Our lab works to understand the life histories, population, and community dynamics of organisms who facilitate the decomposition process in a variety of ecosystems. Our research has direct application to wildlife, forensic, veterinary, and medical sciences.
Research Space
The D.E.A.T.H. Ecology Laboratory is located in the Henry E. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven. Research is conducted in the laboratory and within recreational forest blocks and agricultural landscapes.
As a highly collaborative research group with multidisciplinary research goals; students may cross-train with other faculty within and outside the University who specialize in genetics, physiology, biochemistry, and more.
Personal Awards
Conference Presentation Awards
Curry College
Research Leadership:
- Taylor Conley ('23)
Departmental Service:
- Sarah Corbin ('23)
Excellence in Research:
- William Noyes ('24)
- Dannielle Borrasso ('23)
Leadership and Service:
- Hailey Gonsalves ('23)
- Amelia Beauregard ('23)
- Caitlin O'Reilly ('23)
- Lily Turner-Burrell ('23)
Distinction in Forensic Science ('23):
- Hailey Gonsalves ('23)
Honors Distinction
Curry College
Amelia Beauregard. 2023
Hailey Gonsalves. 2023
Caitlin O'Reilly. 2023
Texas A&M University
Steven Graham. 2021
Abby Jones. 2018
Steven Graham. Third Place Undergraduate Oral Presentation Award. Southwestern Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. 2022.
Abby Jones. Second Place Undergraduate Oral Presentation Award. 19th Annual Ecological Integration Symposium, College Station, TX. 2018.
Where are they Now?
Graduate School
- Sarah Corbin [MS, Arcadia University]
- Steven Graham [PhD, Colorado State University]
- Abby Jones [PhD, Mississippi State University]
Medical Examiner Assistant
- Brittany Bailey [MA State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner]
-Hailey Gonsalves [MA State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner]
Laboratory Technician
- Taylor Conley [Tufts University]
-Caitlin O'Reilly [IDEXX Laboratories]
- Benjamin Williams [Brigham and Women's Hospital]
Animal Ambassador
- Sarah Channen [Franklin Park Zoo]
Data Auditor
- Jovina Monteiro [Data Quest, Ltd.]
Current Research Openings
Below are projects that have room for more researchers.
Environmental Forensic Entomology
Filth flies are known for moving pathogens from animal waste, trash, and remains to the surrounding environment, making them possible indicators of pathogen prevalence in ecosystems. Staphylococcus aureus is recognized as a Category B pathogen under the CDC and is of high concern of transmission in human populations, especially with antibiotic resistant strains (MRSA). Livestock farmers are required to regularly monitor through expensive methodologies that can be improved through insect monitoring. Researchers will utilized filth flies to detect the presence of Staph. aureus and MRSA for use in pathogen monitoring of livestock facilities.
Requirements:
-Successful completion of BSL-2 and Bloodborne Pathogen training (will be part of onboarding process)
-Willingness to work with insects both alive and dead
-Willingness to learn sterile technique and bacterial culture
-Experience or willing to learn about rapid antigen testing (I.e. lateral flow immunosorbent assays or latex agglutination tests)
Tasks:
- Creating and testing protocols that confirm procedure for culturing Staph. aureus from flies.
- Collecting flies from livestock facilities to culture bacteria from.
- Create standard operating procedures for using flies to perform rapid tests for Staph. aureus and MRSA using latex agglutination tests
- Train students in BSL-1 laboratories on methodologies using Staph. epidermidis.
- Create an online workshop desinged to train farmers on using flies as monitors.
Students interested in research in the lab should send an email expressing interest with their resume/CV