Meet The Lab

Christine received her PhD in Insect Physiology from the French University of Pierre and Marie Curie in 2006, where she worked on the circadian control of olfactory rhythms in moths in the laboratory of Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly and Martine Maibeche-Coisne. She then moved to the US for her postdoctoral training in Steve Reppert's lab, working on the long-distance migration of monarch butterflies and its control by circadian clocks. In her own lab, she continues this fantastic journey with the hope to unveil some of the secrets behind the monarch spectacular migration and its circadian clock.

Ying obtained her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Oregon Health and Science University in 2007. She then moved to Texas A&M University as a postdoctoral research associate in the laboratory of Matthew Sachs to study the mechanisms by which upstream open reading frames in mRNA transcripts control gene expression in Neurospora crassa. Ying joined the Merlin lab in January 2015, bringing her talent in molecular biology to contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying circadian and seasonal rhythms, as well as animal long-distance migration.

Vinaya obtained his PhD in Genetics from Bangalore University, India with a focus on mosquito genetics and vector control. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Irvine, he investigated programmable Cas9s nuclease activity in response to plasmodium-specific protease. Transitioning to Texas A&M University's Department of Entomology in March 2020, and now in Merlin's lab at the Department of Biology since October 2023, he is exploring the mechanisms of photoperiodism in monarch butterflies.

Kayla attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree, where she began research by studying gas exchange in sea turtle nests. She then received her PhD in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023. Her dissertation research demonstrated turtles can learn magnetic fields to aid in navigation and used behavioral assays to investigate the mechanisms underlying turtle magnetic sensing. She joined the Merlin Lab in August 2023 to investigate the underlying genetic mechanisms of the magnetic compass sense in monarchs.

Flavia specializes in the genomic basis of behaviors in birds, merging molecular biology, genomics, neuroscience, and behavioral biology into one delightful cocktail of science. She joined the lab as a Postdoc in January 2025 to complete a collaborative project with Dr. Kira Delmore's lab (now at Columbia University) on the molecular basis of seasonal migration in thrushes.

Michael attended the University of Cincinnati graduating with a bachelors degree in biology and an environmental studies in 2023. Post-graduation he worked field jobs, and has now joined the Merlin Lab after completing his most seasonal technician position working in the Gulf of Mexico. Growing up in the Cleveland area he spent much of his childhood outside enamored with the nature around him, inspired by his parents and their love for gardening. When not out playing in the dirt he was inside an ice rink playing the best sport there is, hockey. Other interests of Michael include gardening, cooking, playing video games, and visiting national parks.

Adil is currently a Senior at A&M majoring in Zoology. He graduated from highschool in Alaska, and is set to graduate from A&M in 2025. He plans to pursue dental school. In the lab, Adil is working on photoperiodic projects and magnetoreception. 

Jarno is currently a Junior Honors enrolled in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, majoring in Neuroscience. He is set to graduate in 2026, with plans to attend graduate school.  Jarno is involved with neurogenetic work in the monarch butterfly.

Karen is currently a Senior at Texas A&M, pursuing a major in Zoology and a minor in Spanish. She is expected to graduate in 2025 and plans to become a wildlife biologist with a focus on the care and conservation of wildlife.

Grace is a sophomore Honors Applied Mathematics major with an emphasis in Biological Science from Cypress TX. She hopes to pursue a career in healthcare as a physician after her expected graduation in 2027. She joined the lab to gain experience in the research field outside of medicine.