Photos of the lab at work and play

Principal Investigator

Dr. Elinor Lichtenberg - Assistant Professor

E-mail: elichten@unt.edu

Dr. Lichtenberg is a behavioral and community ecologist. She is interested in how plant-pollinator interactions change with the biological community in which they are taking place under global change. She combines empirical (field and lab), modeling and meta-analytic approaches, and conducts research in both temperate and tropical systems.

Dr. Lichtenberg's CV, Bluesky account

Grad students

Hunter Messick - MS student

Hunter joined the lab Fall of 2024, and is studying trait matching between plants and pollinators in pollinator mutualisms. Prior to joining the lab, Hunter obtained his B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he was a research assistant on a project studying bee biodiversity across an urban gradient in San Antonio. This sparked his desire to study pollinators. He also participated in an internship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to locate rusty-patched bumble bees and Karner blue butterflies in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and served as a Pathways intern with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developing grassland management protocol for US landowners. Some of Hunter’s hobbies outside of research include baking, recipe testing, gaming, and music composition.  

Pronouns: He/Him/His 

Avery Pearson - MS student

Avery joined the lab in Fall 2022. She is interested in pollination networks and exploring the strengths of different pollination mutualisms. Previously, Avery worked at the USDA-ARS NPARL station in Montana, studying the native pollinator communities of the Northern Great Plains and biocontrol agents for invasive plants in the region. She obtained her B.A. in Biology from the College of Wooster in 2020, where she investigated the impacts of different pollinator groups on the male reproductive fitness of a prairie flower for her senior thesis. Outside of research, Avery loves to hike, swim, read, and try out new dessert recipes. College of Science spotlight article

Pronouns: she/her

Rob Whyle - PhD student

E-mail: robertwhyle@my.unt.edu

Rob joined the lab in fall 2021. He is interested in communication between prairie wildflowers and various insect functional groups via plant chemicals. His interests lie in chemical, community, and conservation ecology, and how genotype interacts with environmental factors to influence ecological interactions. Rob obtained his BS in Biological Sciences in 2014 and MS in Biological Sciences in 2020, both from Oakland University. His career goal is to run his own lab as a university professor.

Pronouns: He/him/his

Rob's Twitter account

Undergraduates & postbacs

Landon Blakely

Email: LandonBlakely@my.unt.edu

Landon joined the lab in spring 2024, as part of our team that is databasing the Elm Fork Natural Heritage Museum's invertebrate collection. He is currently pursuing a BS in Environmental Science, and interested in a career in ecological restoration and humanitarian outreach. Landon is a member of UNT's Society for Ecological Restoration chapter.

Viktorya Dietrich

Viktorya joined the lab in spring 2023.

Julia Dilley

E-mail: juliadilley@my.unt.edu

Julia joined the lab in spring 2024, as part of our team that is databasing the Elm Fork Natural Heritage Museum's invertebrate collection. She is pursuing a BS in Ecology for Environmental Science, and is interested in community and restoration ecology. Julia is a member of UNT's Student Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration as well as the UNT Mean Green Tree Team.

Pronouns: she/her

Aidan McKinnis

Aidan joined the lab in spring 2023. Aidan is pursuing a BS in Ecology for Environmental Science and has broad interest in conservation, habitat restoration, and urban ecology. As a member of the UNT Pollinative Prairie Committee, Aidan documents taxa found at the Pollinative Prairie. In Aidan's free time, they enjoy walking trails and taking care of their many house plants.

Pronouns: any/all

Jada Martinez

E-mail: jadamartinez@my.unt.edu

Jada joined the lab in summer 2023. They are pursuing a BS in Ecology for Environmental Science and a GIS certificate, and anticipate graduating in spring 2025. Jada has an interest in plants, insects, habitat restoration, and regenerative agriculture. In their free time, they iNaturalist while hiking and take care of their two cats.

Pronouns: they/them

Monze Martinez

Monze joined the lab in fall 2023.

Pronouns: he/him

Julian Moore

E-mail: julianmoore@my.unt.edu

Julian joined the lab in summer 2023. He is currently pursuing a BS in Ecology for Environmental Science. His interests include conservation ecology and invertebrate biology. Julian is a member of UNT's Society for Ecological Restoration chapter and is involved in praire restoration projects.

Pronouns: he/him/they/them

Sarah Paroski

Sarah joined the lab in summer 2023. She is pursuing a BS in Ecology for Environmental Science with certificates in Water Resources and Sustainability. Sarah is interested in aquatic conservation ecology and habitat restoration. She is part of UNT's Society for Ecological Restoration Greenhouse Crew where she helps plant native North Texas species at the Pollinative Prairie.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Ethan Phillips

Ethan joined the lab in summer 2023. He is pursuing a BS in Ecology for Environmental Science with a minor in German. Ethan is extremely excited to *bee* in the lab and learn more about the amazing world of pollination! Ethan is a member of UNT's We Mean Green Fund and is leading a project that aims to strengthen local cavity-nesting bee populations by providing shelter and food.

Abbey Schedler

E-mail: abbeyschedler@my.unt.edu

Abbey joined the lab in summer 2023. She is pursuing a BS in Ecology for Environmental Science with anticipated graduation in spring 2024. Abbey is interested in land management and forestry. Abbey previously worked as an intern with Keep Denton Beautiful and is a meber of the UNT Society for Ecological Restoration chapter.

Pronounds: she/her

LAB ALUMNI

Michelle Vohs - Our first Lab Manager! (2020-2021)

Michelle helped launch the lab. She is now the Gender Justice Organizer with the Asian American Organizing Project. Michelle obtained her BS in Conservation Biology with an Entomology minor in 2017 from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Laura Taylor - Lab Manager (2021-2023)

Laura joined the lab in September 2021. She is broadly interested in the intersection between behavioral, conservation and urban ecology. Laura obtained her BS in Biology and Environmental Studies in 2020 from Trinity University. Laura is now a graduate student with Elsa Youngstead at NC State University, studying butterfly conservation.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Marie Muniz - Many roles (2020-2024)

Marie joined the lab as an undergraduate research assistant in 2020. She graduated in 2023 with a major in Ecology for Environmental Sciences, minor in Chemistry and GIS Certificate. Marie's Honors' research in the lab investigated bee social learning across trophic levels. College of Science spotlight article on Marie's time as a UNT undergrad. After graduating, Marie became our Lab Manager. She is now a graduate student with Heather Grab at Penn State University studying bee conservation and behavior, and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Shannon Collins - MS 2021-2023

Shannon studied the impacts of livestock grazing on ground-nesting bee communities via changes to nesting and foraging resources. She is now the Palouse Prairie Project Manager with The Phoenix Conservancy in Pullman, WA.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Isaac Eastland (BS Ecology for Environmental Science, 2022-2023)

Alejandra Gage (BS Ecology for Environmental Science, 2021; now a UNT graduate student)

Christopher Graffam (BS Biology with Chemistry minor, 2021-2022; now a UNT graduate student)

Alyssa Kinman (2021-2022)

John Linogao (BS Ecology for Environmental Science, 2022-2023)

Pablo Lopez (BS Ecology for Environmental Science & BA Integrative Studies, 2021-2022; now an Environmental Investigator with TCEQ)

Brandon Meadows (BS Ecology for Environmental Science, 2022-2023)

Nick Medina (BS in Ecology for Environmental Science, 2023-2024)

Karla Montanez (2022)

Devin Pedraza (BS Ecology for Environmental Science, 2022; now an Environmental Permit Specialist with TCEQ)

Brand Richter (BS Geography- Environmental Studies with an Urban Policy and Planning Minor, 2021-2023; now a plant ecology research fellow with ORISE stationed at the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility)