People

Current Members of the Braun Lab

Michael J. Braun

Principal Investigator; cv
Research Scientist, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History;
Adjunct Professor, Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics Program, University of Maryland

202-633-0739; braunm [at] si.edu

National Museum of Natural History-MRC 163

P.O. Box 37012

Washington, DC 20013-7012

Mike smiling w binos

“My research focuses on the use of molecular genetic data to explore the origin and maintenance of biological diversity.

Current projects include: 1) molecular phylogenetic studies on the early radiation of all living birds, as well as specific groups (raptors, nightbirds), 2) Molecular, morphological, and behavioral studies of hybrid zones as models of speciation, and 3) integrative studies of avian biogeography and conservation.”

Kevin Bennett

PhD Candidate

bennettkf [at] si.edu

Website: www.kevinfpbennett.com, CV: here

“Recent advances in genomics of non-model organisms has broadened the horizons of evolutionary biology. My dissertation at the University of Maryland focuses on the dynamics of introgression across hybrid zones and the genetics of bird plumage coloration. Specifically, I study manakins, which are birds famous for their elaborate male courtship displays, at a hybrid zone in Panama where yellow plumage of Golden-collared Manakins has partially introgressed into White-collared Manakin populations. I am working to understand the mechanisms constraining further introgression of this trait–which appears to provide a selective advantage–and its genetic basis. In my research, I study museum samples, sequence newly collected and archived DNA, and observe birds displaying in the wild.”

Shauna Rasband

PhD Candidate

rasbands [at] si.edu

“I am the newest member of the Braun lab. I joined Fall 2018 as a PhD student at the University of Maryland – College Park. I completed a bachelor’s degree in biology at Brigham Young University and subsequently worked as an editor. I then collaborated with Jessica Deichmann and postdoc Jeremy Feinberg at the Smithsonian Center for Conservation and Sustainability on frog-related research involving species delimitation in the Rana pipiens cryptic species complex.

“My interests remain related to systematics. I now aim to work in avian systems, using phylogeny to answer questions about biogeography and the evolution of complex traits such as echolocation. I am interested in building a more accurate and comprehensive swift (family: Apodidae) phylogeny based on specimens preserved in museum collections and sequences provided by collaborators. Current phylogenies show echolocation evolving in oilbirds once and swifts multiple times, and with a new phylogeny I hope to address the open question of when and how this occurred.”

Luke Anderson
Graduate Fellow

ANDERSONHL [at] si.edu

“I am a PhD candidate in the Karubian Lab at Tulane University. My research aims to determine the relative role of genes and the environment in shaping the expression of male sexually selected traits in manakins, a charismatic family of Neotropical birds with elaborate male plumage and mating behavior. I conduct field research on a population of white-bearded manakins (Manacus manacus) at the FCAT Reserve in northwest Ecuador. In the Braun Lab, I am currently working to explore relative levels of genetic diversity on male-biased Z chromosomes versus autosomes across the manakin phylogeny. Through this project, I hope to gain insight into whether the Z:A ratio can serve as a genomic metric for sexual selection strength in avian lineages.” 

Peri Bolton

Postdoctoral Research Associate; website

BOLTONP [at] si.edu

“I am a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Associate Professor Chris Balakrishnan (lab website: http://www.balalab.com/) at East Carolina University, starting January 2020. My interests are broad, and I use genetic methods to address questions in systematics, conservation, evolutionary and behavioural ecology. I have returned to primary research in birds after working on the Flora of Australia (https://ausflora.org.au) for the Australian Biological Resources Study. I have a penchant for colourful critters–my PhD was on the Gouldian finch, and now I am working as part of the Manakin RCN on gene expression in the brain of cooperative Wire-tailed manakins. I am working from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History with Mike, and I hope to develop more fun research projects on colourful neotropical birds.”

Brian Coyle

Collaborator; cv

coyleb [at] si.edu

“I joined the Braun lab in 2013, when I started working as project coordinator for the Red Siskin Initiative, an international partnership that is focused on conservation of species and habitats in northern South America. The Red Siskin Initiative takes a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation, combining genomics, field ecology, ex situ approaches, education and development of sustainable livelihoods. It is also showcase example of cross-unit, trans-disciplinary collaboration at the Smithsonian. A core focus of our effort includes conservation of the iconic and critically endangered Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus) and expansion of the Smithsonian Bird Friendly Coffee certification program to protect threatened habitats for Red Siskin as well as many other resident and migratory species in Venezuela and Guyana. In 2016, I also joined the pan-Smithsonian Conservation Commons, which is working to synergistically integrate the institution’s tremendous resources and disciplinary breadth and depth for unprecedented impact on global sustainability.”

 

Lab Alumni

Judy Blake, Associate Professor at The Jackson Labs

Jon Bollback, Institute of Science and Technology Austria

Robb T. Brumfield, Director and Roy Paul Daniels Professor of Biology at Louisiana State University

Travis C. Glenn, Associate Professor at University of Georgia

Kin-Lan Han, PhD Candidate at University of Florida

John Huelsenbeck, Professor at University of California at Berkeley

Sarah Kingston, Doherty Marine Biology Postdoctoral Scholar at Bowdoin College

Carey Krajewski, Professor at the Southern Illinois University

Haw Chuan Lim, Professor at George Mason University

Jean Mariaux, Professor at the University of Geneva

David McDonald, Professor at the University of Wyoming

Judy Rhymer, Recently retired from the University of Maine

Thomas Parsons, Scientific Director, International Commission on Missing Persons; Adjunct assistant professor at Pennsylvania State University

Ken Rosenberg, Director of Conservation Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Scott Steppan, Associate Professor at Florida State University

Noor White, National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health

Kevin Winker, Curator of Birds and Professor at the University of Alaska

Tamaki Yuri, Collections Specialist at Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History