-to-vent length. I am hopeful that this information will aid in the conservation efforts of the species and potentially lead to successful assurance colonies.

Haley Ortner: MS Student
I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Zoology from Tennessee Technological University in 2021. I am now pursuing a Master's in Biology at Tennessee Tech working in Dr. Hall's lab where I will be studying the reproductive effort of Eastern Fence Lizards. I have always had a passion for all animals, but I have a special fondness for herps. My goal is having a career working with animal conservation and care.
I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Zoology from Tennessee Technological University in 2021. I am now pursuing a Master's in Biology at Tennessee Tech working in Dr. Hall's lab where I will be studying the reproductive effort of Eastern Fence Lizards. I have always had a passion for all animals, but I have a special fondness for herps. My goal is having a career working with animal conservation and care.
Undergraduates
Maggie Lee.
Hello! I’m an undergraduate majoring in biology with a concentration in zoology at Tennessee Tech. I have loved animals all my life, and I currently have a bunny, two guinea pigs, and two fish in my cramped dorm room. Thanks to Dr. Hall, I was blessed with the opportunity to work in the lab and expand on my knowledge and interest in herpetology. I help with basic data entry, and I aim to learn from this experience in hopes of starting my own research project in the future. In addition, being in the lab provides me with crucial skills that will advance my career development and hopefully help me decide what I want to do with my major. |

Chelsy Bartley
I'm an undergraduate student majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries with a concentration in Wildlife Science. I love anything to do with animals and being outside. Conservation is my passion, as I want to do whatever I can to protect all living beings. I have previous lab experience studying protists living on Slimy Salamander skins, field experience collecting Streamside Salamander eggs, and field experience trapping and tagging Canada Geese. I'm hoping to continue my education by entering the veterinary world in order to reach my goal in wildlife rehabilitation.
I'm an undergraduate student majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries with a concentration in Wildlife Science. I love anything to do with animals and being outside. Conservation is my passion, as I want to do whatever I can to protect all living beings. I have previous lab experience studying protists living on Slimy Salamander skins, field experience collecting Streamside Salamander eggs, and field experience trapping and tagging Canada Geese. I'm hoping to continue my education by entering the veterinary world in order to reach my goal in wildlife rehabilitation.

Kaitlyn Darnell
HI! My name is Kaitlyn, and I'm a sophomore pre-vet major, concentrating in zoology. I love rescuing animals and studying biology.
HI! My name is Kaitlyn, and I'm a sophomore pre-vet major, concentrating in zoology. I love rescuing animals and studying biology.

Lydia Dudley
I am an undergraduate student majoring in environmental and sustainability studies at Tennessee Tech. I am interested in herps, especially snakes, and the lab lets me work with that interest and provide experience and skills at the same time. In the lab, I collect data and sort the reptile wet specimen collection of Tennessee Tech. I hope to one day have a career that helps the environment.
I am an undergraduate student majoring in environmental and sustainability studies at Tennessee Tech. I am interested in herps, especially snakes, and the lab lets me work with that interest and provide experience and skills at the same time. In the lab, I collect data and sort the reptile wet specimen collection of Tennessee Tech. I hope to one day have a career that helps the environment.

Alec Gordan
I am an undergraduate who has always had a love for reptiles and amphibians, with a special fondness for snakes, especially Rattlesnakes. I grew up in Nashville where I spent most of my free time around city parks chasing herps. I have previously assisted with snake fungal disease monitoring in Middle Tennessee. I hope to gain more experience in herpetology through the lab.
I am an undergraduate who has always had a love for reptiles and amphibians, with a special fondness for snakes, especially Rattlesnakes. I grew up in Nashville where I spent most of my free time around city parks chasing herps. I have previously assisted with snake fungal disease monitoring in Middle Tennessee. I hope to gain more experience in herpetology through the lab.

Tatyana Natal
I’m a senior at Tennessee Tech studying biology with a concentration in zoology. I’ve always loved the fluffy animals, but recent travels have inspired a newfound fondness for the slimy and scaled ones as well. Within the lab, I help with feeding and data input, and whatever else Julia specifies. This lab has reminded me of my fondness for research, and I hope that when I graduate, I can find a similar opportunity within my graduate or professional studies, preferably under another cool professor like Dr. Hall.
I’m a senior at Tennessee Tech studying biology with a concentration in zoology. I’ve always loved the fluffy animals, but recent travels have inspired a newfound fondness for the slimy and scaled ones as well. Within the lab, I help with feeding and data input, and whatever else Julia specifies. This lab has reminded me of my fondness for research, and I hope that when I graduate, I can find a similar opportunity within my graduate or professional studies, preferably under another cool professor like Dr. Hall.
Study organisms
We can't forget about the 'usual suspects' that are found lurking around the lab, reluctantly surrendering their secrets to our inquisitive minds.
Collaborators
Dr. James T Stroud - http://jameststroud.com/
Dr. Chris Thawley - http://cjthawley.com/
Dr. Baojun Sun - http://sourcedb.ioz.cas.cn/yw/scs/ap/202103/t20210323_5981856.html
Dr. Liang Ma - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Yxkd34wAAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. Daniel Warner - https://warnerlab.weebly.com/
Dr. Timothy Mitchell - http://timmitchellbiology.weebly.com/
Dr. Chris Thawley - http://cjthawley.com/
Dr. Baojun Sun - http://sourcedb.ioz.cas.cn/yw/scs/ap/202103/t20210323_5981856.html
Dr. Liang Ma - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Yxkd34wAAAAJ&hl=en
Dr. Daniel Warner - https://warnerlab.weebly.com/
Dr. Timothy Mitchell - http://timmitchellbiology.weebly.com/

Hazel K Hall: The Brains
Hazel is an expert at identifying important research questions in the field. Her sharp mind and relentless curiosity make her a critical component to our lab's success. Her only weakness is that she likes mammals more than reptiles (particularly hedgehogs and horses).
Publications
Hall JM, Hall HK, Hall GB. Submitted. Sternotherus odoratus (Eastern Musk Turtle). Geographic distribution: New record for Putnam County, TN. Herpetological review. In review.
Hall JM, Hall HK. 2016. Anaxyrus fowleri (Fowler's Toad). Geographic distribution: New record for Carroll County, TN. Herpetological Review, 47(1), pp. 76.
Hazel is an expert at identifying important research questions in the field. Her sharp mind and relentless curiosity make her a critical component to our lab's success. Her only weakness is that she likes mammals more than reptiles (particularly hedgehogs and horses).
Publications
Hall JM, Hall HK, Hall GB. Submitted. Sternotherus odoratus (Eastern Musk Turtle). Geographic distribution: New record for Putnam County, TN. Herpetological review. In review.
Hall JM, Hall HK. 2016. Anaxyrus fowleri (Fowler's Toad). Geographic distribution: New record for Carroll County, TN. Herpetological Review, 47(1), pp. 76.

Grayson B Hall: The Muscle
Grayson is an expert field biologist. His love of all things dirty and gross make him our lab's "go to" grabber of mucky things.
Publications
Hall JM, Hall HK, Hall GB. 2022. Sternotherus odoratus (Eastern Musk Turtle). Geographic distribution: New record for Putnam County, TN. Herpetological Review, 53(1), pp 77.
Grayson is an expert field biologist. His love of all things dirty and gross make him our lab's "go to" grabber of mucky things.
Publications
Hall JM, Hall HK, Hall GB. 2022. Sternotherus odoratus (Eastern Musk Turtle). Geographic distribution: New record for Putnam County, TN. Herpetological Review, 53(1), pp 77.