Prof Romi
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undergraduate research philosophy & lab

I teach research methods and I research teaching methods. My experience has taught me that ‘the extraordinary’ happens through the process of teaching students the art of doing ecological research. 
In the beginning, I found it hard to recruit students early enough to invest in the long-term nature of research. 
I also found that snails are not necessarily as sexy to students as something medically-related like cancer. 
​It takes my enthusiasm for the crazy critters or the “word” from one of the already ecologically-converted to convince some students otherwise.  Students make up my lab community and I consider them real contributors to the research.  The practice of guiding students through the complete scientific process (i.e. where outcome results in poster, talk or paper) serves as the best evidence of my teaching effectiveness. I've been very fortunate to have incredible students.

Undergraduate Researchers & Their Projects

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Madison
​Granier

Accumulation & Degradation of apple snail
eDNA
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Shannon Walsh

 May 18 Grad
Asian mystery snails of the INHS

Medical scribe

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Hugo Cepeda

May 18 Grad
Pomacea spp. genetics
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Hannah Winkler

May 19 Grad
Unravelling mysterysnail DNA​

Working for GirlStart
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Carissa Bishop

May 17 Grad
ITS Screen
Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Medical Lab Tech
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Bianca Perez

May 17 Grad
Japanese mystery snail
Biologist for State of West Virginia
Perez et al. 2016
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Sofia Campos

Dec 16 Grad
Phylo-geography Phylogenetics
Employment in Wellness Center
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Averi Segrest

May 16 Grad
Snail-mussel interactions
Self Employed Color Street
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Paul Glasheen

Honors
​May 16 Grad

Hybridization
Medical School Student
glasheen et al. 2017
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Alex
Petrucci

May 16 Grad
GIS and apple snails in Clear Lake
Graduate School Student
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Allie
​Watts

May 15 Grad
Chemical cues and behavior
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Carson Savrick

May 15 Grad
Pop genetics of P. maculata in southern US

Medical School Student
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Amber Cochran

May 14 Grad
Hatchling growth
Employed at Bank
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Jonathon Miley

May 14 Grad
Georgetown Salamander
Comm Coll Computer Science Instructor
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Bex Petro

May 14 Grad
Art & Apple Snails
Media Specialist
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Allyson Plantz

May 13 Grad
Riparian predation and apple snails
​
Peace Corps
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Alexandra
Hill

May 13 Grad
Turtle predation on hatchlings
fact sheet
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Tracy Day

Dec 12 Grad
Stable isotopes and apple snails
Public Health Intern
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Katie Gibson
​Foster

May 12 Grad
Snail-mussel interactions
PhD Student Conservation Biology
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Alexis
Kropf
Sanchez

May 12 Grad
Female reproduction
Medical Doctor
​(Residency)
Kyle et al. 2011
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Megan Rice Shelton


​May 11 Grad
Hatchling survival and disturbance
Medical Doctor Residency
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Matt Trawick

May 10 Grad
Hatchling survival and water stress
EPA Lawyer
Burks et al. 2010
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Olivia Stanzer

May 10 Grad
Ecological role of ovorubin
PhD Physical Therapy
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Scott Manusov

May 09 Grad
Aggregation of P. maculata 
Lab Technician
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James McDonough

May 09 Grad
Field oviposition of apple snails
MD Resident
Kyle et al. 2009
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Colin Kyle

Honors
May 09 Grad

Oviposition behavior of non-native apple snails
PhD Quantitative Ecology
kyle et al. 2013
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Sarah Hensley


​May 08 Grad
Juvenile consumption of exotic plants
PhD
Teacher & Writer
burks et al. 2011
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Abby Youens Smith

May 07 Grad
Juvenile growth patterns
MD
​Resident
Youens and Burks 2008
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Brandon Boland

May 07 Grad
Food Choice in apple snails
PhD Molecular Nutrition
​Postdoc
Boland et al. 2008
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Matt Barnes

Honors
​May 06 Grad

Fecundity of Pomacea maculata 
PhD Molecular Ecology
​Faculty TT
barnes et al. 2008
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Becca Marfurt Theodorakos

May '05 Grad, Environmental Studies
M.S. in Aquatic Biology, Texas State
Now with TRC Environmental Corporation

Becca gets her own special box as the student to actually introduce apple snails into the lab at Southwestern University.  Her natural curiosity has spurred over 10 years of research with no end in sight.


  • Home
  • About
    • CV
    • Publications
  • Chocolate Education
    • Credentials
    • Events: Taste Chocolate Better
    • Chocolate Class
    • Chocolate Adventures
    • Commonly Asked ?s
  • College Teaching
    • Courses
    • Pedagogy
  • Apple Snail Research
    • Undergraduate Lab >
      • Lab News
    • Current Projects >
      • Hybridization
      • Phylogeography (UR)
      • eDNA
      • Invasive Species
    • Collaborators
  • London 2020