Maurine Neiman - Evolutionary Biology

The Neiman lab is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable lab space that celebrates human diversity. We recognize the barriers that members of historically marginalized groups face both in society and in science. We are committed to dismantling these barriers by listening and educating ourselves and by taking appropriate actions when necessary. We also commit to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guidelines established by the Department of Biology at the University of Iowa.
Maurine Neiman

B.A., Biology, Carleton College 1999; Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, Indiana University 2004. Advisor: Curt Lively.
I am fascinated by biological diversity and by the simultaneous operation of adaptive and non-adaptive evolutionary processes within organisms, populations, and lineages. Sex, with all its complexities, encompasses all of these interests. In particular, I am interested in using comparisons of sexual and asexual individuals, lineages, and genomes to better understand the advantages and disadvantages of sexuality, evolutionary constraints that limit asexual success, and why sex persists in some natural populations but not others.

GRADUATE STUDENTS, LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, AND POSTDOCS

Chelsea Higgins

B.S., Biology (Genetics & Biotechnology track), B.A., Music, Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa 2020. M.S. student, 2021 – present.
Over the course of my undergraduate and now graduate studies, I have received hands-on training and knowledge of infectious disease in university hospitals, laboratories, and abroad, in countries like Guatemala and Kenya. These experiences combined with my undergraduate genetics research led to my interest in the shared space between the immune system and genetics. I now study how immune genes in P. antipodarum are changing with parasite interaction, a process called adaptive coevolution, which integrates immunology, genetics, and evolution. Through this project, I hope to provide valuable insight into how the P. antipodarum immune system is evolving while addressing fundamental questions in evolution.
Joe Jalinsky (co-advised with John Logsdon)

B.S., Biology, & B.G.S., Film and Media Studies, University of Kansas 2011; M.S., Entomology, Kansas State University 2014; Ph.D. student, 2014 – present.
I am interested in studying transitions between reproductive modes and the genomic, morphological, and behavioral consequences of these transitions. My Ph.D. research is focused on investigating variation in primary sexual structures in Potamopyrgus antipodarum, namely sperm and testes morphology. These structures are predicted to evolve differently in organisms that differ in reproductive mode (e.g., sexual vs asexual reproduction). In conjunction with this study, now published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, I am assessing the potential for gene flow from asexual lineages to other asexual lineages (as well as to sexual populations) mediated by the rare males produced by asexual female P. antipodarum. I am also creating an inventory of and annotating ~15 meiosis genes in lichenized fungi and assessing patterns of molecular evolution between sexual and asexual fungal species.
Humu Mohammed

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2021; Laboratory Manager 2021-present.
Amanda Moy (co-advised with John Logsdon)

B.S. Honors, Cell & Molecular Biology, Certificate in Bioinformatics & Genomics, Grand Valley State University 2021; Ph.D. student, 2022 – present.
I am broadly interested in the genetic and genomic evolution of eukaryotic organisms. My goal as a Ph.D. student is to explore the evolution of sexual reproduction in eukaryotes, and the pros and cons of sex. I also plan on leveraging the extraordinary discovery of a left-spiraling P. antipodarum to identify genes associated with chirality and to estimate the rate of de novo mutation in asexual lineages.
Briante Najev

B.S., Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine 2016; M.S., Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 2019; Ph.D. student, 2019 – present.
As a master’s student, I studied the snail communities of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the effects of human disturbance and urbanization on these communities. My research also compared snail and vegetative community compositions in the last remaining Tamaulipan Thornforest in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of the USA. Now, as a Ph.D. student, I am studying the ecology and evolutionary biology of Potamopyrgus antipodarum, with a particular focus on the potential for nutrient limitation to drive natural variation in the distribution and frequency of sexual vs. asexual individuals.
Wren Renquist (co-advised with Andrew Forbes)

B.S., Biology (Integrative Biology track), University of Iowa 2021; M.S. student, 2021 – present.
I am studying the natural history and population genetics of the Iva Flower Moth (Schinia gracilenta). This moth is a specialist on sumpweed (Iva annua), one of the "lost crops" historically cultivated by Indigenous Americans. I am interested in determining whether the genomes of these moths contain signatures of sumpweed's history of cultivation and subsequent human-mediated spread across the continent.
Grace Sack

B.A., Biology, & B.A., Spanish, University of Northern Iowa 2021; M.S. student, 2021 – present.
Aquatic invasive species are a massive ecological and economic problem. Potamopyrgus antipodarum, the snail that our lab studies, is one of these species. Previous studies have shown that preventing the establishment of new invasive populations is the most cost-effective and ecologically conscious strategy to preserve the environment. I am studying the effectiveness of quantitative PCR (qPCR) in detecting environmental DNA (eDNA) from these snails. After completing my initial lab experiments, I hope to test water samples from Midwestern freshwater sites that are at risk for invasion

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS

Faith Bibeau

B.S., Biology (Biomedical Sciences track), University of Iowa 2025.
Ruth Bropleh

B.A., Psychology (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2024.
Seren Castelleno

B.S., Biology & B. S. Anthropology, University of Iowa 2026.
Caleb Craven

B.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2024.
Monika Czinano

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2023.
Arianna Escandón

B.A., Interdepartmental Studies (Pharmacy track), University of Iowa 2025.
Winnie Gavin

B.S., Biology (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2026.
Bryan Guevara

B.S., Biology (Genetics & Biotechnology track), University of Iowa 2023.
Chase McInville

B.S., Biology (Cell & Developmental Biology track), University of Iowa 2023.
Maricruz Mendoza

B.S., Human Physiology (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2025.
Precious Maryah Pate

B.S., Public Health (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2024.
Ruby Sanchez

B.A., Biology (Pre-vet track), University of Iowa 2023.

FORMER LAB MEMBERS (a representative sample)

Laura Bankers, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, University of Iowa 2017. Now Bioinformatics Unit Lead at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Vita Domnenko, B.A.

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2022. Now an Assistant Scientist at MRI Global.
Carina Donne, B.A., M.S.

B.A., Biology & B.A., Art, University of Iowa 2019. M.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2021. Now a Ph.D. student (mentor: Dr. Melinda Smith) in Ecology at Colorado State University.
Jackson Dunning, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2022. Now a medical student at the University of Iowa.
Nicole Enright, B.S., M.S.

B.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2015. M.S., Marine Biology, College of Charleston 2020.
Xavier Ferrer, B.S.

B.S., Biology (Neurobiology track), University of Iowa 2017. Now a medical student at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Abby Good, B.S.

B.S., Environmental Science, University of Iowa 2021. Now an Environmental Analyst at the Iowa State Hygienic Lab.

Emma Greimann, B.S. Honors, M.D.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2018. Now a resident in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan.
Brandon Hu, B.S.

B.S., Biomedical Engineering (co-advised with Chris Stipp), University of Iowa 2022. Now a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota.
Amelia Hurst, B.A. & B.S. Honors, M.D.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2012, & B.A., Spanish, University of Iowa 2012. M.D., University of Iowa 2020. Now a family physician in St. Paul, MN.
Carson Kephart, B.S.

B.S., Biology & Sustainability Certificate, University of Iowa 2020. Now a M.S. student with Robin Bagley at Ohio State University.
Nicole Krois, B.S. Honors, M.A.T., D.D.S.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2013; M.A.T., Science Education, University of Iowa 2015. D.D.S., University of Iowa 2020.
Katelyn Larkin, B.A., M.S.

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2011; Laboratory technician in the Neiman lab 2011-2013, 2015-2016; M.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2015. Now a Research Scientist 3 at Integrated DNA Technologies in Coralville, IA.
Mengqi (Rena) Lin, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors (Genetic & Biotechnology track) & B.S., Informatics Honors (Bioinformatics track), University of Iowa 2017. Now a M.S. student in biotechnology at Brown University (Advisor: Jack Wands).
Emily Lyon, B.S. Honors

B.A., Biology Honors & Physician Assistant Preprofessional Program, University of Iowa 2018. Now a student in the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Iowa.
Richard Magnuson, B.S. Honors, M.A.T.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2018. M.A.T., Science Education, University of Iowa 2020. Now a secondary science teacher at Washington Community Schools.
Kyle McElroy, Ph.D.

B.S., Evolution and Ecology, & B.S. Anthropological Sciences, The Ohio State University 2013. Ph.D., Biology, University of Iowa 2019. Now a postdoc with Dr. Jeanne Serb at Iowa State University.
Jorge Moreno, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors 2018. Now a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University.
Dorota Paczesniak, Ph.D.

B.S., Geography, Jagiellonian University 2005; M.Sc., Biology, Jagiellonian University 2008; Ph.D., Biology, ETH-Zürich 2013 (co-advised with Jukka Jokela). Now a Research Scientist at the University of Oulu.
Abinaya Paravasthuramesh, B.S. Honors, M.S.

B.S., Biomedical Sciences Honors (co-advised with Chris Stipp), University of Iowa 2021. M.S., Medical Science, University of North Texas Health Science Center 2022. Now a medical student at Kansas City University.
Christopher Rice, M.S.

M.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2015 (co-advised with John Logsdon). Now a clinical lab technologist in the Mayo Clinic cytogenetics lab.
Raymond Sanders, B.S., M.H.S., P.A.-C.

B.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2012. M.H.S., P.A.-C Drexel University 2016. Now an emergency medicine physician assistant with Doctors for Emergency Service at the Christiana Care Health System.
Christina Schiltz, B.S., D.D.S.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2010. D.D.S., University of Iowa 2014. Now a prosthodontist at the United States Air Force.
Matt Schoenberger, B.S., PharmD.

B.S., Human Physiology, University of Iowa 2017. PharmD, University of Iowa 2021.
Joel Sharbrough, Ph.D.

B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame 2009; Ph.D., Biology, University of Iowa 2016. Now Assistant Professor at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

Deanna Soper, Ph.D.

B.S., Biology, & B.A., Science Education, Tri-State University 1999; M.B.A., Business Administration, Indiana University-Gary 2004; Ph.D., Ecology, Evolution, & Behavior, Indiana University 2012; Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Iowa 2013-2014. Now an Assistant Professor in Biology at the University of Dallas.

Sydney Stork, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors (Genetics & Biotechnology track), University of Iowa 2021. Now in the Masters Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Cincinnati.

Michelle Sullivan, B.S. Honors, Ph.D.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2014. Ph.D., Biology & Society, Arizona State University, 2019. Now a University Innovation Fellow at Arizona State University.

Samantha Swartz, B.S.

B.S., Biomedical Sciences Honors (co-advised with Chris Stipp), University of Iowa 2018. Now a medical student at the University of Iowa.
Collin Thatcher, B.S., M.D.

B.S., Human Physiology, University of Iowa 2016. M.D., University of Iowa 2020.
Katie Theisen, M.D.

B.S., Biology, University of St. Thomas 2009. Now a urologist at the Mayo Clinic.
Claire Adrian-Tucci, B.S., M.S.

B.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2014, M.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2016 (co-advised with Doug Houston). Now a middle school science teacher in Virginia.
Daniela Vergara, Ph.D.

B.S., Microbiology, Universidad de los Andes 2006, Ph.D., Biology, Indiana University 2013 (co-advised with Curt Lively). Now an Emerging Crops Specialist at Cornell University.
Donny Warren, B.S., Ph.D.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2013, Ph.D., Marine Science, James Cook University 2017 (Advisor: Mark McCormick). Now a senior aquaculture technician at Tassal Prawn Farm.
Peter Wilton, Ph.D.

B.A., Biology, Carleton College 2010, laboratory technician in the Neiman lab 2010-2011; Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University 2016 (Advisor: John Wakeley). Now a population geneticist at 23andme.
Nick Zachar, B.A., M.F.A.

B.A., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2013. M.F.A., Film and Electronic Media, American University 2016. Now a NOAA diver/video producer.

Website design: Gilad Aharoni

B.A., Biology, Carleton College 1999; Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, Indiana University 2004. Advisor: Curt Lively.

GRADUATE STUDENTS, LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, AND POSTDOCS

B.S., Biology (Genetics & Biotechnology track), B.A., Music, Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa 2020. M.S. student, 2021 – present.

Joe Jalinsky (co-advised with John Logsdon)

B.S., Biology, & B.G.S., Film and Media Studies, University of Kansas 2011; M.S., Entomology, Kansas State University 2014; Ph.D. student, 2014 – present.

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2021; Laboratory Manager 2021-present.

Amanda Moy (co-advised with John Logsdon)

B.S. Honors, Cell & Molecular Biology, Certificate in Bioinformatics & Genomics, Grand Valley State University 2021; Ph.D. student, 2022 – present.

B.S., Wildlife Ecology, University of Maine 2016; M.S., Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 2019; Ph.D. student, 2019 – present.

Wren Renquist (co-advised with Andrew Forbes)

B.S., Biology (Integrative Biology track), University of Iowa 2021; M.S. student, 2021 – present.

B.A., Biology, & B.A., Spanish, University of Northern Iowa 2021; M.S. student, 2021 – present.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS

B.S., Biology (Biomedical Sciences track), University of Iowa 2025.

B.A., Psychology (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2024.

B.S., Biology & B. S. Anthropology, University of Iowa 2026.

B.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2024.

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2023.

B.A., Interdepartmental Studies (Pharmacy track), University of Iowa 2025.

B.S., Biology (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2026.

B.S., Biology (Genetics & Biotechnology track), University of Iowa 2023.

B.S., Biology (Cell & Developmental Biology track), University of Iowa 2023.

B.S., Human Physiology (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2025.

B.S., Public Health (Pre-med track), University of Iowa 2024.

B.A., Biology (Pre-vet track), University of Iowa 2023.

FORMER LAB MEMBERS (a representative sample)

Laura Bankers, Ph.D.

Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, University of Iowa 2017. Now Bioinformatics Unit Lead at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Vita Domnenko, B.A.

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2022. Now an Assistant Scientist at MRI Global.

Carina Donne, B.A., M.S.

B.A., Biology & B.A., Art, University of Iowa 2019. M.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2021. Now a Ph.D. student (mentor: Dr. Melinda Smith) in Ecology at Colorado State University.

Jackson Dunning, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2022. Now a medical student at the University of Iowa.

Nicole Enright, B.S., M.S.

B.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2015. M.S., Marine Biology, College of Charleston 2020.

Xavier Ferrer, B.S.

B.S., Biology (Neurobiology track), University of Iowa 2017. Now a medical student at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Abby Good, B.S.

B.S., Environmental Science, University of Iowa 2021. Now an Environmental Analyst at the Iowa State Hygienic Lab.

Emma Greimann, B.S. Honors, M.D.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2018. Now a resident in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan.

Brandon Hu, B.S.

B.S., Biomedical Engineering (co-advised with Chris Stipp), University of Iowa 2022. Now a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Amelia Hurst, B.A. & B.S. Honors, M.D.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2012, & B.A., Spanish, University of Iowa 2012. M.D., University of Iowa 2020. Now a family physician in St. Paul, MN.

Carson Kephart, B.S.

B.S., Biology & Sustainability Certificate, University of Iowa 2020. Now a M.S. student with Robin Bagley at Ohio State University.

Nicole Krois, B.S. Honors, M.A.T., D.D.S.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2013; M.A.T., Science Education, University of Iowa 2015. D.D.S., University of Iowa 2020.

Katelyn Larkin, B.A., M.S.

B.A., Biology, University of Iowa 2011; Laboratory technician in the Neiman lab 2011-2013, 2015-2016; M.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2015. Now a Research Scientist 3 at Integrated DNA Technologies in Coralville, IA.

Mengqi (Rena) Lin, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors (Genetic & Biotechnology track) & B.S., Informatics Honors (Bioinformatics track), University of Iowa 2017. Now a M.S. student in biotechnology at Brown University (Advisor: Jack Wands).

Emily Lyon, B.S. Honors

B.A., Biology Honors & Physician Assistant Preprofessional Program, University of Iowa 2018. Now a student in the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Iowa.

Richard Magnuson, B.S. Honors, M.A.T.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2018. M.A.T., Science Education, University of Iowa 2020. Now a secondary science teacher at Washington Community Schools.

Kyle McElroy, Ph.D.

B.S., Evolution and Ecology, & B.S. Anthropological Sciences, The Ohio State University 2013. Ph.D., Biology, University of Iowa 2019. Now a postdoc with Dr. Jeanne Serb at Iowa State University.

Jorge Moreno, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors 2018. Now a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University.

Dorota Paczesniak, Ph.D.

B.S., Geography, Jagiellonian University 2005; M.Sc., Biology, Jagiellonian University 2008; Ph.D., Biology, ETH-Zürich 2013 (co-advised with Jukka Jokela). Now a Research Scientist at the University of Oulu.

Abinaya Paravasthuramesh, B.S. Honors, M.S.

B.S., Biomedical Sciences Honors (co-advised with Chris Stipp), University of Iowa 2021. M.S., Medical Science, University of North Texas Health Science Center 2022. Now a medical student at Kansas City University.

Christopher Rice, M.S.

M.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2015 (co-advised with John Logsdon). Now a clinical lab technologist in the Mayo Clinic cytogenetics lab.

Raymond Sanders, B.S., M.H.S., P.A.-C.

B.S., Biology, University of Iowa 2012. M.H.S., P.A.-C Drexel University 2016. Now an emergency medicine physician assistant with Doctors for Emergency Service at the Christiana Care Health System.

Christina Schiltz, B.S., D.D.S.

B.S., Biology Honors, University of Iowa 2010. D.D.S., University of Iowa 2014. Now a prosthodontist at the United States Air Force.

Matt Schoenberger, B.S., PharmD.

B.S., Human Physiology, University of Iowa 2017. PharmD, University of Iowa 2021.

Joel Sharbrough, Ph.D.

B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame 2009; Ph.D., Biology, University of Iowa 2016. Now Assistant Professor at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

Deanna Soper, Ph.D.

Sydney Stork, B.S. Honors

B.S., Biology Honors (Genetics & Biotechnology track), University of Iowa 2021. Now in the Masters Program in Genetic Counseling at the University of Cincinnati.

Michelle Sullivan, B.S. Honors, Ph.D.