Lab Members
The Vasquez Lab is a student centered research laboratory where undergraduates learn and conduct marine physiological experiments. Students can be compensated by either receiving university research credit or hourly pay through various research programs. Students are taught basics lab techniques, animal husbandry, and field collection of mussels. Once students become familiar with the laboratory techniques they may propose potential research ideas for their own experiments that fulfills their BIOL 500 level research requirement. Interested students should contact Dr. Vasquez through her LMU email: maria (dot) vasquez (at) lmu (dot) edu.
Lily Bautista
Lily is a 4th year Biology major at LMU. She is studying the changes in enzyme activity of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase during heat exposure in M. galloprovincialis and how this may change with sirtuin inhibition.
​
Lily is also a member of Tri Beta Biological Honors Society and the founder of the club Sending Sunshine at LMU.
Keeby Tie
Keeby is a second year Biology major at LMU. He is studying the effect of environmental stressors on metabolic rate in M. gallorprovincialis. Keeby has also optimized a DNA genotypic protocol for Mytilus mussel identification.
​
Keeby has an interest in wildlife research and field work.
Maya Paniagua
Maya is a third year Biology major and Biochemistry minor. She is studying the changes in metabolic rate in M. galloprovincialis exposed to heat stress and sirtuin inhibition to understand the energetic cost of environmental stress on mussels.
Maya hopes to one day become a physician.
Alex Farrell
Alex is a third year Biology major at LMU. She helped to develop the DNA genotyping protocol used for Mytilus mussel identification.
​
Alex aspires to one day work for National Geographic and has an interest in filming and documenting nature.
Jack Lavey
Jack is a third year Biology major at LMU. He is studying the effect of environmental stress on metabolic rate in M. galloprovincialis. Jack has helped to optimize set up and data collection for our intermittent respirometer.
​
Jack hopes to one day attend graduate school in Biology and participate in research in the future.
L to R: Keeby, Maya, and Alex
