The Good Lab is a space of inclusion, where we welcome people from diverse backgrounds and identities. We do not tolerate discrimination based on race, nationality, ethnicity, culture, personal beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or socio-economic status. The University of Montana was formed on the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We acknowledge the historical underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in scientific research and strive to correct this wrong. By promoting diverse representation in our lab, we aim to build a better research community.


Research Team

Jeffrey M. Good, PI  (he/him)

Professor, University of Montana (2010-present)

NSF Postdoc, Max Planck Inst, Leipzig, DE, 2008-10, (Pääbo Lab)

PhD, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 2007 (Nachman Lab)

MS, Biology, University of Idaho, 2002 (Sullivan Lab)

BS, Zoology, University of Idaho, 1999

E-mail: jeffrey.good[at]umontana.edu

Google Scholar


Daniel Shaw, Postdoc (2023; he/him)      

Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Montana (2023-present)

PhD, Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, 2022 (White Lab).

BS, Genetics, Clemson University, 2016.

Research interests: evolution of gene expression, sex chromosomes, spermatogenesis.

E-mail: Daniel.Shaw[at]uga.edu

Google Scholar


Schuyler Liphardt, Postdoc (Cheviron Lab, co-Mentored; he/him)

Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Montana

PhD, Biology, Univ. New Mexico, (2021, Cook Lab)

BS, Biology, Univ. New Mexico, 2014

Research interests: Viral evolution, mammalian adaptation & speciation, museum collections.

E-mail: schuylerliphardt[at]gmail.com

Google Scholar


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Nathanael Herrera, Postdoc (Cheviron Lab, co-Mentored; he/him)

Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Montana (2023-present)

PhD, Ecology, & Evolution, 2023 (Good Lab)

MS, Biology, Florida State University, 2013 (Steppan Lab)

BS, Biology, Florida State University, 2009

Research interests: Phylogenetics, speciation, adaptation

E-mail: ndh04c[at]gmail.com

Google Scholar


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Luis (Fernando) Rodriguez Caro, Graduate Student (he/him)

PhD Candidate, Ecology, & Evolution 2019-present

MS, Biology, Mississippi State University, 2018 (Counterman Lab)

BS - Biology, Universidad Distrital F.J.C, 2012 (Kumangi lab)

Research Interests: Evolutionary biology, genomics, computational biology.

Email: lf.rodriguez027[at]gmail.com

Google Scholar


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Cynthia Ulbing, Graduate Student (she/her)

PhD Student, Ecology, & Evolution 2020-present

Laboratory Technician, Cornell University, 2018-2020 (Aquadro Lab)

BS, Biology, Ithaca College, 2017

Research Interests: Genetics, adaptation, climate change.

Email:  cynthia.ulbing[at]umontana.edu

 Google Scholar


Jess Powell, Graduate Student (she/her)

MS Student, Ecology, & Evolution 2023-present

BS, Wildlife Biology and Climate Change Studies Minor, University of Montana, 2023.

Research Interests: Conservation genetics, adaptation, climate change

Email: jessica2.powell[at]umontana.edu


Ezra Mendales, Graduate Student (he/him)

PhD Student, Ecology & Evolution 2023-Present

MS Integrative Biology, San Francisco State University, 2023 (Chaves-Dumbacher Lab)

BS Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 2016

Research Interests: Phylogenetics, biogeography, bioinformatics

E-mail: ezra.mendales[at]umontana.edu


Jessica Scales, Graduate Student (she/her)

PhD Student, Ecology & Evolution, 2023-Present

Laboratory Technician, Tulane University, Ferris Lab, 2022-2023

BS Biological Sciences, University of Central Florida, Fitak Integrative Genomic Lab, 2020

Research Interests: conservation genomics, bioinformatics, adaptation

E-mail: jessica.scales[at]umontana.edu


Tim Wheeler, Senior Researcher (he/him)

MS, Evolutionary Biology, University of Montana, 2017 (McCutcheon Lab)

BS, Geology, University of Montana, 2005.

Research Interests:  Fungal Tree Of Life.  Phylogenetics of lichenized fungi.  Fungi of Montana.  Photography.  

Website:  https://timwheelerphotography.com/


Ashlin Slanger, Undergraduate Researcher (she/her)

BS Student

Cellular Molecular Biology with a minor in ethics.

Research interests: Genetics, Gene Expression, and Evolution.

Email: ashlin.slanger[at]umontana.edu


Jackie Olexa, Undergraduate Researcher (she/her)

BS Student

Wildlife Biology & Computer Science, dual major

Research interests: Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Evolution.

Email: jackie.olexa[at]umconnect.umt.edu


Amelia Bohac, Undergraduate Researcher (she/her)

BS Student

Biology, Genetics and Evolution concentration, Pre-Vet

Minor: Spanish 

Email: amelia.bohac[at]umontana.edu


UM Genomics Core Team


Denghui David Xing, UMGC Manager (he/him)

Genomics Core Manager, University of Montana (2017 – Present)

Research Scientist, Colorado State University, 2012 – 2017 (Peers, Reddy Labs)

Postdoc, Miami University, 2006 – 2012 (Li Lab)

Postdoc, Purdue University, 2004 – 2006 (Chen Lab)

PhD, Plant Molecular Biology, South Dakota State University, 2004 (Yen Lab)

MS, Genetics, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1992 (Liu Lab)

BS, Agronomy, Hebei Agrotech. Teachers College, 1989

Research interest: RNA processing, Sequencing Methodology

UMGC Website  


Minoti Asher, UMGC Research Admin Assistant (she/her)

MS, Biology, East Carolina University, 2020

BS, Chemistry Botany and Zoology, Christ University, 2017

Research interests: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Conservation, Sustainability, Science Writing

Email: minoti.asher[at]umt.edu


Lab Alumni

Postdocs

Emily Moore (Postdoc, Larson Lab; Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska starting ‘24)

Ana Paula Assis (Assistant Professor, Universidade de São Paulo)

Kate Wilsterman (Assistant Professor, Colorado State University)

Tim Thurman (Computational Biologist, intriguing biotech startup venture..)

Gregg Thomas (Bioinformatics Scientist, Harvard University)

Erica Larson (Assistant Professor, University of Denver)

Brice Sarver (Senior Scientist - Computational Genomics, Janssen Pharmaceutical Co)

Ted Cosart (Bioinformatician - Luikart Lab, FLBS Univ. Montana)

Graduate students

Tom Brekke, PhD (current, Postdoc, Mulley Lab, Bangor University)

Ryan Bracewell PhD (Assistant Professor, University Indiana)

Matt Jones PhD (Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico)

Zak Clare-Salzler MS (Data Analyst, Partnership Health - Missoula)

Mafalda Ferreira PhD & MS (Postdoc, Andersson Lab (Uppsala), starting Assistant Prof. Stockholm University ‘24)

Emily Kopania PhD (Postdoc, Clark Lab, University of Pittsburgh)

Nathanael Herrera, PhD (Postdoc, Cheviron/Good Labs, Univ. Montana)

Technicians & PostBacs

Bryan Fisher (MS student, University of Lethbridge)

Heather Rodriguez, (UMGC Scientist, now Rocky Mountain Research Lab)

Sebastian Mortimer (Oregon State University, PhD Student)

Dan Vanderpool (Postdoc, USFS National Genomics Center, Rocky Mountain Research Lab)

Sara Keeble (Bioinformatics Scientist, ThermoFisher Scientific)

Colin Callahan (Staff Biological Scientist, University of Florida)

Vanessa Stewart

Jacob Boswell

Dawit Mengistu (University of Michigan PhD student, Immunology)

Undergraduates

Bryan Fisher, Nate Barton, Jessi Kopperdahl, Amber Yascavage, Vanessa Stewart, Erin Nordquist, Sara Phillips-Keeble, Colin Prather, Kelsey Hom, Lindy Henry, Caleb Dysthe, Jeff Van Noppen, Matisse Ventura, Tanner Saul, Sarah Wells, Michael Fazekas