People

Patricia Schneider Ph.D. (PI)

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Cellular, Developmental, and Integrative Biology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. I earned my bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Pará, Brazil and my Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. My postdoctoral training took place in the laboratory of Dr. Liz Grove at the University of Chicago and in the lab of Dr. Gemma Carvill at Northwestern University. In the lab, we use genetics tools to explore the evolution of novel features in the visual system.

 

Louise Perez Ph.D. (Postdoctoral fellow) lperez@lsu.edu

I earned my master’s degree in Neurosciences and Cell Biology in 2015 at the Federal University of Pará, Brazil. I completed my Ph.D. at the Federal University of Para. I started my first postdoctoral training in Bioinformatics at the Museum für Naturkunde,  under the supervision of Dr. Schneider and Dr. Fröbisch. I started my second postdoc at LSU in 2022. Here my research focuses on using computational and molecular biology tools to unravel the mechanisms governing the partial duplication of the Anableps eye. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing basketball and video games, barbecuing, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Keyla Pruett (Ph.D. student) kpruet4@lsu.edu

I completed my undergraduate degree in 2021 in Wildlife Ecology at LSU. I am an award-winning undergraduate researcher with a background in genetics and invasive species. My research interests include molecular biology, bioinformatics, ecology, and conservation. My research focuses on utilizing transcriptomic and epigenomic tools to study retinal development in the four-eyed fish.

 

Lina Shi (co-mentored with Dr. Craig Hart) lshi11@lsu.edu

I completed my undergraduate degree in 2012, specializing in Tobacco at Henan Agricultural University in China. From 2013 to 2016, I conducted research as a visiting scholar at Michigan Technological University, USA. My research interests lie in molecular biology and bioinformatics. Currently, I am investigating the regulatory mechanisms that control asymmetric gene expression in the dorsal and ventral regions of the retina, using techniques such as ATAC-seq and zebrafish transgenesis. Outside of research, I enjoy walking, hiking, and reading.

 

Undergraduate students

 

Laila Plummer (Undergraduate student)

I'm currently working toward my bachelor's degree at Louisiana State University. Under the guidance of Dr. Schneider, I am learning more about the evolutionary and developmental aspects of the visual system in Anabelps anableps. I have a deep interest in genetics and enjoy learning new things related to genetics. I also cherish spending time with my family and unwinding on the beach.

 

Alyssa Daspit

 

Ashelyn Ferniza

 

Zainalabedeen N Al Naseri 

 

Anna Prideaux

 

 

Former trainees

Andrea Matus - Thesis Honor 2022-2023

Lilly Cambas - Student worker 2022-2023

William Egan - Student worker 2023-2024

Iyana Oliviel - Post baccalaureate 2023-2024

Trey Lambert – High School Senior current attending Baylor University