Undergraduate Research

Principal Investigator
Carmen G. Montaña, PhD.
PhD- 2012, Texas A&M University
Assistant Professor Department Of Biology
Stephen F. Austin State University
Miller Science Building, Room # 123
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Email: montanascg (at) sfasu (dot) edu
Phone: 936.468.2322

Curriculum vitae
ResearchGate Profile
Google Scholar Profile

Visiting Researchers

David Peterson
Fish Biologist
USDA- Forest Service Lufkin TX

Dave and the member of the Montana Lab are working on describing the "Conservation status of fishes in East Texas". We are looking at historical and contemporary data to evaluate changes in species composition over time, but also we are looking at life history traits and functional traits to evaluate what traits have allowed the persistence of some native species over time.

Graduate Students

Chase Nimee
B.S. Zoology in Wildlife Biology
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

MS- Student, Biology
SFASU

Chase is studying the fish assemblages co-occurring with two endangered shiners (Smalleye and Sharpnose shiners) in the upper Brazos River in Texas. He will explore whether biotic, abiotic, or a combination of these factors are responsible for the distribution of the endangered shiners in the upper Brazos River. In addition, he will use both taxonomic and functional trait approaches to provide better insights into which processes can structure the populations of the two endangered shiners and the entire fish community. Such information can be used by stakeholders to make decisions on the most effective directions for conservation strategies.

Annie Simpson
B.S. Art & Science- West Virginia University
Maryland Dept. Natural Resources. Technician I

MS- Student, Biology
SFASU

Annie is studying spatial-temporal variation of fish communities in east Texas streams within Neches-Sabine basins, Texas.

Maggie Moses
MS- Student, Biology
SFASU

Coming in Spring 2024

Current Undergraduate Students

Sophie Scott
SFASU, Environmental Science
Project: Fish communities in the Rupununi River, Guyana.

Lily DiFrank
SFASU, Biology
Lily is examining changes in population structure of Red River Pupfish (Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis) and potential environmental factors influencing individual abundance in segments of the upper Brazos River Basin, Texas.

Megan Beeksma
SFASU, Forestry
Megan is working on isotopic niche of neotropical cichlids in Rupununi River, Guyana.

Jordan Lindholm
SFASU , Environmental Science
Project: Functional trait-environment and diversity relationships of Darter (Percidae) assemblages in tributaries of the Neches and Sabine River Basins, Texas.