Stephen M. Deban, Associate 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. Check out my profiles on Google Scholar and 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.

Charlotte Stinson, Ph.D. Student. I am primarily interested in the comparative biomechanics and functional morphology of vertebrate feeding. For my dissertation I am studying prey capture and transport mechanisms of salamandrid salamanders to better understand tradeoffs in terrestrial and aquatic feeding performance.

Emily Hagen, Undergraduate Student. I am studying temperature effects on the feeding of the tropical salamander Pseudoeurycea leprosa. 

Segall Israel, Undergraduate Student. I am studying biomechanics of salamander feeding, with an emphasis on morphology. 

Ashley Lackey, Undergraduate Student. 

Veronica Morton, Undergraduate Student.

Jason Richardson, Undergraduate Student. I am examining the effect of temperature on the performance of salamander tongue projection and biting. 

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.

Paula Sandusky, M.S. Student. Paula examined biomechanics and kinematics of tongue projection in leopard frogs, Rana pipiens.

Aubrey Hoffman, Undergraduate Student. 

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.

James Ashworth, Undergraduate Student. Jim imaged Eurycea and Pseudotriton feeding at different temperatures, to examine the effects of temperature on the different phases of tongue projection and retraction. Jim left for veterinary school.

Shelby Craig, Undergraduate Student. Shelby worked with Eurycea and has plans 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. 

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.

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.”

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