Lab Members

Ryan Thum

Associate Professor

My general field of interest encompass evolutionary and molecular ecology, with a specific emphasis on invasive aquatic species. My research is rooted in conceptual evolutionary ecology, but aims to contribute conceptual knowledge and understanding to guide practical decision making and solutions regarding invasive species - on of the world's most pressing evironmental problems. 

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Greg Chorak

Post-Doctoral Researcher

I am generally interested in evolutionary and molecular ecology. My research is focused on understanding herbicide resistance in nuisance weeds. Specifically, I am working with the aquatic invasive plant, watermilfoil, to identify molecular markers that can accurately predict the response of watermilfoil to commonly used herbicides. I see my research contributing to both basic science and applied management.

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Zach Kuzniar

PhD Student

I am interested in the evolution of herbicide resistance in aquatic plants. I plan to explore the effects of herbicide management in irrigation canals, and impacts to agricultural systems that depend on water from them. When away from Bozeman, I live and work in Boise as a biologist in the plant management industry.

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Ashley Wolfe

Master's Student

I most recently was a Research Asociate in the Thum Lab that assisted with various projects in both the greenhouse and lab to support research on the evolutionary and molecular ecology of invasive aquatic plant species. As a Master's Student, my work has been forcuesd on currating and analyzing a centeralized watermilfoil database we have created. Addtionally, I help provide genetic species identification services to aquatic plant managers. 

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Del Hannay

I graduated in May 2022 from Truman State University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Jazz Studies. My general curiosities in plant sciences include the evolutionary patterns of speciation and diversification, as well as preserving and maintaining natural resources.
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Emma Rice

Research Associate

I assisted with many projects in the laboratory and greenhouse to support research on evolutionary and molecular ecology of key invasive aquatic plants. Additional work includes providing genetic species identification services to aquatic plant managers.

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Yuan-Yuan Chen

Visiting Researcher

I was a visiting scholar from Wuhan Botany Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences. I am interested in population genetics of aquatic and wetland plants with special emphasis on the tempo-spatial patterns of genetic diversity and gene flow models in natural populations.

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Anna French

Undergraduate Researcher

I studied Biological Sciences and Chemistry. My work in the lab was primarily focused on the Crested Floating Heart project. I helped develop AFLP primer pairs for the Nymphoides genus and perform AFLPs and ITS sequencing on Nymphoides cristata (invasive to the United States) and N. aquatica (native) to determine if there is hybridization occurring between the two species.

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Katelin Killoy

Undergraduate Researcher

I majored in Conservation Biology and Ecology. I worked under a grant from the Undergraduate Scholar Program studying the genetic diversity of crested floating heart (Nymphoides peltata). This data will give insight on the number of introductions and geographic origin of this invasive species.

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Jeff Pashnick

PhD Student

My resarch focuses on developting genomic resources (e.g. molecular markers, linkage maps) to provide resources to link genotype to phenotype in the non-model Myriophyllum spp..

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Madison Martinez

Undergraduate Researcher

I graduated in Chemical and Biological Engineering. I was a research assistant working for Zach Kuzniar, who is investigating the evolution of herbicide resistance in aquatic plants found in irrigation canals. I maintained pondweed cultures within the greenhouse as well as performed DNA extractions of plant samples taken from irrigation canals. 

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Patrick Douglas

Undergraduate Researcher

I am a senior in the ecology department and worked in the Thum lab assisting with research focused on herbicide resistance in the aquatic invasive plant Eurasian Watermilfoil. Part of my focus was performing DNA extractions for sequencing of the aquatic invasive plant Vallisneria.

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Katie Gannon

Research Associate

I graduated with a Master's degree from the Thum lab in July 2021, where my research focused on the spatial structure and temporal dynamics of invasive watermilfoil genotypes. I then worked as the field coordinator for the Thum lab; organizing sample collection across the United States as well as managing the molecular genetics poriton of the lab identifying watermilfoil species.

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Hannah Hoff

Research Associate

I completed my Master’s degree in the Thum Lab studying hybridization and invasiveness in Eurasian watermilfoil. As a Research Associate, I continued to work on characterizing and cataloging genotypes of invasive watermilfoil in their responses to commonly used auxinic herbicides, while maintaining greenhouse cultures of genotypes that are of interest to the lab.

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Sabrina Morgan

Undergraduate Researcher

As an undergraduate, I studied Conservation Biology and Ecology as well as minoring in Hispanic studies. I started working in the Thum lab in Fall 2021, and have learned so much! I mostly helped around with DNA extractions, running gel electrophoresis, greenhouse culture maintenence and some PCR work. This was a great experience to learn how people in the Plant Bioscience field work and what exactly goes on in a lab such as this.

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