Good lab retreat at the Flathead Lake Biological Station, May, 2022
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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