People
Julia Halo, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Research Interests: I am interested in the influence of various types of retroelements have on large- and small-scale genomic structural variation, the study of host-virus evolution using paleogenomics of ERVs in vertebrates, and the mechanisms of and biological impact of continued transposable element mobility in vertebrate genomes.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Masters’ Students
Savanna Spitnale (ONU ’22)
Research interests: Evolution of antiretroviral genes/gene products
Abby Grady (BGSU ’23)
Research Interests: Evolution of antiviral gene families in vertebrate genomes
Undergraduate Students
Aaron Deutsch (BGSU ’25)
Research Interests: Function and mobilization of vertebrate TEs
Genny Pyles (BGSU ’25)
Research Interests: ERV discovery in vertebrate genomes
Molly Buffenbarger (BGSU ’25)
Research Interests: Characterization of proviruses
High School Visiting Students
Lucy Nomaguchi (BGSU H.S. ’25)
Research Interests: ERVs in wild canids
Past Lab Members and Students
Abigail Jarosz, Ph.D. (BGSU ’16; M.S. ’18; Ph.D. ’23)
Presently: Assistant Professor, Biology, Lorain County Community College
Sarah Pavuk (BGSU ’23)
Research Interests: Impact of ERVs to gene expression in vertebrate genomes
Emily McKeen (BGSU ’23)
Research Interests: SINE secondary structure and links to function
Savanna Spitnale (ONU, ’22)
Visiting undergraduate from Ohio Northern University, 2021 Summer Capstone Project
Baileigh Laipply (BGSU ’21) … with Dunkin:)
Research interests: SINE evolution and structure-function relationships. Currently: Medical School
Lindsey Davis (BGSU ’20)
Currently: Clemson Program in Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Jordyn Ladikos (BGSU ’18, M.S. ’20)
Research Interests: The impact and functional properties of mammalian SINEs. Currently: Research Laboratory Assistant, NC
Malika Day, BGSU ’19
Research Interests: Retroviral evolution in the canine model. Currently: 3rd Year Medical School
Tracy Chung, Yale University (Visiting Summer Student ’16)
Research Interests: Methods for identification of polymorphic retroelements in humans and non-human genomes.
Erica Cech, B.S. BGSU ’19
Research interests: ERV expression in normal tissues and tumors. Currently: 2nd Year Dietetics Nutrition M.S., Wayne State
Zach Jacoby (BGSU ’19)
Research interests: Detecting evidence of novel ERV loci in mammalian genomes. Currently: 4th Year Ophthalmology, Ohio State University
Ben A. Sayer (BGSU ’20)
Research interests: SINE evolution and function
Carollynn Judge (BGSU ’20) … with Wilson:)
Research interests: DNA techniques in forensics applications
Kyle Hallowell (BGSU ’22)
Research interests: Marine genetics and genetic engineering; Currently: Doctoral Program in Photochemical Sciences, BGSU
Mascots
BOSON (like the Higgs)
BELLA 
BRUISER & BRUTUS
Honorary Mascots
Sammy
Larry, Moe, and Curly 
Tig
Zoey and Molly