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.

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

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.

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.

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.