Welcome
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Sensory Ecology LabOur lab explores the sensory ecology and neurobiology of bats. Students conduct a wide variety of lab and field experiments to better understand how bats are able to navigate and hunt by echolocation, olfaction and vision. The results lead to new insights about how the bats brain and behavioral strategies are specialized to support their amazing and unique lifestyle, and by studying their social behaviors we aim to help ensure their conservation. Our studies also provide bio-inspired solutions for emerging technological problems in artificial communication systems, sonar systems used in autonomous vehicles, disaster drones, and robotics.
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Creativity in Science Needs Diversity
Our research team is diverse and inclusive. Research thrives from having multiple approaches, perspectives and viewpoints. Diversity in all its forms drives innovation in science, and it has been shown repeatedly that diverse teams are more successful and productive. Our research relies upon a holistic approach to explore the evolution of sensory perception in diverse species, and likewise we rely upon people with diverse talents and experiences to tackle difficult and important questions in biology. The Smotherman lab is committed to maintaining an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, and where everyone succeeds together.
Our research team is diverse and inclusive. Research thrives from having multiple approaches, perspectives and viewpoints. Diversity in all its forms drives innovation in science, and it has been shown repeatedly that diverse teams are more successful and productive. Our research relies upon a holistic approach to explore the evolution of sensory perception in diverse species, and likewise we rely upon people with diverse talents and experiences to tackle difficult and important questions in biology. The Smotherman lab is committed to maintaining an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued, and where everyone succeeds together.
Recent News
Congratulations to assistant professor Silvio Macias. Dr. Macias will be launching his own lab in the department of neuroscience at Virginia Tech University in January of 2023!
Congratulations to Dr. Kushal Bakshi for successfully defending his PhD thesis on August 18th, 2022. "Auditory cortical specializations for bat echolocation".
Dr. Alyson Brokaw graduated from Texas A&M University on May 8th, earning her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Congratulations Alyson! Check out Alyson's latest paper in Journal of Experimental Biology.
Olivia Butaud has been awarded the 2021 H.Joseph Newton Dean's Excellence Award in Service to Science. Way to go Olivia!
Alyson Brokaw successfully defended her PhD thesis, "Olfactory Tracking Behaviors in Bats" on December 9th!
Congratulations to Dr. Alyson F. Brokaw!
Alyson Brokaw was awarded the 2019 Ernst Mayr Fellowship to study Olfactory Tracking Strategies in Bats at the Smithsonian Tropicap Research Institute in Panama with Dr. Rachel Page. Alyson will spend the fall semester of 2019 in Gamboa making some very cool videos!
Dr. Grace Smarsh was awarded a 2017 Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholarship to conduct research at Tel Aviv University in the lab of Dr. Yossi Yovel.
Undergraduates (Amber Patricio, Katherine Miller, Khirstyn Lien) won second place for their poster at the 2018 Houston Regional Ecology and Evolution Symposium at the University of Houston!
Dr. Grace Smarsh successfully defended her PhD thesis on May 22nd! Congrats on her upcoming Fulbright postdoc in Israel!
Grace Smarsh received a student speaker award at the 17th International Bat Research Symposium in South Africa.
Check out the feature article on Grace's research in BATS magazine (issue 3, 2016) and her interview with Bat Conservation International!
Alyson Brokaw received a Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant from the American Museum of Natural History to study Stunira lilium in Mexico.
Congratulations to Dr. Kushal Bakshi for successfully defending his PhD thesis on August 18th, 2022. "Auditory cortical specializations for bat echolocation".
Dr. Alyson Brokaw graduated from Texas A&M University on May 8th, earning her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Congratulations Alyson! Check out Alyson's latest paper in Journal of Experimental Biology.
Olivia Butaud has been awarded the 2021 H.Joseph Newton Dean's Excellence Award in Service to Science. Way to go Olivia!
Alyson Brokaw successfully defended her PhD thesis, "Olfactory Tracking Behaviors in Bats" on December 9th!
Congratulations to Dr. Alyson F. Brokaw!
Alyson Brokaw was awarded the 2019 Ernst Mayr Fellowship to study Olfactory Tracking Strategies in Bats at the Smithsonian Tropicap Research Institute in Panama with Dr. Rachel Page. Alyson will spend the fall semester of 2019 in Gamboa making some very cool videos!
Dr. Grace Smarsh was awarded a 2017 Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholarship to conduct research at Tel Aviv University in the lab of Dr. Yossi Yovel.
Undergraduates (Amber Patricio, Katherine Miller, Khirstyn Lien) won second place for their poster at the 2018 Houston Regional Ecology and Evolution Symposium at the University of Houston!
Dr. Grace Smarsh successfully defended her PhD thesis on May 22nd! Congrats on her upcoming Fulbright postdoc in Israel!
Grace Smarsh received a student speaker award at the 17th International Bat Research Symposium in South Africa.
Check out the feature article on Grace's research in BATS magazine (issue 3, 2016) and her interview with Bat Conservation International!
Alyson Brokaw received a Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant from the American Museum of Natural History to study Stunira lilium in Mexico.