Eric Riddell, Principal Investigator (eriddell@iastate.edu)
My name is Eric, and I am joining the faculty of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University. After college, I abandoned my ambition of becoming a dentist and moved to the Galapagos Islands. I spent several months working at hotels and teaching English, but then I got an opportunity to work on a deserted island studying a colony of Nazca boobies. In graduate school, I dove headfirst into the field of environmental and ecological physiology, and I haven't looked back. I love what I do, and I also love spending time with my family, friends, and fishing. |
Kevin Cortes, PhD Student
I joined the Ecophysiology lab after completing my Masters at North Dakota State University, where I studied the migratory ecology and functional morphology of temperate bat species in the Great Plains. I consider myself a field biologist who is strongly motivated by conservation, but with a passion for investigating broad ecological and evolutionary questions through field work, experimentation, and lab work. In the Ecophysiology lab, I will be working on bird physiology. More specifically, my research interests are focused on understanding the evolution and physiological ecology of organisms, with emphasis on comparative physiology and the underlying mechanisms in a constantly changing world environment. |
Colton Poore, Master's Student
I’m coming to Iowa State and the Ecophysiology lab after finishing my undergrad at Cornell University, where I studied plant fossils from Argentina and medieval literature. A transformative field work experience and an inspiring mentor motivated me to pursue graduate school in ecology and evolutionary biology, and to continue learning new things about the world. My project will investigate bumble bee physiology, and I am excited to work with living (non-fossilized) organisms. In my spare time, you can find me reading novels, exploring the outdoors with my friends, and caring for my growing legion of houseplants. |