Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
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Bronwyn W. Williams, Ph.D.
Research Curator of Non-Molluscan Invertebrates
...crayfishes, branchiobdellidans, and entocytherids, living together...mass hysteria! I am interested in understanding the evolutionary patterns and processes that have shaped the diversity of each of these three groups of organisms independently as well as in a community context, e.g., the evolution of the symbiosis. I use an integrative research approach, applying and merging tools and concepts from across several disciplines, including taxonomy, population genetics, phylogeography, and ecology.
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Volunteers, interns, and collaborators
Melyssa Minto
Melyssa is a Honors Senior majoring in Math and Biology at Meredith College. She plans to pursue a PhD in computational biology, focusing on epigenetics or neuroscience. Currently, Melyssa is the Vice President for the Black Student Union, and the Treasurer for International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineers. She is very passionate about the empowerment of underrepresented populations in the U.S. She also works at the Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute at North Carolina Central University as a Research Data Technician where she recently published a R package - MonoInc. At the NCSM Research Lab, she is currently working on a project focused on delimiting crayfish species using 2D and 3D morphometrics.
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Laura Lukas
Laura works full time for the Museum, but volunteers with the NMI Unit in her off hours. Virtually all aspects of biology fascinate her. Laura has a particular interest in crustaceans and the physiological underpinnings of molting. Currently, her research in the NMI Unit focuses on morphological and molecular species delimitation in a group of crayfish symbionts, namely branchiobdellidans. Laura likes to travel and explore new places. She enjoys spreading knowledge and getting others excited about natural sciences.
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Trish Weaver
By day Trish is a mild mannered Collections Manager of Geology/Paleontology at The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. However, on nights when the moon is full, Trish sprouts a wild hair and becomes a researcher of entocytherid ostracods. Her secret weapon is an ability to recognize false mating as a worthwhile, if not somewhat questionable, topic for discussion in bars and at the dinner table. She also has an inordinate fondness for chitin. Her kryptonite is taxonomy and making slide maps.
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Janice Edwards
Janice is recently retired from Wake County Public Schools as a school library media specialist. When she's not volunteering for the Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit, she enjoys hiking in the North Carolina mountains; watching college basketball (go Bearcats! and go Wolfpack!) and Major League Baseball (go Reds!); and spending time with her friends and family.
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Former Lab Members
Missy Hahn
Missy is an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech majoring in Environmental Resource Management who worked as a public outreach intern for the Non-Molluscan Invertebrate lab as well as the Naturalist Center at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences during the summer of 2016. In her spare-time, she helps her sorority raise money for the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, hiking the mountains of Blacksburg, and attending football games (Go Hokies!) She plans to pursue a career in Natural Sciences and Wildlife/Fisheries management in her future.
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Are you interested in volunteering with the Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit? Would you like to learn more about our research or the NCSM Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Collections? Contact us below.
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Internship opportunities are available to work with the Non-Molluscan Invertebrate Unit through the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Internship Program.
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