About Us
Understanding Aquatic Ecosystems Across Time and Space
The Spanbauer lab moved from the University of Toledo to the University of Kentucky in 2025. We are a diverse team of scientists interested in how the environment impacts communities and populations over evolutionary and ecological timescales. We employ an interdisciplinary approach, fusing traditional paleoecological methodology with molecular and theoretical ecology. We are currently recruiting undergraduate and graduate students in the lab.
Meet The Team
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Former Team Members
Majoi Nascimento (2024-2025) Postdoctoral Scholar
John Dilworth (2024-2025) Laboratory Technician
Amanda Oeder (2023-2025 Undergraduate Directed Research, Undergraduate Research Fellow, Department of Environmental Sciences Honor’s Thesis advisee, Laboratory Assistant, Laboratory Technician)
Emily Mielke (2023-2024 Undergraduate Directed Research, Undergraduate Research Fellow, Laboratory Assistant)
Spencer Matthews (2025 Undergraduate Directed Research
Abigail Sanders (2025 Undergraduate Directed Research
Phoebe Jackson (2024 Undergraduate Directed Research)
Samantha Krouse (2024 Undergraduate Directed Research)
Melanie Richards (2024 Undergraduate Directed Research, Laboratory Assistant)
Alyssa Armstrong (2021-2024, non-thesis M.Sc.)
Paul Martin (2022-23 Undergraduate Directed Research, Department of
Environmental Sciences Honor’s Thesis advisee, Laboratory Assistant)
Devin Wilson (2022-23, Directed Research, Laboratory Intern)
Mason Kolesar (2022-23, Undergraduate Directed Research,
Undergraduate Research Fellow)
Sophia Bender (2023, Research Technician)
Megan Ginther (2022-23 Undergraduate Directed Research, Undergraduate Research Fellow, Department of Environmental Sciences Honor’s Thesis advisee, Laboratory Assistant, Laboratory Technician)
George Okoko (2021-23, M.Sc.)
Carson Montz (2021-23, non-thesis M.Sc.)
Alexander Horvath (2022, Undergraduate Directed Research)
Brendan Luurtsema (2022, Undergraduate Directed Research)
Hallie Web (2022, NSF REU)
Aaron Shultis (2020-22, Research Associate)
Amber Beecher (2020-22, M.Sc. co-advisee)
Mo Holley (2020-2022, non-thesis M.Sc.)
Corbin Kohart (2020-21, Undergraduate Directed Research, Undergraduate Research Fellow, Department of Environmental Sciences Honor’s Thesis advisee, Laboratory Assistant)
Elizabeth Vincent (2021, NSF REU)
Ariel Markus (2021, Undergraduate Directed Research)
Adam Price (2020-21, Undergraduate Directed Research)
Emili Aselage (2020, Undergraduate Directed Research, Undergraduate Research Fellow, Laboratory Assistant)