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Dr. Kimberly Komatsu (she/her) - lead investigator
Dr. Komatsu is an ecologist who investigates how community dynamics are being altered by human-caused global change in ecosystems around the world, including grasslands, forests, and agro-ecosystems. Her research focuses on plant competitive dynamics, plant-herbivore interactions, and the legume-rhizobia mutualism. She utilizes long-term experiments, observational data collection, and broad scale data synthesis to uncover the consequences of climate change, nutrient pollution, and biodiversity loss. CV Google Scholar email Rachael Brenneman (she/her) - PhD student
Rachael is a PhD student interested in studying global change in grasslands, especially as it pertains to rangeland management and conservation. Understanding how our grasslands are changing is vital to finding the balance between conservation and proper management for grazing. email Elise Grabda (she/her) - PhD student
Elise's research interests are focused on understanding the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic stressors on community assemblages, ecosystem functioning, and the mechanisms which enhance resilience to those stressors. Specifically, how ecosystem functions in grasslands are enhanced by biodiversity across trophic levels and through time. email Kelly Clark (she/her) - PhD student
Kelly's research interests include investigating plant soil-microbe interactions and how they influence community dynamics in various ecosystems. Currently, she is interested in legume/rhizobia relationships and how rhizobia can influence invasions. CV email Olivia Kjuka (she/her) - MS student
Olivia is interested in community-level disturbances, especially in North Carolina ecosystems. Her current research project is investigating the effects microplastics have on plant-herbivore-predator systems. email Kai DeLeon (he/him) - MS student
Kai is a master’s student who is interested in connecting biogeochemical cycles to population dynamics through the lens of the decomposer community. He is currently studying how decomposition drives nutrient cycling in the nutrient limited longleaf pine savanna. CV email Maya Parker-Smith (she/her) - lab manager
Maya is interested in the ecological drivers of change in tallgrass prairies. She completed her master's degree at the University of Missouri in 2022 where she studied how seed predation can affect restorative efforts in prairies. She hopes to delve further into how ecosystem management can mediate anthropogenic impacts in grasslands. email Jonathan Bean (he/him) - undergraduate researcher
Hey everyone, my name is Jonathan Bean. I am an undergraduate here at UNCG studying biology with a minor in chemistry. I am excited to get some hands-on experience learning lab techniques and to further my knowledge on the impacts of climate change. My lab interests lean more towards the realm of pathology and disease ecology, and I hope my time with the Community Dynamics Lab will strengthen my knowledge of the impacts climate change has on disease. Caden Brady (he/him) - undergraduate researcher
Hey! My name is Caden Brady, and I’m a fifth-year biology major with a concentration in biotechnology and a minor in chemistry. My research interests are centered on microbiology and the environment. I joined Dr. Komatsu’s lab to gain lab/research experience, which will help me with my future career goals. After I graduate, I plan to pursue an M.S. in biology. Silver Caldera (she/her) - undergraduate researcher
My research interests are based around genetics. Understanding how the DNA and genes of bacteria can not only help themselves survive but also increase the survivability of other organisms. Lynn Dabliz (she/her) - undergraduate researcher
Hi! I’m Lynn. I’m a senior Biology major with a Chemistry minor at UNCG, and I’m currently on the pre-PA track. I’m passionate about learning and being part of a collaborative research environment. Outside of academics, you can usually find me on the basketball court, playing board games with friends, or hanging out with my cats. Samantha Esparza (she/her) - undergraduate researcher
Airelle Newkirk (she/her) - undergraduate researcher
Hi, my name is Airelle Newkirk and I am currently a junior at UNCG I am majoring in Biology and have an interest in medicine, I hope to attend Physician Assistant school after undergrad. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be involved in undergraduate research, so far it has been a fun experience. Atlas Pratt-Brown (he/him) - undergraduate researcher
My name is Atlas Pratt-Brown, and I’m a junior at UNCG. I’m pursuing a Biology degree. I hope to work in entomology, specifically conservation. I joined the Community Dynamics Lab to learn about the research process and gain experience working with insects. Elliot Turbeville (they/them) - undergraduate researcher
My name is Elliot Turbeville and I am a senior B.S. Biology student at UNCG. Research-wise, I am interested in ecology, mainly in grassland and conservation ecology with the hope to attend graduate school and get my M.S in one or the other (maybe both ha-ha). In my everyday life I am an avid rock climber, hiker, conservationist, and explorer with the hope to make a meaningful lasting impact on the way people view science and the climate crisis. Madeline Wild (she/her) - undergraduate researcher
My name is Madeline Wild and I am a junior! I'm majoring in biology and am on the pre-med track. I joined the Community Dynamics Lab to further my knowledge about the environment and to also learn good lab techniques and practices that I can use for years to come. I have really enjoyed this opportunity so far and can not wait to learn more! You?
If you are interested in joining our lab as a graduate student (masters or PhD), postdoc, or technician, please get in touch! |
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Past Graduate Students, Postdocs, and Technicians
Millie Ortiz (MS student) Zachary Bunch (MS student) Sarah Gora (lab manager) Sarah Alley (beanDIP and GMDR technician) Shelley Bennett (lab manager) Dr. Amy Hruska (post-doctoral fellow) Dr. Tim Ohlert (graduate research fellow) Dr. Smriti Pehim Limbu (graduate research fellow) Dr. Alyssa Young (graduate research fellow) Caitlyn Dittmeier (communications fellow) Dr. Kathryn Bloodworth (lab manager) Dr. Benton Taylor (post-doctoral fellow) Past Teacher Externs Jessica White (South River High School) Kimberly Cox (Baltimore County Public Schools) |
Past Undergraduate Interns
Stephanie Besa (UNCG) Holly Cha (UNCG) Leslie DeCuesta (UNCG) Layla Eglin (UNCG) ZaNay Forney (UNCG) Elijah Resuello (UNCG) Caroline Ferguson (UNCG) Zion York (UNCG) Zoe Edmonson (UNCG) Maleak Whitaker (UNCG) Kimberly Gonzales (UNCG) Brianna Worley (UNCG) Milan Toomer (UNCG) Special Puri (UNCG) Jayda Gresham (UNCG) Wudeh Saidykhan (UNCG) Kyla Grant (UNCG) Nadeeah Flemming (McDaniel) Calisa Myrie (Howard U) Mia Gaughan (Vassar) Annika Munson (U Chicago) Elizabeth Blake (U Michigan) Marcela Morassi (U Texas, Austin) Rachael Brenneman (Eastern Mennonite) Skye Austin (Shenandoah U) Julia Smith (U Chicago) Ashley Boyette (Bryn Mawr) Alitzel Villanueva (Middlebury) Nicole Esch (North Carolina State) Brian Pfau (Seattle Pacific) |
Fall 2024: (back rows) Elise Grabda, Kim Komatsu, Leslie DeCuesta, Atlas Pratt-Brown, Airelle Newkirk, Ryan Hargrove, Silver Caldera, Yoseph Sabek, Caroline Ferguson, Kelly Clark, Stephanie Besa, Madeline Wild, (front row) Millie Ortiz, Layla Elgin, Zanay Forney, Rachael Brenneman
2022: Kim Komatsu, Zachary Bunch, Sarah Gora, Wudeh Saidykhan, Kyla Grant, Zion York, Jayda Gresham, Milan Toomer, Rachael Brenneman
2019: Alitzel Villanueva, Amy Hruska, Kim Komatsu, Kathryn Bloodworth, Ashley Boyette, Ben Taylor
2017: Kathryn Bloodworth, Kim Komatsu, Jessica White, Brian Pfau
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Fall 2025: (back rows) Samantha Esparza, Caden Brady, Sarah Hill, Cailin Nazworth, Atlas Pratt-Brown, Elise Grabda, Madeline Wild, Kelly Clark, Kim Komatsu, (front row) Maya Parker-Smith, Silver Caldera
Fall 2023: Brianna Worley, Kim Komatsu, Rachael Brenneman, Milan Toomer, Zoe Edmonson, Zachary Bunch, Zion York, Elise Grabda, Millie Ortiz, Zaria McKoy, Kimberly Gonzalez, Special Puri, Holly Cha, Elijah Resuello
2020: Amy Hruska, Kim Komatsu, Skye Austin, Shelley Bennett, Marcela Morassi, Sarah Alley, Rachael Brenneman
2018: Kim Komatsu, Nicole Esch, Kathryn Bloodworth, Ben Taylor
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