Stephen M. Deban, Assistant Professor. My broad interests are in the areas of vertebrate morphology and physiological function, particularly musculoskeletal systems. The current focus in my lab is the influence of environmental factors on the biomechanics and physiology of extreme behaviors such as ballistic tongue projection in amphibians and reptiles.

Christopher Anderson, Ph.D. Student. I am interested in functional morphology, biomechanics, physiological ecology and questions relating to chameleons. For my dissertation I am studying the effect of temperature on ballistic tongue projection in chameleons to understand the thermal effects on highly dynamic, spring-powered movements. For more information about my interests, visit my personal website.

Paula Sandusky, M.S. Student. I am currently examining biomechanics and kinematics of tongue projection in leopard frogs, Rana pipiens.

James Ashworth, Undergraduate Student. Jim is imaging Eurycea feeding at different temperatures, to examine the effects of temperature on the different phases of tongue projection and retraction.

Brittney Barrow, Undergraduate Student. I really enjoy working with chameleons. Chameleon training, digitizing data, and participation in current research projects in the lab has helped me become a more detail-oriented and analytical researcher.

John Briggs, Undergraduate Student. I am in my final year of undergraduate studies at USF. I will enter Medical School and my free time will be few and far between so I am enjoying doing the “fun” research while I can, looking at jumping in crickets.

Jason Richardson, Undergraduate Student. I’m a first-year student at USF majoring in bio. My research interests are the effects of temperature differences on the tongue projection of the salamander species Hemidactylium and Plethodon.

Thomas Sheridan, Undergraduate Student. I am investigating scaling in the chameleon tongue apparatus. I also make videos of chameleon feeding, analyze those videos, make EMG electrodes, and assist in animal care. Working in this lab has spurred my interest in doing more research. 

Alumni

William Ryerson, M.S. Student. Bill examined scaling and viscosity effects on buccal pumping in Xenopus tadpoles for his Masters research. He is currently in the Ph.D. program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut in the lab of Kurt Schwenk.

Maranda Holley, M.S. Student. Maranda examined the morphology of the tongue apparatus of plethodontid salamanders.