Eric J. Tepe
Principal Investigator
703B Rieveschl Hall
Office: 513-556-9784
eric dot tepe at gmail dot com
Graduate students
Diana Bolton
My name is Diana Bolton and I am a junior majoring in environmental studies and minoring in biology. I recognized my passion for environmental and biological sciences through my love for the outdoors and curiosity of the microscopic world. It wasn't until recently that I discovered the field of botany, which combines my passion for nature and interest in research. I own a variety of plants and love observing this kingdom of life -- I intend on studying botanical sciences in graduate school and pursuing researching in my future career! I am currently involved in projects studying Solanum appendiculatum (a species of wild potato) and the effects that built-up particulate pollution have on plant growth.
Lindsey Miller
Lindsey is a Master’s student with strong interests in genetics, neuroscience, and research. She is currently working on a phylogeny of the “Pothomorphe” clade of Piper - lineage which includes the pleasantly aromatic Piper auritum - the “root-beer plant” - and is digging into the medicinal uses of P. umbellatum worldwide.
Marisa Seremet
I’m currently a junior in Biology at the University of Cincinnati, and am planning on furthering my education in Botany/Plant Health after graduation. My focus in this lab are the seeds of the Piper (Piperaceae) plants: I extract the seeds from samples and compare their similarities/differences among species.
Former undergraduate students
Caroline Cain
Caroline is currently working on species identification in the "giant genus” Piper using Near- Infrared Leaf Spectroscopy (FT-NIR). This is a relatively new method of identification and we are working on establishing a protocol that would allow for be-er information transfer with colleagues in Brazil.
Alyncia Mason
Alyncia is a graduating senior here at the University of Cincinnati. She is studying biology ( pre- medicine), with a minor in chemistry. She is currently working in the University of Cincinnati Herbarium with Curtis G. Lloyd’s specimens. Alyncia plans on attending graduate school after graduation and pursuing a degree in Physician Assistance, but in the mean time, is working as as a recipient of the prestigious Curtis Gates Lloyd Research Fellowship.
John Grossheim
Aside from his near-unhealthy obsession with aroids, John is working on comparing methods of DNA field preservation for later extraction and sequencing. He is also working on developing an interest in liverworts.
Jacob Keshtvarz
Jacob is a Master’s student and is working on a taxonomic revision of the “Pothomorphe” clade of Piper. As an undergrad at UC, he worked with Megan Philpott on the Hedeoma todsenii project, completing DNA extractions with samples of Hedeoma todsenii, as well as some PCR and gel electrophoresis work. He also worked in the UC Herbarium with Dr. Tepe separating old unidentified bryophyte and lichen specimens into samples to be identified and samples to be databased with proper long-term storage envelopes and labeling, as well as, databasing other specimens already put away into the large long-term storage shelves.
Nicole Hansel
Nicole is a Master’s student interested in the conservation of rare and endangered flora through cryopreservation. Her research is focused on the malformations caused by environmental stress that some plants show when grown in vitro, and on the effects of these malformations on survival after cryopreservation. She is also studying the effects of these malformations on the metabolites of the plants. Nicole is co-advised by Dr. Valerie Pence at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW)
