David Ray - I am a broadly trained evolutionary biologist with research interests in genome evolution and an emphasis on the ways transposable elements (TEs) impact genome structure and function.  We also use modern genomic methods to investigate phylogenetics and population genetics in a variety of species of conservation concern. People in my lab work with organisms that include crocodiles, bats, butterflies, and rodents, all with these major focus areas in mind. We use bioinformatic techniques to analyze raw next generation sequencing data from both DNA and RNA as well as assembled genomes. I also teach courses on these topics, including Genomes and Genome Evolution, Genomes and Society, Transposable Element Biology, and Genetics.  I earned my BS and Master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina and taught high school Biology, Chemistry and Physics before returning to graduate school and earning my PhD from Texas Tech University in 2002.  After that, I held postdoctoral and assistant professor positions at Louisiana State University, West Virginia University and Mississippi State University before returning to TTU as an associate professor. My CV is available here.

Austin Osmanski (PhD candidate) - Running around the country as a kid in west Texas inspired me to pursue a life studying the natural world of biology. I earned my Undergraduate (2008-2012) and Masters (2012-2014) Degrees from Angelo State University where I conducted ecological field research on native herpetofauna in the Chihuahuan Desert. As a new doctoral student at Texas Tech, my biological interests have diversified with the guidance of my co-advisors Drs. David Ray and Lou Densmore. I recently ventured into the intriguing world of genomics and bioinformatics where I currently work on comparative structural variations of crocodilian genomes to deduce evolutionary relationships.

Nicole Paulat (PhD student) - My research interests are in the impact of transposable elements (TEs) on gene and genome evolution, and their impact on gene expression, especially in non-traditional model organisms. Currently, I am working on several projects: 1) using polymorphic transposable elements in Myotis bats to examine the effect of transposition events on the mutation rate of nearby DNA sequences, 2) investigating selection on DNA repair genes, 3) TE diversity across mammalian clades (and invertebrates).

Carlos Garcia (MS student) - My research in The Ray Laboratory will focus on working with a rare and potentially endangered species, the Texas kangaroo rat (Dipodomys elator). I am taking whisker samples as a noninvasive method to collect DNA and get a better understanding of the genetic structure of the species. This will also help determine the species’ distribution and evaluate whether the genetic structure is characterized by recognizable sub-populations. I am also working with a pair of vesprtilionid bats in in Louisiana, and I am trying to genetically differentiate the Southeastern myotis bat (Myotis austroriparius) and the Northern Long-Eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) in order to assess the abundance and distribution of Myotis septrentrionalis in Louisiana.

Sarah Vaca (MS student) - Born in The Ecuadorian Andes and lover of mammals. I did my B.S. at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, with a thesis in phylogenetics of the Carollia castanea species complex. My interests are conservation, biogeography, diversity, and evolutionary relationships and patterns of bats. As a new M.S. student at Texas Tech, I am interested in learning bioinformatics and genomic tools in order to understand evolutionary relationships in Neotropical bats, mainly in species of the genus Carollia.

Francisco Castellanos (PhD student) -I am a passionate biologist from Ecuador, deeply interested in genetics, ecology, and the conservation of mammals. While pursuing my Genetic's bachelor degree, I ventured in studying chromosomal features in the elusive Myotis bat genus. Unsolved questions from this work woke in me a particular interest in Transposable Elements and in their potential to be used as molecular markers to solve intricate phylogenetic relationships in this diverse group. Currently, as a PhD student at the Ray Lab, one of my projects focuses on streamlining a pipeline created during my Master’s studies to characterize a particular type of Transposable Element called SINE in order to build homoplasy-free phylogenies in Chiroptera, with the goal to extend it to other taxa. My research interests, however, not only lie in taxonomy but also in studying adaptive traits that make bats unique among mammals, immune response and metabolism being some of them.

Manuel Hoyos (PhD student) - I am a Colombian biologist with a strong background in wildlife biology, particularly focusing on the field of mammalogy. My scientific interest revolves around exploring the molecular basis that fosters animal diversity. Currently, my purpose is to delve into the role that transposable elements can play in the vast diversity of bats. The scope of my current goals fundamentally encompasses three perspectives: population, genomic, and regulatory.

Angela Correa: I am a Colombian biologist and biochemist with a big interest in understanding genetic changes in populations and their impact on adaptation. I'm interested in genetic conservation, ecology, biochemistry, and the interdisciplinary connections between biology and other scientific fields. My research centers on how transposable elements influence multicellularity in certain species of protists. Additionally, my thesis investigates how transposable elements generate fusion genes in ticks.