The Huyck Preserve awards research grants each year to scientists from around the country who perform research at the Preserve. Below are the recent recipients and their topics.
2025 Huyck GrantsHannah Eberle-Reece, Ph.D. Student, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
The role of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of division of labor in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus. Craig Frank, Ph.D., Fordham University The role of insect nutritional composition in the recovery of three northeastern bat species from White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). William Graves, Ph.D., Iowa State University Do frugivores or herbivores explain the poor recruitment of additional shrubs of Dirca palustris at Huyck Preserve? Philip Kohlmeier, Ph.D., University of Memphis Balancing the colony’s diet: mechanisms of protein foraging regulation in Temnothorax longispinosus Mark Lesser, Ph.D., SUNY Plattsburgh Understanding niche limitations: Jack pine growth beyond its natural range limit Clarita Mendes, Ph.D. Student, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz The evolution and organization of non-canonical olfactory systems in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus 2024 Huyck GrantsMaximilian Bolder, Ph.D. Student and Ina Knuf, Ph.D. Student, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Molecular regulation of division of labor in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus by a sensory filter Love Eriksson, Archaeologist at Västerbottens County Museum, Umeå, Fulbright Visiting Student, Arizona State University A preliminary palaeoentomological survey at Huyck Preserve, New York: studying landscape and climate change in the recent past Craig Frank, Ph.D., Fordham Univ. The relationship between insects, nutritional composition, and the foraging activity of four bat species Bill Graves, Ph.D., Iowa State Univ. Vernal phenology and reproductive potential of Huyck Preserve’s Dirca palustris Hannah Locke, Ph.D., La Salle Univ. A pilot study of native legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria at E.N. Huyck Preserve Phil Kohlmeier, Ph.D., Univ. of Memphis The effect of larval chemical cues on worker response thresholds in the ant Temnothorax longispinonsus 2023 Huyck GrantsMaximilian Boulder, Ph.D. Student and Beril Yildiz, Ph.D. Student, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
The evolution and molecular regulation of multiple layers of division of labor in ants Craig Frank, Ph.D., Fordham University Latitudinal variations in dietary linoleic acid and the resistance to white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats William Graves, Ph.D., Iowa State University Vernal phenology, fruit set, and demography of Huyck Preserve’s Dirca palustris Philip Kohlmeier, Ph.D., University of Memphis The social and genetic mechanisms modulating adaptive foraging decisions in an ant Rebecca Pinder, Ph.D., Columbia-Greene Community College Surveying for jumping worms along streams: status of distribution with respect to streamside habitat Morgan Vis, Ph.D., Ohio University Freshwater red algal survey of the Huyck Preserve and surrounding area to inform systematics studies Michelle Yoo, Ph.D., Clarkson University Estimating genomic diversity and population differentiation of the Persicaria amphibia complex 2022 Huyck Grants
Emily Burton, Doctoral Candidate, Washington State University
Estimating encounters between blacklegged ticks and hosts Carmen Greenwood, Ph.D., SUNY Cobleskill Ecological viability of the Huyck Biological Preserve and baseline establishment of Nicrophorus spp. for reintroduction of Nicrophorus americanus (American Burying Beetle) Roger Masse, Ph.D, and Amy Quinn, Ph.D., SUNY Cobleskill Assessing host availability and carcass persistence for burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.) Matthews, Robert, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Entomology, University of Georgia Long term change: sawflies and aculeate wasps as bioindicators in a protected natural preserve Monzon, Michael, Ph.D. Student, Rutgers University Using Insects as Indicators of Functional Biodiversity at Huyck Preserve (New York) Across Temporal Scales Pintar, Matthew, Post-doc, Institute of Environment, Florida International University Inventory of Aquatic Coleoptera and Heteroptera of Huyck Preserve Townsend, Jonathan, Graduate Student, SUNY Buffalo Bats at Huyck: Using bioacoustics to establish baseline species surveys 2021 Huyck GrantsMarcel Caminer, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
The role of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of division of labor in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus Erwann Colin, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Genome-wide detection of selection and adaptation in a co-evolving slavemaking ant and its host Carmen Greenwood, Ph.D., SUNY Cobleskill Ecological viability of the Huyck Biological Preserve and baseline establishment of Nicrophorus spp. for reintroduction of Nicrophorus americanus (American Burying Beetle) Roger Masse, Ph.D, and Amy Quinn, Ph.D., SUNY Cobleskill Assessing host availability and carcass persistence for burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.) 2020 Huyck GrantsLuciana Guimaraes de Andrade, Ph. D., Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Monitoring of avian diversity at the Huyck Preserve, NY using environmental DNA, second year 2019 Huyck GrantsCarmen Greenwood, Ph.D, SUNY Cobleskill
Ecological viability of the Huyck Biological Preserve for reintroduction of Nicrophorus americanus (American Burying Beetle) and seasonal dynamics of Nicrophorus spp. Luciana Guimaraes de Andrade, Ph.D., Cornell Lab of Ornithology Monitoring of avian diversity at the Huyck Preserve, NY using environmental DNA Roger Masse, Ph.D, and Amy Quinn, Ph.D., SUNY Cobleskill Assessing host availability for burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.) in the Huyck Preserve as a suitability assessment for reintroduction of the American Burying Beetle Nadya Muchoney, Ph.D. Candidate, Univ. of Nevada, Reno Characterizing variation in viral infection across wild populations of the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton) 2018 Huyck GrantsMeghan Barrett, Ph.D. Candidate, Drexel University
Linking relatedness, behavior, and neuroanatomy in co-nesting females of Xylocopa virginica (Hymenoptera Apidae) Susanne Foitzik, Ph.D. and Marah Stoldt, Master's Degree Candidate, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz RNAi knockdown of a glutamate receptor to elucidate its role in scouting behavior of Temnothorax longispinosus ants Clare Gaffey, Master's Degree Candidate, State University of New York at Albany Remote sensing of Picea glauca phenology: validation and trends Carmen Greenwood, Ph.D., State University of New York at Cobleskill Ecological viability of the Huyck Biological Preserve and baseline establishment of Nicrophorus spp. For reintroduction of Nicrophorus americanus (American Burying Beetle) Scott LaPoint, Ph.D., Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University Mammal Watching II: inferring carnivore behavior and abundance via snow tracking and camera traps Roger Masse, Ph.D. and Amy Quinn, Ph.D., State University of New York at Cobleskill Assessing host availability for burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp. in the Huyck Preserve as a suitability assessment for reintroduction of the American Burying Beetle Jacob Suissa, Ph.D. Candidate, Harvard University Investigating timing and location of CAM-like photosynthesis in the aquatic lycophyte genus, Isoetes 2015 Huyck GrantsSpencer Bruce, Ph.D. Candidate, SUNY-Albany
Patterns in fish community composition and richness related to environmental variation in the tributaries at the Huyck Preserve– Rensselaerville, New York Alexander Robillard, Ph.D. Candidate, SUNY- Oneonta Determining the status of the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in New York State Austin Alleman and Philip Kohlmeier, Ph.D. Candidates, University of Mainz The genetic basis of behavioral coevolution and the division of labor |
2014 Huyck GrantsSeth Bigelow, Ph.D., Independent Researcher
Applying ecological concepts to forest management Barbara Feldmyer, Ph.D., University Mainz Behavioral syndromes in ants under varying climatic conditions Andreas Modlmeier, Post-doc, University of Pittsburgh State-dependence of collective behaviors in Temnothorax ants Ashley Ozelski, Ph.D. Candidate, College of Staten Island Effect of forest composition on Lepidopteran biomass curves and the potential for climate change induced phenological mismatches in migratory birds Weston Testo, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Vermont Resolving species boundaries and recognizing cryptic species in the North American Asplenium trichomanes complex Radka Wildova, Ph.D. Environmental and evolutionary aspects of viburnum leaf beetle Pyrrhalta viburni (Paykull) invasion 2013 Huyck GrantsErika Crispo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pace University
Character Release and the Evolution of Pumpkinseed Sunfish Polyphenism Justin Dee, Ph.D. candidate, Oklahoma State University Determining the effects of canopy gap formation on understory forbs of the Huyck Biological Research Station: Can herbaceous-chronology be an effective approach? David James Harris, Ph.D. CIBO, University of Porto Molecular characterization of blood parasites (Apicomplexa) in snakes and their prey Amy Hruska, M.S. Candidate, West Virginia University Investigating the seed dispersal and small mammal predation of American ginseng (Panax quinquecfolius) Evelien Jongepier and Isabelle Kleeberg, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz The proximate basis of slave rebellion and the importance of social organization in the defense against slavemakers Julie Miller, Ph.D. Candidate, Cornell University Launching raids in slave-making ants: collective decision-making and the role of defectors Andreas Modlmeier Post-doc, University of Pittsburgh Influence of group composition on collective behaviors in ants Ashley Ozelski, Ph.D. Candidate, College of Staten Island
Variations in Moth Phenology and the Impact on Migratory Birds Laurel Symes, Ph.D. Candidate, Dartmouth College Evolution of mate choice in Oecanthus tree crickets: effect of community composition on female mate recognition Weston Testo, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Vermont Uncovering patterns of gender-biased hybridization in he North American wood fern complex: reconciling reproductive biology and DNA sequence data Vivek Venkataraman, Ph.D. Candidate, Dartmouth College Investigating private channels for high-frequency animal communication in temperate forests 2012 Huyck Grants
Evelien Jongepier, Isabelle Kleeberg, Fabienne Ritschel, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz
Reciprocal adaptations underlying the slave rebellion trait Andrei Lapenis, Ph.D., Associate Professor, SUNY Albany Snow Manipulations and Dendroclimatological Studies at the Huyck Preserve Julie Miller, Ph.D. Candidate, Cornell University Launching raids in slave-making ants: a model for the analysis of collective decision making Ashley Ozelski, Ph.D. Candidate, College of Staten Island How does habitat quality influence area thresholds in forest breeding passerines? Laurel Symes, Ph.D. Candidate, Dartmouth College Evolution of mate choice in Oecanthus tree crickets Weston Testo, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Vermont Long-term study of temperate fern community dynamics Vivek Venkataraman, Ph.D. Candidate, Dartmouth College Merging forest structure and acoustic ecology: exploring the mechanistic basis for acoustic adaptation in temperate forests |
