Theresa M. Culley


Graduated Researchers from the Culley Lab

Previous Graduate Students:

Matt Klooster, PhD

Pollination ecology & population genetics of the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae)
Matt is currently examining the reproductive ecology and population genetics of three different species within the Monotropoideae in the Ericaceae. He is focusing his efforts on Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora), Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys) and Sweet Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). These intriguing species are non-photosynthetic and as myco-heterotrophic plants, they exhibit an obligate relationship with mycorrhizal fungus in the soil. He is presently quantifying pollinator visitation rates, pollinator preference, and self-compatibility of each species, in an effort to understand the mechanism for gene flow within and between populations. The next step will be to develop microsatellite markers for each species to quantify the genetic structure of populations in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In addition, Matt is also examining the potential for hybridization between the red and yellow forms of M. hypopitys. Furthermore, Matt has also conducted a literature survey of the occurrence and evolution of the cleistogamous breeding system in the angiosperms.

UPDATE: Matt successfully defended his PhD in May, 2008 and is currently a post-doc for Dr. Chuck Davis at Harvard University. Several of his dissertation chapters are currently submitted for publication and hopefully will be appearing soon.

Stephen Washburn, M.S.

Impact of Ambient Ozone Levels on Lichen Flora in the Greater Cincinnati Area
Stephen studied whether there are observable impacts from air pollution (especially O3) on the lichen flora of the Greater Cincinnati region. Lichens have been used as bioindicators of air pollution (usually SO2), but studies involving ozone have been few and largely inconclusive. This research was unique in that it involved both identifying lichens in the field to quantify composition and abundance, as well as ecological modeling of ozone levels within the area.
UPDATE: Stephen presented his research as an invited symposium speaker at the 2006 meeting of ABLS in Chico, CA.

David Moerlein, M.S.

Effect of Airborne Pollutants on Plants in Cincinnati
David is interested in the affects of air pollution on plants. He studied the ability of house plants to filter small particulate matter (PM) from the air within enclosed indoor systems.
UPDATE: Dave has now graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and is currently working for Google in Colorado.

Previous Undergraduate Students:

Kelly Putnam

Kelly's project was to assist in the development of microsatellite markers in the Hawaiian endemic species, Schiedea adamantis. After completing this work, she also helped out in a population genetic project with a related species, Schiedea globosa. Kelly's work is currently in press in Molecular Ecology Resources.

UPDATE: Kelly has been accepted into the graduate program in nutritional science at the University of Kentucky.

Tegan Smedley (left) and Tracy Reeb (right)

Together with Tracy (see below), Tegan is interested in the invasive species, Autumn Olive and Russian Olive. They are currently developing suitable genetic markers to examine the genetic structure of Ohio populations. Tegan and Tracy are also interested in the reproductive biology of both species in terms of its contribution to the invasive nature of the species.

UPDATE: Tegan and Tracy are both enrolled in the UC Pharmacy program. Tegan has begun development of microsatellite markers for Autumn Olive.

Jessica Gottmann

Jessica designed and completed an independent study project looking at the effects of airborne particulate matter on plant reproduction. She has now graduated with her BS degree and is currently in the UC Pharmacy program.

Adam Hoenle

Adam assisted Matt Klooster in the development of microsatellite markers for Monotropa hypopitys. He is a coauthor on a paper detailing this project that is currently in press in Molecular Ecology Notes.

Kapilan Rajagopalan

Kap assisted in the development of microsatellite markers for buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and was responsible for extracting DNA from samples collected from all over the world. Kap successfully graduated with his BS degree in 2007.

Nichole Cordell

Nichole conducted an independent undergraduate research project looking at the effects of acid rain on the ecophysiology and biomass of sunflower (Helianthus annuus).

Anna Fiskin

As a member of the WISE (Women In Science and Engineering) Program at UC, Anna traveled to Belarus where she apprenticed to a local healer for one month. During this time, she documented local plants that are used to treat a variety of medical conditions and she also recorded the specialized collection techniques necessary to maximize the potency of these plants. Information gathered from such ethnobotanical studies may be helpful in the discovery of new treatments and drugs for medical conditions including cancer and skin diseases.

UPDATE: Anna is now working towards both a joint M.D. degree and a M.S. degree in medical anthropology at Case Western University.

Sarah McCann

Sarah became the lab expert in pear DNA extractions, PCR, and information databasing during her time in the lab.

Brian Robin

As a laboratory researcher, Brian was responsible for DNA extractions and PCR for pear samples from Maryland.

Sarah Sbita

Sarah worked on a Viola pubescens project in which she extracted DNA and ran PCR to study the genetic structure of urban populations of the species in the Cincinnati area. She will be a coauthor on an upcoming paper.
UPDATE: Sarah is now attending medical school in northern Ohio after working as a laboratory technician in the neighboring lab of Dr. Elke Buschbeck.

MaryAnn Paul

During her time in the lab, Mary-Ann learned molecular techniques, such as DNA extraction, PCR, and microsatellite design for the yellow violet, Viola pubescens.

Anne Wick
Anne was responsible for collecting and extracting DNA from samples of Viola pubescens collected throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. She also worked on an ISSR project that explored the effect of urbanization on the genetic structure and levels of gene flow of this violet species. She will be a coauthor on an upcoming paper.

UPDATE: Anne is attending the graduate program in environmental science at Miami University in Ohio.

Kim Thompson
As part of the WISE program (Women In Science & Engineering) at UC and in collaboration with Dr. Michael Miller, Kim studied the biomass and species richness and diversity of several wetlands in the Cincinnati area. She is first author on an upcoming paper.

UPDATE: Kim graduated from the Master's Program in Secondary Education at the University of Cincinnati. After teaching high school science courses in the Cincinnati area for several years, she is now back at UC in the biology graduate program working in the laboratory of Dr. David Lentz.

Page Updated: 08/13/2008


		Kelly Putnam Kelly's project was to assist in the development of microsatellite markers in the Hawaiian endemic species, Schiedea adamantis. After completing this work, she also helped out in a population genetic project with a related species, Schiedea globosa. Kelly's work is currently in press in Molecular Ecology Resources. UPDATE: Kelly has been accepted into the graduate program in nutritional science at the University of Kentucky.

		Tegan Smedley (left) and Tracy Reeb (right) Together with Tracy (see below), Tegan is interested in the invasive species, Autumn Olive and Russian Olive. They are currently developing suitable genetic markers to examine the genetic structure of Ohio populations. Tegan and Tracy are also interested in the reproductive biology of both species in terms of its contribution to the invasive nature of the species. UPDATE: Tegan and Tracy are both enrolled in the UC Pharmacy program. Tegan has begun development of microsatellite markers for Autumn Olive.

		Jessica Gottmann Jessica designed and completed an independent study project looking at the effects of airborne particulate matter on plant reproduction. She has now graduated with her BS degree and is currently in the UC Pharmacy program.

		Adam Hoenle Adam assisted Matt Klooster in the development of microsatellite markers for Monotropa hypopitys. He is a coauthor on a paper detailing this project that is currently in press in Molecular Ecology Notes.

		Kapilan Rajagopalan Kap assisted in the development of microsatellite markers for buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and was responsible for extracting DNA from samples collected from all over the world. Kap successfully graduated with his BS degree in 2007.

		Nichole Cordell Nichole conducted an independent undergraduate research project looking at the effects of acid rain on the ecophysiology and biomass of sunflower (Helianthus annuus).

		Anna Fiskin As a member of the WISE (Women In Science and Engineering) Program at UC, Anna traveled to Belarus where she apprenticed to a local healer for one month. During this time, she documented local plants that are used to treat a variety of medical conditions and she also recorded the specialized collection techniques necessary to maximize the potency of these plants. Information gathered from such ethnobotanical studies may be helpful in the discovery of new treatments and drugs for medical conditions including cancer and skin diseases. UPDATE: Anna is now working towards both a joint M.D. degree and a M.S. degree in medical anthropology at Case Western University.

		Sarah McCann Sarah became the lab expert in pear DNA extractions, PCR, and information databasing during her time in the lab.

		Brian Robin As a laboratory researcher, Brian was responsible for DNA extractions and PCR for pear samples from Maryland.

		Sarah Sbita Sarah worked on a Viola pubescens project in which she extracted DNA and ran PCR to study the genetic structure of urban populations of the species in the Cincinnati area. She will be a coauthor on an upcoming paper. UPDATE: Sarah is now attending medical school in northern Ohio after working as a laboratory technician in the neighboring lab of Dr. Elke Buschbeck.

		MaryAnn Paul During her time in the lab, Mary-Ann learned molecular techniques, such as DNA extraction, PCR, and microsatellite design for the yellow violet, Viola pubescens.

		Anne Wick Anne was responsible for collecting and extracting DNA from samples of Viola pubescens collected throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. She also worked on an ISSR project that explored the effect of urbanization on the genetic structure and levels of gene flow of this violet species. She will be a coauthor on an upcoming paper. UPDATE: Anne is attending the graduate program in environmental science at Miami University in Ohio.

		Kim Thompson As part of the WISE program (Women In Science & Engineering) at UC and in collaboration with Dr. Michael Miller, Kim studied the biomass and species richness and diversity of several wetlands in the Cincinnati area. She is first author on an upcoming paper. UPDATE: Kim graduated from the Master's Program in Secondary Education at the University of Cincinnati. After teaching high school science courses in the Cincinnati area for several years, she is now back at UC in the biology graduate program working in the laboratory of Dr. David Lentz.


		Matt Klooster, PhD Pollination ecology & population genetics of the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) Matt is currently examining the reproductive ecology and population genetics of three different species within the Monotropoideae in the Ericaceae. He is focusing his efforts on Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora), Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys) and Sweet Pinesap (Monotropsis odorata). These intriguing species are non-photosynthetic and as myco-heterotrophic plants, they exhibit an obligate relationship with mycorrhizal fungus in the soil. He is presently quantifying pollinator visitation rates, pollinator preference, and self-compatibility of each species, in an effort to understand the mechanism for gene flow within and between populations. The next step will be to develop microsatellite markers for each species to quantify the genetic structure of populations in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In addition, Matt is also examining the potential for hybridization between the red and yellow forms of M. hypopitys. Furthermore, Matt has also conducted a literature survey of the occurrence and evolution of the cleistogamous breeding system in the angiosperms. UPDATE: Matt successfully defended his PhD in May, 2008 and is currently a post-doc for Dr. Chuck Davis at Harvard University. Several of his dissertation chapters are currently submitted for publication and hopefully will be appearing soon.

		Stephen Washburn, M.S. Impact of Ambient Ozone Levels on Lichen Flora in the Greater Cincinnati Area Stephen studied whether there are observable impacts from air pollution (especially O3) on the lichen flora of the Greater Cincinnati region. Lichens have been used as bioindicators of air pollution (usually SO2), but studies involving ozone have been few and largely inconclusive. This research was unique in that it involved both identifying lichens in the field to quantify composition and abundance, as well as ecological modeling of ozone levels within the area. UPDATE: Stephen presented his research as an invited symposium speaker at the 2006 meeting of ABLS in Chico, CA.

		David Moerlein, M.S. Effect of Airborne Pollutants on Plants in Cincinnati David is interested in the affects of air pollution on plants. He studied the ability of house plants to filter small particulate matter (PM) from the air within enclosed indoor systems. UPDATE: Dave has now graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and is currently working for Google in Colorado.