Graduate Assistants

Megan Acord, Anthony Lab
Office: W112
Phone: 216-397-6207
Email: macord11@jcu.edu

I graduated from Lake Erie College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. I am conducting my research on sympatric speciation in the polymorphic salamander Plethodon cinereus.  My hobbies include hiking, birding, riding horses, and jogging with my two coon hounds.

Chrissy Cherkes
Office: W239
Phone: N/A
Email: ccherkes11@jcu.edu

I graduated from Ohio University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.  I have one more year here at John Carroll, and after I complete my Master of Arts degree in Biology I plan to go on to Pharmacy School.  In my spare time I love to travel.

Hilary Collins, Drenovsky Lab
Office: W239
Phone: N/A
Email: hcollins12@jcu.edu

I graduated from Warren Wilson College in 2008 with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science.  My research will be focused on native plants.

Jason Cotter, Sheil Lab
Office: W112
Phone: 216-397-6207
Email: jcotter11@jcu.edu

I earned a B.S. in biology from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in May 2007.  Currently, I am studying the effects of vegetational shading (among other variables) on a population of Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta).  Extracurricular activities include: photography, scuba-diving, hiking, rock-climbing, camping, hunting, and fishing.

Joktan Drake, Martin Lab
Office: W114
Phone: N/A
Email: jdrake10@jcu.edu

I graduated from John Carroll University in 2008 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology. My concentration in graduate school is Molecular Cell Biology.

George Meszaros, Anthony Lab
Office: W311
Phone: 216-397-1569
Email: gmeszaros12@jcu.edu

I graduated from Cleveland State with a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Biology.  In my spare time I enjoy reading, being suspicious of new technology, and spending time with my wife Maureen and our three dogs Max, Isabelle, and Sirius Black.  I am currently a member of Dr. Anthony's lab and am going to be researching niche expansion in salamanders.

Kadie Ondrus, Kinebrew Lab
Office: W342
Phone: 216-397-4496
Email: kondrus12@jcu.edu

I graduated from Gannon University in 2009 with a B.S. in Biology and Secondary Education.  I am conducting my research on the growth of the early chick thyroid and its relationship to thyroid morphogenesis.  I enjoy softball, cooking, reading, being outdoors, and traveling.

Karina Osorio Santos, Johansen Lab
Office: W341
Phone: 216-397-6206
Email: kosoriosantos12@jcu.edu

I graduated from the Faculty of Science, UNAM, Mexico in 2007 with a Bachelor`s degree in Biology. My research is focused on the cyanobacteria of the Atacama Desert, Chile.

Amy Shafqat, Wideman Lab
Office: W342
Phone: 216-397-4496
Email: amuhammad12@jcu.edu

I graduated from Cleveland State University in 2007 with my Bachelor degrees in Chemistry and Biology. I am pursing my M.S. at John Carroll with my concentration in Neuroscience. In the my spare time I enjoy photography, reading, traveling, cooking, spending time with my family, friends, and cats.

Marcie Reiter, Anthony Lab
Office: W112
Phone: 216-397-6207
Email: mreiter11@jcu.edu

Currently I'm researching territorial behavior in polymorphic red-backed salamanders. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology from Ohio University. I enjoy being outdoors and traveling as often as possible.

Angela Stuczka, Anthony Lab
Office: W311
Phone: 216-397-1569
Email: astuczka11@jcu.edu

I received my B.S. at Cleveland State University in December of 2007. I am researching foraging behaviors in polymorphic red-backed salamander. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, reading suspense novels, and watching movies with my friends.

Sharon Turk, Sheil Lab
Office: W112
Phone: 216-397-6207
Email: sturk09@jcu.edu

I received my B.S. in Biology from John Carroll University in 2009. As an M.S. student I am interested in ecology and development. In my spare time I like to play piano, sing, paint and practice yoga.

Melissa Vaccarino, Johansen Lab
Office: W341
Phone: 216-397-6206
Email: mvaccarino11@jcu.edu

I earned my B.S. (Biology major, Geology minor) at Baldwin Wallace College in 2008, with strong interest in environmental and plant biology.  My thesis is focused on freshwater algae, although I have experience in soil algae as well.  I play Rockband, DDR, and edit pictures as wallpapers.

DuJuan Whiteside, Martin Lab
Office: W114
Phone: N/A
Email: dwhiteside11@jcu.edu

I graduated from Hiram College in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. I am currently researching the effects of carbon metabolism on RNA Polymerase III transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In my spare time I enjoy fantasy football, watching movies, playing basketball, and Nintendo Wii.