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. I also have a page on Academia.edu.

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.

Nick Larghi, M.S. Student. I am fascinated with studying organismal systems mechanically and physiologically. Recently I have taken interest in skull morphology and feeding mechanics. After my graduate career I hope to be a college professor conducting research.
 

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.

Shelby Craig, Undergraduate Student. I have been working with animal care and hope to bring the laid back and camera shy Eurycea into the spotlight and expand the salamander database. Once I graduate with my BS in Biology I plan to apply to veterinary school as well as explore grad programs in aquatic animal health and zoology.

Shelby Creemers, Undergraduate Student. I am currently working towards veterinary school, and would like to become an animal rehabilitator.  In the Deban lab I have learned quite a bit of interesting information about amphibians. I am learning animal husbandry and the process of analyzing recorded videos of the feeding process. I hope to continue this and help to discover more interesting information about these species.

Kelsey Mikolajczyk, Undergraduate Student. Being in the lab has taught me a lot about the salamanders, while looking at tongue projection performance of Plethodon at different temperatures. After receiving my BS degree from USF I will continue on to veterinary school.

Jason Richardson, Undergraduate Student. I am examining the effect temperature has on the ballistic performance of the remarkable salamander tongue projection and retraction. My career goals are in an indecisive crisis, but I’ll be doing something with Biology in the near to distant future. 

This could be you, Student. If you are interesting in doing undergraduate or graduate research, find out more.

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. 

Brittney Barrow, Undergraduate Student. I really enjoyed 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.

Thomas Sheridan, Undergraduate Student. Tom investigated scaling in the chameleon tongue apparatus. Tom says, “Working in this lab has spurred my interest in doing more research.” Tom is currently applying to graduate programs.

John Briggs, Undergraduate Student. John examined temperature effects on jumping in crickets, and has gone on to Medical school.