People
Current lab members
Christopher C. Witt, PI
Curator of Birds & Director, Museum of Southwestern Biology
Professor, Department of Biology, UNM
Ph.D. Louisiana State University, 2004
B. A. College of the Atlantic, 1997
Oona Takano, Ph.D. Candidate
M.S. Texas A&M University, 2016
B.S. University of Florida, 2010
Peter Mattison, Ph.D. Student
M.S. Cornell University, 2006
B.A. Cornell University, 2000
Kyana Montoya, M.S. Student
B.S. UNM, 2020
Jessie Williamson, MSB Birds Research Associate
PhD, UNM 2022
Current NSF & Rose Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University, Lab of Ornithology, and Museum of Vertebrates
Ethan Linck, MSB Birds Research Associate
Former NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UNM, 2020-2022
Current Assistant Professor, Montana State University
Donna Schmitt, MSB Birds Research Associate
Greg Schmitt, MSB Birds Research Associate
Sandy Williams, MSB Birds Research Associate
Selected lab alums
Robert W. Dickerman, Curator Emeritus, MSB Division of Birds, 2007-2015
Benefactor, specimen preparator, mentor, role model (1926-2015)
Marialejandra (Malé) Castro Farías, M.S. UNM 2023
B.S. Universidad Central de Venezuela, 2017
Dani Wiley, Research Associate, B.S. UNM 2021
Current M.S. Student, Barrow Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Lab at UNM
LyAndra Lujan, Post-Bac Researcher 2019-2020
B.S. UNM 2019
Current PhD Student, Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Oregon
Selina Bauernfeind, Post-Bac PREP Fellow 2017-2019
Current Computer Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratories
Lisa Barrow, NSF Postdoctoral Fellow 2016-2018
Current Assistant Professor of Biology, UNM & Curator of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, Museum of Southwestern Biology
Rosario Marroquin-Flores, Post-bac PREP Fellow 2016-2017
Current Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas Tech University
Paxton Cruz, Undergraduate Researcher 2017-2018
John Ford, Undergraduate Researcher 2017-2018
Andrea Chavez, UNM M.S. 2016
Wildlife, Fish, and Rare Plants Program Manager for the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands, U.S. Forest Service
Ariel Gaffney, UNM M.S. 2016
Current Forensic Ornithologist at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Forensics Lab
Website / Google Scholar / ResearchGate / Twitter
Libby Beckman, UNM Ph.D. 2016
Current Staff Curator at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley
Natalie Wright, UNM Ph.D. 2015
Current Assistant Professor of Biology, Kenyon College
Website / Google Scholar / ResearchGate / Twitter
C. Jonathan Schmitt, UNM M.S. 2015 & UNM B.S. 2012
Current Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Google Scholar / ResearchGate / Twitter
Spencer Galen, UNM M.S. 2014
Current Assistant Professor at University of Scranton
Website / Google Scholar / ResearchGate / Twitter
Phred Benham, UNM M.S. 2012
Current Postdoctoral Fellow at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley
Shane DuBay, UNM M.S. 2012
Current Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, Arlington
Website / Google Scholar / ResearchGate
Sabrina McNew, Post-Bac Researcher
Current Assistant Professor, University of Arizona
Website / Google Scholar / Twitter
Matt Jones, UNM B.S. 2011
Current Research Associate, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center
Adrienne Raniszewski, Curatorial Technician, MSB Division of Birds
Current Collections Associate & Staff Coordinator at MSB Division of Mammals
Matt Graus, Post-Bac researcher, UNM B.S. 2009
Current Ph.D. Student, Department of Pathology, UNM
Laura Pagés-Barceló, Post-Bac Researcher
Current Environmental Educator at the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program
Stacey Scroggs, UNM B.S. 2009
Current Ph.D. Student, Department of Biology, New Mexico State University
Doug Whelan, UNM B.S. 2010
Matthew Segura, UNM B.S. 2014, Post-Bac Researcher
Current M.S. Student, UNM
Sebastian Restrepo-Cruz, UNM B.S. 2015, Post-Bac Researcher
Current Research Technician at Cancer Research and Treatment Center at UNM
Cole Wolf, UNM B.S. 2014
Current Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Gerald Bustos, UNM B.S. 2009
Jennifer Clark, UNM B.S. 2012, Post-Bac Researcher
Monica Lucero, UNM B.S. 2008
Current Biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species
Matthew O'Donnell, Post-graduate Research Associate
Iris Olivas, UNM B.S. 2013
Current Post-baccalaureate IRTA, Rocky Mountain Laboratories
Julie Padilla, UNM B.S. 2016
Erika Pohl, UNM B.S. 2013
Current Emergency Veterinarian at Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency & Rehabilitation Hospital
Angelica Portillo, UNM B.S. 2014
Liana Schmader, UNM B.S. 2011
Sarah Marie Sheldon, UNM B.S. 2008
Current M.S. Student at Cal State San Marcos
Rosie Steinberg, UNM B.S. 2013
Current Ph.D. Candidate at the University of New South Wales, Australia
Sarah Swiderek, UNM B.S. 2011
Current Family Medicine Resident, UNM School of Medicine
Raymond VanBuskirk, UNM B.S. 2014
Owner and Lead Guide at BRANT Tours; Sales & Marketing Manager at Redstart Birding
Geneva Williams, UNM B.S. 2009
Current Ph.D. Student at Washington University St. Louis
