Shawn R. Kuchta
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies
Ohio University

Office: Life Science Building, Room 129
Lab: Life Science Building, Room 30
Mail: 107 Irvine Hall 
Phone: (740) 593-0224
email: kuchta [at] ohio [dot] edu

I study the evolution of organismal biodiversity, including phylogeography & phylogenetics, species formation, adaptation, natural selection, polymorphism, and biodiversity conservation. I largely focus on salamanders, but students in my lab have also worked on frogs, snakes, lizards, turtles, and even damselflies. 

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Graduate Students

Elizabeth Kramer
Ph.D. student

​Libby is working on phylogeography, biogeography, and species delimitation the Plethodon wehrlei species complex.

Kimber Boyles
MS student
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Kimber is examining hybridization between two terrestrial woodland salamanders, Plethodon electromorphus and P. cinereus

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Senior Analyst & Pace-of-Life Consultant

Squiggles
Here investigating a printout of a draft Ensatina phylogeny, Squiggles spends most of his days eating vegetables and basking under his heat lamp. His favorite desert is blueberries, and his favorite pastime is digging in corners.

I used to keep Squiggles in the lab, but because he is a pet I now have him at home, where he lives with dogs, cats, and goats.