Moore Lab staff have diverse expertise in birds, genomics, geographic information systems, and the analysis of big biodiversity data. Students are trained in these techniques in the broader context of a liberal arts education to foster critical thinking, synthesis of ideas, interdisciplinary applications, and international collaboration.
Meet the Team
Faculty & Staff
John McCormack
Director and Curator of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology; Associate Professor, Biology
Ryan Terrill
Postdoctoral Researcher, Moore Lab of Zoology
Dr. Terrill studies the evolution of bird molt, an incredible adaptation that allows birds to drop and regrow worn feathers each year. As the lead on the Mexican Bird Resurvey Project, he is...
Whitney Tsai Nakashima
Research Associate, Moore Lab of Zoology and Genomics Center
Whitney has experience with genomics and museum collections. She is currently a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program at UCLA where she is studying the genetics of color...
Jenny Wong
Project, Outreach and Business Coordinator, Moore Lab of Zoology
Jenny heads the Moore Lab's outreach activities, planning tours and special events with local schools, collaborators, and the community. She has a background working with environmental NGOs and...
Noah Medina
3D Digitization Specialist, oBird
Noah has a background in applied math and computer science. His prior projects include the use of deep-learning visual recognition in marine ecology. He is taking a gap year from pursuing his...
Sean Lyon
Curatorial Assistant, Moore Lab of Zoology
Sean studies the historical ecology of birds in Los Angeles County across a temporal gradient using museum specimens, citizen-science data, and field surveys. Concurrent with his work at the...
Marky Mutchler
Research Technician, Moore Lab of Zoology
Marky has been a part of several research projects, of which most have revolved around her love of museum collections. She is also an avid birder and artist, devoting much of her time to...
Russell Campbell
Research Technician, oBird
Russell has explored his love of animals through a wide variety of lab and field experiences. During his free time he prefers to be outside searching for wildlife with friends and practicing his...
Undergraduate Students
Paloma Strong '23
Geographic Variation in Lilac-crowned Parrots in Mexico
Olivia Gittings ’22
Phenotypic Variation in Steller's Jays in Mexico
Eliza Kirsch ’22
Genetic and Phenotypic Variation in Green Jays
Kelsey Reckling ’22
Genetic and Geographic Variation in Red Warblers
Maeve Secor ’22
Genetic and Phenotypic Differentiation in Yellow Grosbeaks
Alana Pizarro '22
A Hybrid Zone in Calocitta Magpie-Jays
Zerlina Lai '24
Batraechoseps salamander genomics
Melina Sanchez '24
Mexican Bird Resurvey - Genomics Lab
Ian Vogenthaler '22
3D Birds
Jodhan Fine '25
Geographic Variation in Stong-billed Woodcreeper
Jonathan Hewings '23
Ecomorphology of American Kestrels
Mason Lynch '24
Genetics of a hybrid zone in Xiphorhynchus woodcreepers in Venezuela
Arelí Fernandez '24
Conservation genetics of King Vultures
Malena Lacque '24
Geographic variation in Sharp-shinned Hawks across Mexico
Allison Muhlheim '24
Geographic variation in Sharp-shinned Hawks across Mexico
Alisa Dittemore '23
Genomics Center
High School Students
JiaLiann Mackey
Bird Collection
Alex Cho
Bird Collection
Prior Lab Members
Dr. Eugenia Zarza
Postdoctoral Scholar, 2013-2016
Student Alumni: Where Are They Now?
Dr. Madhvi Venkatraman '13
NSF Postdoc Fellow, University of South Florida; PhD Smithsonian Zoo
Dr. Caitlyn Lara '15
Veterinarian (D.V.M., UC Davis)
Molly Hill
Yale '25
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