People

Cory T. Williams

Associate Professor

My overarching goal is to combine molecular, genomic, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary approaches to advance our understanding of the causes and consequences of climate driven shifts in timing. To do so, I capitalize on long-term monitoring datasets, implement lab and field experiments, and support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as they pursue their own innovative ideas. My approach to research is built on key collaborations I have developed with chemists, neurobiologists, ecologists, bioinformaticians, and wildlife biologists. Increasingly, my lab focuses on combining whole-organism studies of physiology and behavior with genome-based technologies for investigating the cellular and genetic basis of adaptation. We are keen to develop new collaborations that allow for the use of in vivo methods to interrogate gene function based on targets identified in our ongoing work.

Contact: cory.williams(at)colostate.edu

Austin Allison

PhD Student

Colorado State University

Austin's interests within the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology are broad, ranging from individual physiology to community ecology. His dissertation research uses hibernating mammals as models to elucidate the eco-evolutionary drivers of individual life-history strategies. He previously completed a M.S. under Dr. Courtney Conway at the University of Idaho studying behavior and demography of the federally threatened northern Idaho ground squirrel.

Sarah Kerr

PhD Student

Colorado State University

Sarah's interests and experiences lie in the field of marine mammal ecology. After living in California for the past couple of years, Sarah has been involved in various research projects mainly involving northern elephant seals. Her MS degree under Dr. Frank Fish at West Chester University focused on the biomechanical energetics of gallop sequences in California sea lions. Her current dissertation research focuses on applying machine learning models to accelerometry data to classify behaviors in northern fur seals. She is combining biologging with stable isotope analyses to better understand how individual variability in foraging behavior correlates with reproductive success.

Lorena Escobosa Alcantar

PhD Student

Colorado State University

Lorena is passionate about biology, particularly in applying data-driven approaches to the conservation of wildlife. Specifically, she is excited to integrate the utilization of longitudinal datasets, the implementation of laboratory and field experimentation, and multidisciplinary collaborations into her dissertation research, which will focus on the life-history strategies of arctic ground squirrels. Lorena holds a BA in Biology and Computer Science with a minor in Data Science from Macalester College, MN.

Nik Monte

MS Student

Colorado State University

Nik is conducting his Master's research on Arctic ground squirrels in northern Alaska and on Wyoming ground squirrels in Colorado. Nik's research will explore sex-differences in life-history strategies. Nik completed his BS in Biology at Colorado State University.

Lab Alumni

Cole Deal (PhD Student 2021-26)

Cole used hibernating mammals as a model to study seasonal changes in the neural circuits that act to regulate/modulate feeding and appetite. Cole previously completed a MS degree at Memorial University working with Dr. Hélène Volkoff, where he investigate the role of the thyroid hormone axis in regulating metabolism and energy homeostasis in fish.

Cole is currently an Assistant Area Management Biologist at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Anna Bautista (Lab Manager 2022-24)

Anna hails from the suburbs of Chicago, completed her undergraduate degree in Zoology at CSU, and was lab manager for both the Williams and Wilsterman labs. As part of her work in the Williams Lab, she investigated amino acid specific nitrogen stable isotope trophic discrimination in raptor nestlings.

Anna is currently a PhD student in the lab of Dr. Aubrey Kelley at Emory University.

Matt Kynoch (MS Student 2019-23)

Matt was co-advised by Knut Kielland. For his MS, he studied the movement ecology and energetics of Canada lynx in the Brooks range of Northern Alaska. His project combined satellite telemetry with biologging and involved a collaboration with state and federal wildlife agencies.

See a National Geographic Article on Matt's research. Matt is currently a Research Associate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Wildlife Co-op Unit.

Helen Chmura (Postdoctoral Fellow 2018-21)

Helen is interested in the mechanisms underpinning seasonal changes in behavior and physiology. She completed her PhD at UC Davis, examining the link between reproductive phenology and autumn migratory departure timing in arctic songbirds. In the Williams Lab, she led research on the neuroendocrine mechanisms that control seasonal timing in hibernating mammals. She also examined the effects of climate change on the hibernation phenology of arctic ground squirrels at our long-term study site in northern Alaska.

Helen is currently a Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Ecologist with the USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station.

Cassie Duncan (MS Student 2018-21)

Cassie's main research interests revolve around neuro-endocrinology and reproductive physiology of mammals. For her MS research, she used electron microscopy to measure ultrastructural changes of neuroendocrine and endocrine responding cells associated with reproductive timing in hibernating arctic ground squirrels.

Cassie currently works in Veterinary Services with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Devin Johnson (PhD Student 2017-21)

Devin used nest cameras and stable isotope approaches to investigate niche partitioning and individual specialization in an Arctic raptor guild His research took place near Nome, AK, and is a part of the Peregrine Funds' Gyrfalcon Conservation Project in collaboration with Dr. David Anderson (Peregrine Fund) and Dr. Travis Booms (Alaska Department of Fish & Game). Devin developed a novel approach to refine dietary estimates based on stable isotope mixing models which involves using camera traps to better delineate individual and species-level variation in isotopic discrimination. See a National Geographic Article on Devin's research.

Devin is currently a Modeler with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska Marine Mammals Management Office

Anusha Shankar (Postdoctoral Fellow 2019-20)

Anusha is interested in how animals respond (physiologically and behaviorally) to extreme and energy-limited environments. For her PhD research at Stony Brook University, she studied free-living hummingbird torpor and daily energy management in Ecuador and Arizona. In the Williams Lab, she examined how short photoperiods influence sleep, sugar consumption, adiposity and the gut microbiome in diurnal grass rats.

Anusha is currently a Reader (equivalent to Assistant Professor) at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Hyderabad in India. Visit her website at anushashankar.weebly.com

Sara Wilbur (MS Student 2016-2019)

Sara was co-advised by Dr. Brian Barnes. Her MS research revealed that telomere shortening occurs in a tissue-specific manner across hibernation. While use of torpor appears to confer a protective effect on telomere length, telomere shortening likely occurs during periodic arousals and is particularly pronounced in thermogenic brown adipose tissue.

Sara is currently a Communications Coordinator in the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Past Undergraduates (UAF & CSU Only)

M.E. Gabrielle (CSU: 2024) - NSF REU Student
   - Gene expression during pre-hibernation fattening.

Lizzy Osterhoudt (CSU: 2023-2024) - McNair Fellow
- Ground squirrel glucocorticoids & camera trapping

Mo Sherrier (CSU: 2022-2023) - Ground Squirrel Project
- Molecular control of fattening

Sophia Bracio (UAF: 2021) - URSA Award
          - Muskox growth & nutrition

Grace Burrell (UAF: 2020-2021) - URSA Award & UAF Capstone
          - Climate change effects on arctic ground squirrel phenology

Kyle Callegari (UAF: 2018-2020) - BLaST Research Award
          - Effects of photoperiod on the grass rat microbiome

Shelby McCahon (UAF: 2018-2020) - BLaST Research Fellow
          - Effects of photoperiod on seasonal depression in grass rats

Meret Beutler (UAF: 2019-2020) - Tech on NSF Project
          - Neuroendocrine drivers of seasonal timing in hibernators

Maddie Michaud (UAF: 2019-2020) - Tech on NSF Project
          - Neuroendocrine drivers of seasonal timing in hibernators

Tiffany Lehnerd (UAF: 2018-2019) - Tech on NSF Project
          - Neuroendocrine drivers of seasonal timing in hibernators

Sara Sheffer (UAF: 2018) - Tech on NSF Project
          - Neuroendocrine drivers of seasonal timing in hibernators