We work as a team to reach our goals. Meet our members below and learn how to apply to graduate programs here…
Dr. Jamie Cornelius
Assistant Professor
Pictured with husband Dr. Taylor Chapple, and sons Cash and Huck
Jamie loves outdoor pursuits, songwriting, traveling, soccer, woodworking and socializing with family, friends and colleagues. She is interested and involved in all Cornelius Lab projects!!!
Dr. Alex Jahn
Research Associate
Alex’s research focuses on the impacts of rapid environmental change on birds and how different movement strategies allow or constrain their ability to cope with such change. He currently studies the impacts of wildfires on American robins by attaching transmitters to robins near wildfires and then tracking their movements relative to smoke. In Argentina, he is collaborating with local partners to study how nomadic South American flamingos move throughout the year and how they are being impacted by the effects of climate and habitat change as a result of human activities. He also studies Fork-tailed Flycatchers in Colombia and Argentina to evaluate their seasonal risk to change as they cross South America on their migrations.
Dr. Ben Sonnenberg
Postdoctoral Scholar
Ben Sonnenberg is a behavioral ecologist interested in understanding how harsh environmental conditions shape behavioral and physiological traits in wild avian populations. He recently joined the Cornelius lab to work on the long-term project investigating the physiological costs associated with coping with extreme weather events. He completed is PhD at University of Nevada, Reno where he focused on how winter conditions in the Sierra Nevada mountains impacts the evolution of food-caching behavior in mountain chickadees.
Jalyn Devereaux
PhD student
Jalyn obtained a bachelor’s of science in Biology and Environmental Science at Ohio Dominican University in December of 2017. Her interests lie in how climate change and the Athropocene will ultimately affect songbird systems in the United States on physiological and behavioral levels. Jalyn started her PhD in 2019 in the Cornelius Lab, studying how projected warmer, wetter winters will affect metabolic rate and winter breeding in red crossbills. In the future, Jalyn hopes to continue working in songbird systems to train undergraduates how to conduct high quality and effective research.
Valerie Brewer
PhD student
Valerie received her bachelors’ of science in Biology and Conservation Ecology from New Mexico State University in 2020. She is interested in studying anthropogenic effects on animal behavior through the application of behavioral ecology and genetics. Valerie is studying how capture-handling influences reproductive behavior and risk aversion in western bluebirds, house wrens, and house sparrows. In the future, she hopes to continue researching anthropogenic effects on animal behavior to inform the conservation of species through the conscientious planning of urban areas and human activity.
Jessie Karr
PhD Student
Jessie received her bachelor’s of science in Biology from the University of Portland in 2019. She is interested in metabolic physiology and responses to challenging conditions such as storms and wildfire. Jessie is studying how challenging conditions impact metabolic rates, stress and reproductive activity in red crossbills. In the future, she hopes to continue researching the impact of seasonal change on metabolic flexibility while teaching future undergraduate scientists about physiology and behavior.
Dot Zahor
PhD Student
Dorothy (Dot) obtained her master’s degree in Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology from Eastern Michigan University in August of 2021. Her research interests include urban ecology of songbirds, such as pollution impacts, molt, migration, parental care, and reproductive success. Current research focuses on American robin exposure to soil contaminants in urban centers. In the future, Dot hopes to continue studying songbirds in urban ecosystems and connect human communities to the wildlife right outside their door.
Ken Glynn
PhD Student
Kenneth (Ken) obtained his bachelor's degree in Environmental Biology from Eastern Michigan University in 2019 and is currently finishing his master’s degree in Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology, also from Eastern Michigan University. His interests include urban ecology, ecotoxicology, animal behavior and the physiology of avian migrants. His current research investigates the age-related differences in lead exposure of the American robin within a polluted urban environment. He has also begun preliminary research with the Motus Wildlife Tracking network investigating the potential fitness consequences of this lead exposure on juvenile and adult American robins. In the future, Ken hopes to continue monitoring the migration of avian species in an effort to aid conservation initiatives, while also emphasizing the ecological importance of avian species in a public and academic setting.
Olivia Noonan
PhD Student
Olivia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Organismal Biology & Ecology from Colorado College in 2020. She is interested in avian feather molt and endocrine mechanisms, particularly how they relate to life histories. Currently, she is investigating how songbirds, specifically White-crowned Sparrows, adjust their annual cycles to compensate for unpredictable climate extremes. Looking ahead, Olivia hopes to continue conducting avian field research alongside undergraduates and share knowledge through teaching. In her free time, she enjoys birdwatching, hiking, solving crossword puzzles, playing Wingspan, and cooking!
Michelle Swinehart
Artist in Residence
Michelle Swinehart is an avid fan of all things story. She had the pleasure of living stories through her work at StoryCorps, Narrative 4, Object Stories and The Right Brain Initiative. Michelle received a MAT from Lewis and Clark College in Secondary Art Education and holds a MFA in Art and Social Practice from Portland State University. She is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor in PSU's interdisciplinary general education program and School of Art. She lives on Full Plate Farm in Ridgefield, Washington with her husband, three kids and nine chickens.
M. Michelle Illuminato
Artist in Residence
M. Michelle Illuminato creates socially-engaged events, public-exchanges, and books to help reveal the complicated and sometimes contradictory relationship between people, their culture, and the land they live on. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in Italy, Germany, Poland, and Serbia and her most prized art award is the Key to Aliquippa Pennsylvania. Michelle is an Associate Professor at Portland State University where she heads the CORE Program and teaches in the Art + Social Practice Graduate Program. She received an MFA from University of Wisconsin, Madison and lives in Portland, Oregon.
Current Undergraduate Students
We have many undergraduate students participate in Little Bird Lab activities, bird care and research and we appreciate and love them all! Thank you!!!!
Below are undergraduate students who are doing independent research projects with us.
Will Gilmour - Honors, Seasonal Variation in Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis Sensitivity in Relation to Risky Foraging Behavior in Songbirds
Sam Van Horn - Honors, Impact of cold, rain on physiology of captive red crossbills
Indiana Ellis - Intern: Risky foraging behavior in songbirds
Haley Nguyen - LURE: Review and metanalysis of bird responses to food restriction
Natalie Orlando - LURE: The effect of abrupt daylight change on circadian rhythm and melatonin in red crossbills
Past Graduate Students
John Bobo - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (U Michigan Lab Coordinator)
Travis Draud - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (Faculty Oklahoma City CC)
Dawson Bradley - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (Environmental Testing and Consulting)
Lizzie Rock - MS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (Water Coordinator, Michigan Dept. of Health)
Past Undergraduate Research Students
Ai Ana Richmond - BS Integrative Biology, Oregon State University (PhD student, U Nevada - Reno)
Manon Vezinet - Honors, BS Integrative Biology
Adam Stone - BS Integrative Biology, Oregon State University (DVM student, OSU)
Nicholas Reece - BS Integrative Biology
Havana Soler - BS Biology, Oregon State University
Bradley Allendorfer - BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Natsumi Mori - Honors, BS Integrative Biology, Oregon State University
Saria Bajracharya - Honors, BS Environmental Studies, Colorado College (MS student Env. Contamination and Tox.)
Alexa Singer - BS Biochemistry Oregon State University (MS student Colorado State U)
Madeleine Foley - BS Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University (PhD student Stony Brook U)
Liam Pendleton - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (PhD student U Washington)
Brendan O’Shea - BS Exercise Science, Eastern Michigan University (MS student U Michigan)
Samantha Glowacki - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (MS student U Michigan)
Megan Wurtz - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (MS student U Toledo)
Micah Bohanon - BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (DVM student Michigan State U)
Bailey Marston - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Kate Marsh - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University
Katherine Campbell - Honors, BS Biology, Eastern Michigan University (MS student Nottingham Trent University)
Become a Cornelius Lab Member
If you would are interested in working with us to pursue our research goals we’d love to hear from you. Contact us if you are interested in being a financial sponsor, research or outreach volunteer, graduate student or post-doctoral scholar.