Current members
Caitlin Conn earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Penn State in 2011 and her PhD from the University of Georgia in 2017. After two postdocs at Spelman College and Emory University, she joined the faculty of Berry College in 2019 and is grateful for the best field site imaginable: Berry’s 27,000-acre campus!
Dobby is a promising field-assistant-in-training who doesn’t know how to identify parasitic plants but keeps morale high with his enthusiasm for hiking. When he’s not in the woods, you can find Dobby sitting on the couch and collaborating on manuscripts (or maybe just sleeping there).
Lab alumni
Dalton Brantley worked on parasitic plants in the lab and on the Berry College campus, and he also volunteered at the Rome E.C.O. Center and worked with prescribed fire. A true outdoorsman, Dalton is now in a PhD program at the University of Montana.
Savannah Cecchini was an innovator in the lab, utilizing Berry’s creative technology lab to build a hydroponics system for plant growth. She also researched milkweed in a colleague’s lab, studied abroad, interned at an animal rescue center in Costa Rica, delivered lectures to the local community, and spent a summer working at Mystic Aquarium. Today, she works on gorilla research in Gabon.
Rachel Christopher (class of 2021; at right in photo) majored in environmental science and boasted an impressive green thumb and excellent leadership skills. Rachel’s passion for ecology opened up new research directions for the lab, and her love of singing and talent for baking kept the research team entertained and well-fed.
Michael Crowe (class of 2021) majored in biology and brought a strong background in genetics, biological diversity, and evolution. In the lab (and beyond), Michael has been known as a master photographer, skilled skateboarder, and entomologist extraordinaire.
Emilie D. (class of 2021) majored in biology and was on a mission to save sea turtles from a pathogenic fungus. Emilie traveled extensively to collect the fungus, protect sea turtle hatching sites, and learn biology firsthand in Costa Rica. Outside of the lab, Emilie stayed busy working with Berry sports teams, rock climbing, and caring for her tortoise Bruce. She has now completed her Master’s in Conservation Medicine at Tufts University and completed all kinds of adventurous work with sea turtles.
Austin Garrett was a biology major and chemistry minor who was also known as a PCR wizard and gel-loader extraordinaire. He has always been a great team player inside and outside the lab and was an enthusiastic member of Berry’s Winshape Program. He is now training to be a medical doctor at Mercer University.
Madison Hollis was a biology major who excelled at molecular techniques like DNA extraction and PCR, and she was the first author on a paper about the evolution of two genes in parasitic plants. Madison also served as the lab’s expert on Southern culture (and particularly college football), and she made us proud as a pitcher on Berry’s softball team. After graduation, she worked in genetic counseling, and she is now back at Berry, training to become a physician associate.
Anna Kelly Lawless took Genetics and completed a CURE on parasitic plant evolution, which she presented at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference. A true pioneer, she then joined the lab and took a bioinformatics approach to studying the evolution of the rabies virus. During her time at Berry, Anna Kelly studied abroad in Costa Rica and New Zealand, and she is now enrolled in pharmacy school.
Christina Marijanich studied the effects of host root exudates on haustorium development in parasitic plants. She also captained the Berry College soccer team and worked in water quality assessment for a local company. Christina is now planning to pursue a master’s degree in environmental engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Gavin McClellan worked in the lab for several years before completing his honors thesis on the effect of host root exudates on parasitic plant germination. An avid adventurer, when he wasn’t researching or studying, Gavin could be found hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, foraging…you get the idea. Gavin is now in a master’s degree program at Kennesaw State University.
Amanda Merrilles contributed to a variety of research projects in the lab before settling on a study of several genes that are involved in chemical signaling in parasitic plants. She was the lead author on a paper describing the evolution of these genes, and she presented her work at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference and at the Berry College Symposium on Student Scholarship. When she wasn’t working on science, Amanda was…working on science. As a researcher, teaching assistant, biology major, traveler, and leader, Amanda put 110% into every endeavor. She is now a medical student at Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Kristy Moss spent a summer absolutely crushing the tricky techniques of DNA extraction and PCR. Her many talents within the field of biology ultimately led her to the Sports Medicine and STEM Teach programs at Berry, where she gained hands-on experience in education and healthcare. After graduation, she taught high school biology and is now training to be a doctor at the Medical College of Georgia.
Sarah Quigley was a biochemistry major studying host perception in facultative hemiparasitic plants. When she wasn’t cloning up a storm in the lab, you could find Sarah rocking her science courses, serving her fellow students as an RA, studying marine science in her home state of New Jersey, or sitting front-row at the newest smash hit on Broadway. She co-authored a publication on the evolution of two genes in parasitic plants, and then she enjoyed a successful career as an undergraduate researcher in a chemistry lab. Today, she is a PhD candidate at UNC Chapel Hill.
Mitchell Ryder worked hard in the orchards to save American chestnut trees from extinction. From running the bucket lift to handling the needle-sharp burs, he proved his versatility and skill in field work. Mitchell also researched in an environmental science lab, and he shares his musical talents with the Berry community through his membership in the Berry Singers.
Sarah Thompson was a biology major who studied the effects of smoke on the germination of facultative hemiparasitic plants. Outside of the lab, she shared her singing, dancing, and acting skills with audiences at Sisters Theatre, and after graduation, she went on to exciting work at the Georgia Aquarium.
Brody Wallace was a biology major whose honors thesis investigated germination-related genes in parasitic plants. When he wasn’t cruising through the dark and daunting waters of bionformatics, you could find him setting up labs for the rest of the department or running like lightning on the track or cross country course.
The Conn lab at Berry College 