Chris Martinez (lab PI)

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biologyat UC Irvine. The focus of my lab is to understand evolutionary patterns and processes underlying morphological and functional diversity of fishes. If you are interested in joining the lab please contact me!

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Graduate Students

Emily Poulin (she/her)

I am a PhD student studying questions related to evolutionary ecomorphology. I am interested in how the form of structures relates to function, primarily in terms of feeding and defensive phenotypes. Currently, I am studying the morphological and biomechanical diversity of stingray spines in relation to different predators and habitat types. I am interested in incorporating 3D data, phylogenetic comparative methods, and natural history collections into my work.  

Ayọmikun Akinrinade

I am interested in the effects of major life transitions in fishes. Specifically, I investigate how ecology causes changes in morphology and reproductive strategies. I’m also particularly interested in using phylogenetic comparative methods and natural history collections to do so.

Nate Swanson

I am broadly interested in evolutionary patterns and diversity, especially in fishes. During my masters work I studied trait shifts in populations of Mexican Tetra in recently colonized cave environments, whether they mirrored those in long established cave populations, and the plasticity of those shifts. During my PhD research at UCI, I plan to examine broader macroevolutionary patterns in schooling behaviors and kinematic features associated with them.