Mariah Meek – Principal Investigator
I am an Associate Professor in Integrative Biology at Michigan State University and the Director of Research for The Wilderness Society. I am a conservation biologist and molecular ecologist, interested in understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that generate and maintain diversity within and among populations. I got my PhD at University of California, Davis with Dr. Bernie May and did a post-doc as a Smith Fellow with Dr. Cliff Kraft and Dr. Matt Hare at Cornell University. The primary motivation for my work is to apply this fundamental understanding of biology to solve pressing problems in conservation and management.
Outreach: Dr. Meek is a founding member and Deputy Secretary of the Coalition for Conservation Genetics, a member of the IUCN North American Conservation Genetics Specialist Group, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network Genetic Composition Working Group, past and founding Vice President of the Society for Conservation Biology Conservation Genetics Working Group, and a member of the Interagency Ecological Program Salmonid Genetics Project Work Team. Dr. Meek is on the editorial board of Conservation Science and Practice.
Dr. Meek was awarded a Society for Conservation Biology Early Career Conservationist award and was in the NSF Convergence Accelerator 2021 cohort.
Past teaching at MSU: IBIO 341 Fundamentals of Genetics, IBIO 446 Environmental Issues and Public Policy, IBIO 801 Professional Development for Graduate Students
Mariah Meek CV 2023 – Google Scholar Profile
Email: mhmeek[at]msu.edu
Research Staff
Post-docs
Dr. Erin Collins
I studied ecology and wildlife management at Michigan Technological University and conducted my PhD research on Antarctic sea spider systematics and phylogeography at Central Michigan University. I subsequently worked as a fisheries geneticist for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, where I investigated the genetic mechanisms associated with the migration of steelhead and Chinook salmon to inform conservation management of these fishes in the Columbia River Basin. My research interests lie in uncovering genetic diversity and population dynamics to aid conservation efforts of imperiled organisms. For further information regarding my research, see my website (eecollins.wix.com/research).
Graduate Students
Ben Kline – PhD Student
I am an eco-evolutionary ecologist and that seeks to understand how sources of adaptive variation influence the capacity of populations to respond to environmental change. My research addresses the interplay of molecular mechanisms and environmental variation that contribute to the rise of adaptive variation in populations. Using coldwater fishes as model organisms, I explore the relationship between adaptation, genotypes, and resultant phenotypes to improve conservation of native biodiversity.
Emily Bardwell – MS Student
I am a zoology and genomics and molecular genetics BS/MS student at Michigan State University. I’m interested in learning about the genetic basis for adaptive potential in wildlife populations. My career goal is to become a conservation geneticist and develop genomic tools and resources to better understand species facing the effects of human-influenced environmental changes. I look forward to learning more about genomic research methods and their conservation applications!
Lab Affiliates
Alexandra Zhang
I was an undergraduate researcher for three years in the Meek lab, majoring in zoology. I graduated from MSU in Spring 2023 and am now working at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY.
Kyle Jaynes – PhD student
I am currently a PhD student in Sarah Fitzpatrick’s Lab in the department of Integrative Biology and interdisciplinary program of Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior at Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University. I am a biologist driven by questions linking ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology – and most fascinated with amphibians and reptiles. Explore my website for more info: https://kylejaynes.weebly.com/.
Ellery and Asa- Budding Ecologists
Ellery and Asa are interested in the many wonders of the natural world. Ellery is going to be a tiger scientist, but she also has a strong interest in caterpillar ecology. Asa is going to be a tree scientist, but is also collecting a lot of data on the chemical ecology of pretty much anything he can fit in his mouth.
Chai – Lab Mascot
Chai’s research interests are in the behavioral ecology of small mammals, with a particular focus on trying to understand the adaptations that allow squirrels to successfully avoid canine predation.
Lab Alumni
Grant Bruninga-former Undergraduate researcher
Grant graduated from Michigan State University in 2025. He is now starting a PhD at UC Davis. His research interests involve exploring how molecular and genomic tools can be used to aid the conservation of endangered species.
Dr. Nadya Mamoozadeh-Former Research Scientist
Dr. Mamoozadeh’s research focuses on the use of genetic tools to study population- and species-level relationships in marine and freshwater fishes. She is now an Assistant Professor at NC State University. Find out more about her work here: website.
Hannah Rothkopf-Former Lab Manager
Hannah is now a MS Student in Integrative Biology at Michigan State University.
Dr. Sara Hugentobler–former PhD student
Dr Hugentobler recieved her PhD in the Meek lab in 2025. Her research interests center around the population dynamics and genetics of aquatic species, as well as overall species diversity in aquatic environments.
Isaac Paredes – former MS Student
Isaac recieved his MS from the Meek lab in 2025. He is interested in the effects of anthropogenic influences, such as wildfires and ocean acidification, on population persistence and resilience.
Dr. Miranda Wade–former PhD student
Dr. Wade received her PhD from the Meek lab in 2024. She studies conservation genetics and am interested in small population conservation. My research centers around discovering impacts on populations from fragmentation, especially due to anthropogenic change.
Dr. Wade is now a post-doctoral scholar at the University of Hong Kong. You can find her at https://wadeintoscience.com/.
Dr. Tasha Thompson – Former post-doctoral scholar
I am a geneticist studying the molecular and evolutionary basis of adaptive variation in wild species. I am particularly interested in improving our understanding of the mechanisms that underpin life history diversity in Pacific salmon in order to inform the conservation and management of that diversity.
Dr. Thompson is now the Polsky Conservation Research Fellow at the Wild Salmon Center, but continues to collaborate with the Meek lab regularly.
Torél Beard – Former Undergraduate Researcher
Torél was an undergraduate researcher in the Meek lab from 2018-2019. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Zoology at MSU in May 2019 and was awarded the MSU Outstanding Academic Achievement & Promise in Zoology Award. Torél is currently a Lab Technician at MSU. His research interests are in the genetics and evolution of behavior, and has plans to attend graduate school to pursue a PhD in evolutionary biology.
Sierra Kaszubinski – Former MS Student
Sierra got her Master’s in the Meek lab in 2020, co-advised with Dr. Eric Benbow, and was a Department of Defense SMART Scholar. She is now a Forensic Scientist at the DoD Defense Forensic Science Center.
Shannon O’Leary – Former Post-doctoral Scholar
Dr. Shannon O’Leary is now an Assistant Professor at St. Anselm College. Check out her website! Dr. O’Leary studies how spatial heterogeneity in the landscape results in environmental pressures that shape genetic diversity among populations. Dr. O’Leary continues to collaborate with the Meek lab and is a co-PI on the iCatch project.
Gregorio Martinez-Former Undergraduate Researcher
Gregorio was an undergraduate researcher in the Meek lab during Spring and Summer 2020. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Genomics and Molecular Genetics at MSU in Spring 2020. His research in the Meek lab was fueled by his passion for fly fishing and an admiration for Brook Trout beauty. He can be found here at Wayne State University.
Charlene Tarsa – Former Lab Manager
Charlene is interested in conservation biology and the effects of climate change on populations. She completed her M.A. in Biology at Buffalo State College studying the metagenomic diversity of fungal communities in and outside of ant nests. Charlene was the very first member of the Meek lab and integral in its formation. She is now the Community Science Lab Technician at the Center for the Study of Land, Air, and Water at Bard College.
Arianna Troia – Former Undergraduate Researcher
Arianna got her BS in 2021 at MSU studying Zoology with a double concentration in Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology and Animal behavior & Neurobiology. Her research interests focus on understanding the sustainability of a species from a genetic perspective and how this knowledge is applied to conservation. She is now getting her DVM at the MSU Vet School.
The Meek Lab - Conservation Genomics at Michigan State University 