Misty Paig-Tran, Ph.D.
Functional Anatomy, Biomechanics, and Biomaterials (FABB)
Post Doctoral Researchers
Dr. Samantha Leigh (July 2019-August 2020).
Dr. Leigh graduated from UCI with a focus on animal physiology. Her integrative and award winning work on sea grass eating sharks made national headlines. Dr. Leigh investigated microplastic contamination in the Southern California Bight (SCB) and looked at ingestion and assimilation of microplastics by marine zooplankton. She is an avid supporter of science outreach and communication.
Dr. Leigh is now an Assistant Professor at CSU Dominguez Hills.
Graduate Students
Raj Divi - Biomimetic modeling of manta ray filters (2014-2020). M.S. 2020.
Divi, R. V., Strother, J. A., & Paig-Tran, E. M. (2018). Manta rays feed using ricochet separation, a novel nonclogging filtration mechanism. Science advances, 4(9), eaat9533.
U.S. Patent pending application: 16240732.
Andrew Lowe - Evolution and structural performance of armored fishes (2016-2019). M.S. 2019.
Lowe, A., Summers, A. P., Walter, R., Walker, S., & Paig-Tran, E. M. (2020). Scale performance and composition in a small Amazonian armored catfish, Corydoras trilineatus. Acta Biomaterialia.
Now laboratory technician at Chapman University
Andrew Barrios - Freezing and mechanical properties of Scombrid fish bones (2014-2017). M.S. 2017.
Now an Assistant Professor at Santa Ana College.
The effects of freezing on the mechanical properties and composition of anosteocytic bone in Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus. In prep.
Email: Barrios_Andrew@sac.edu
Cameron Trout (2019-2020). Cameron moved on to pursue his dream job. The FABB Lab wishes him all the best and we miss him greatly.
Undergraduate Students
Julia Teeple 2019-2021. Computational fluid dynamics of flow surrounding tooth structures.
Jacob Javier 2017-2020. Whaleshark filter-feeding
Ryan Fitterer 2018-2019. Tooth performance and fatigue testing in sharks.
Leslie Barron 2018. Digging performance in sand crabs and fluidization of their sand bed.
Ashleigh Davies 2018. Haul out performance of walrus teeth.
Lindsay Maldonado 2018. Curation of skulls for teaching lab.
Shane Brown 2017. Digging mechanics in sand crabs. Now at Cal Fish and Wildlife
Caitlin Stapp 2016-2017. Denticulation and functional anatomy of reproductive organs in cartilaginous fishes. Now a M.Sc. student at CSULB in the Stankowich lab.
Arthur Loh 2015-2017. Evolution of denticles on gill arches.
Arya Moshrefi 2014-2015. Now working for New York Life Insurance Co.
Lab Alumni Volunteers
Kaycee Coonen (2018)
Megan Nguyen (2017-2018) Now M.Sc. student CSUF.
Belen Chairez (Post Bac) 2015-2016. Now PA-S at CBU in Riverside
Victoria Yang (Post Bac) 2015-2016.
June Nong (Post Bac) 2015-2016.
High School Researchers
Wyan Wan (HS student; SCAS Scholar; 2018-2020). Structural mechanics of hyperostoses in oarfishes. Now a student at UCLA.
William Oertel (HS Student; SCAS Scholar; 2019-2020). Prevailance of microplastics in the LA Harbor and southern California Bight