Iris Levin, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Iris has been studying birds since 2003 when she fell in love with research on a foggy island in the middle of the Bay of Fundy. She has worked with small passerine birds, Galapagos seabirds, and now studies the secret lives of barn swallows (pictured on left). Contact Iris if you are interested in getting involved in research in the Levin Lab at Kenyon College!
Iris teaches Animal Behavior, Experimental Animal Behavior, Introduction to Environmental Studies, and Introduction to Experimental Biology.
Iris has been studying birds since 2003 when she fell in love with research on a foggy island in the middle of the Bay of Fundy. She has worked with small passerine birds, Galapagos seabirds, and now studies the secret lives of barn swallows (pictured on left). Contact Iris if you are interested in getting involved in research in the Levin Lab at Kenyon College!
Iris teaches Animal Behavior, Experimental Animal Behavior, Introduction to Environmental Studies, and Introduction to Experimental Biology.
Toshi Tsunekage, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor
Toshi and Iris have been collaborating in life and science for many years. Toshi's research interests are very broad, but often are related to life history. These days, he has been working with Iris and Levin lab students on barn swallows, adding new dimensions to the lab's work.
Toshi teaches introductory biology courses at Kenyon, including BIOL 115: Energy in Living Systems and both semesters of the foundational lab course: Introduction to Experimental Biology.
Toshi and Iris have been collaborating in life and science for many years. Toshi's research interests are very broad, but often are related to life history. These days, he has been working with Iris and Levin lab students on barn swallows, adding new dimensions to the lab's work.
Toshi teaches introductory biology courses at Kenyon, including BIOL 115: Energy in Living Systems and both semesters of the foundational lab course: Introduction to Experimental Biology.
Undergraduate research students
Kate Alexy '22
Kate is a junior biology major and English minor at Kenyon College. She is from Mendham, NJ and loves all aspects of wildlife behavior and vertebrate anatomy. She is interested in pursuing zoology or marine biology research and helping further the conservation of exotic species. Kate’s research in the Levin lab contributes to the geographic analysis of barn swallow plumage color and focuses on quantifying female plumage color to answer questions about the function of color variation.
Kate is a junior biology major and English minor at Kenyon College. She is from Mendham, NJ and loves all aspects of wildlife behavior and vertebrate anatomy. She is interested in pursuing zoology or marine biology research and helping further the conservation of exotic species. Kate’s research in the Levin lab contributes to the geographic analysis of barn swallow plumage color and focuses on quantifying female plumage color to answer questions about the function of color variation.
Ava-Rose Beech '21
Ava-Rose is a senior Environmental Studies major and Biology minor at Kenyon College. She is from Los Angeles, California, and is interested in agriculture and ecology, as well as studying how to create more sustainable food systems. Ava-Rose's work in the Levin lab focuses on variation of eggshell maculation patterns in barn swallows, in relation to intraspecific brood parasitism.
Ava-Rose is a senior Environmental Studies major and Biology minor at Kenyon College. She is from Los Angeles, California, and is interested in agriculture and ecology, as well as studying how to create more sustainable food systems. Ava-Rose's work in the Levin lab focuses on variation of eggshell maculation patterns in barn swallows, in relation to intraspecific brood parasitism.
Eva Brazer Furbush '21
Jared Gray '22
Jared is a junior at Kenyon college from Montrose, Colorado, and is a Biology major with a concentration in Environmental Studies and a Chemistry minor. He is interested in evolution and ecology, and intends on earning a doctorate in ecology or biology. Jared’s research in the Levin lab focuses on the geographical variation in plumage color in the North American subspecies of barn swallows.
Jared is a junior at Kenyon college from Montrose, Colorado, and is a Biology major with a concentration in Environmental Studies and a Chemistry minor. He is interested in evolution and ecology, and intends on earning a doctorate in ecology or biology. Jared’s research in the Levin lab focuses on the geographical variation in plumage color in the North American subspecies of barn swallows.
Serena Liu '23
Ilana Richter '22
Ilana is a junior Biology Major at Kenyon College. She’s passionate about animals and wildlife behavior/disease research. When she’s not at school or at home, she’s probably being jumped on by baboons in South Africa. Her work in the Levin lab concerns the relationship between secondary sexual characteristics and infection by avian malaria parasites.
Ilana is a junior Biology Major at Kenyon College. She’s passionate about animals and wildlife behavior/disease research. When she’s not at school or at home, she’s probably being jumped on by baboons in South Africa. Her work in the Levin lab concerns the relationship between secondary sexual characteristics and infection by avian malaria parasites.
Bella Stevens '22
Charlie Voirin '22
Charlie is a junior at Kenyon college from Batavia, Illinois and is a Biology major with growing love of birds, ecology, and anything else he's taking classes on! Charlie's research in the Levin lab is in two areas: exploring sexual differences in telomere length as well as using using network analysis to understand the relationship between social interactions and patterns of paternity.
Charlie is a junior at Kenyon college from Batavia, Illinois and is a Biology major with growing love of birds, ecology, and anything else he's taking classes on! Charlie's research in the Levin lab is in two areas: exploring sexual differences in telomere length as well as using using network analysis to understand the relationship between social interactions and patterns of paternity.
Lab alumni
Ben Berejka '20
Ben graduated from Kenyon in the spring of 2020 majoring in Biology with a minor in Anthropology. He wanted to work with and around animals and is currently living his dream in San Diego as a marine mammal trainer. Ben was the inaugural student in the Levin lab at Kenyon and his research focused on eggshell maculation patterns in barn swallows.
Ben graduated from Kenyon in the spring of 2020 majoring in Biology with a minor in Anthropology. He wanted to work with and around animals and is currently living his dream in San Diego as a marine mammal trainer. Ben was the inaugural student in the Levin lab at Kenyon and his research focused on eggshell maculation patterns in barn swallows.
Mackenzie Borum, Agnes Scott College '20
Mackenzie is a senior at Agnes Scott College from Greenville, South Carolina, and is a Biology major and Education and Environmental & Sustainability Studies double minor. She is particularly interested in urban ecology, environmental education, and sustainable development. Mackenzie's research in the Levin lab focused on the effects of artificial light at night on growth and development of nestling barn swallows and mockingbirds. She continued this line of research on campus mockingbirds, funded by a Norene Boring Undergraduate Research Grant from the Georgia Ornithological Society.
Mackenzie is a senior at Agnes Scott College from Greenville, South Carolina, and is a Biology major and Education and Environmental & Sustainability Studies double minor. She is particularly interested in urban ecology, environmental education, and sustainable development. Mackenzie's research in the Levin lab focused on the effects of artificial light at night on growth and development of nestling barn swallows and mockingbirds. She continued this line of research on campus mockingbirds, funded by a Norene Boring Undergraduate Research Grant from the Georgia Ornithological Society.
Ilsse Ortega, Agnes Scott College '20
Ilsse is a senior at Agnes Scott College. She's on the pre-med track and is notorious for getting excited about all aspects of biology, especially whatever she's currently learning about in her classes! Ilsse's research in the Levin lab focused on haemosporidian parasites of barn swallows. She was interested in seeing if parasite lineages can provide clues about where and when barn swallows become infected with these blood parasites. Her research was supported by Agnes Scott.
Ilsse is a senior at Agnes Scott College. She's on the pre-med track and is notorious for getting excited about all aspects of biology, especially whatever she's currently learning about in her classes! Ilsse's research in the Levin lab focused on haemosporidian parasites of barn swallows. She was interested in seeing if parasite lineages can provide clues about where and when barn swallows become infected with these blood parasites. Her research was supported by Agnes Scott.
Emily Smith, Agnes Scott College '20
Emily is a senior at Agnes Scott College from Kingsport, Tennessee and is a Biology and Mathematics double major. She's especially interested in modeling biological systems and she's passionate about finding alternatives to plastic in our everyday lives. Emily's research in the Levin lab focused on barn swallow eggs; she imaged eggs to examine variation in speckle patterns between clutches and among females. Her research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative.
Emily is a senior at Agnes Scott College from Kingsport, Tennessee and is a Biology and Mathematics double major. She's especially interested in modeling biological systems and she's passionate about finding alternatives to plastic in our everyday lives. Emily's research in the Levin lab focused on barn swallow eggs; she imaged eggs to examine variation in speckle patterns between clutches and among females. Her research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative.
Jackie Umana, Agnes Scott College '20
Jackie is a senior at Agnes Scott from El Salvador. She is majoring in Biology with a minor in chemistry and is interested in working with wildlife. Jackie's research in the Levin lab investigated the relationship between male ventral plumage coloration and breeding colony size. Her research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative.
Jackie is a senior at Agnes Scott from El Salvador. She is majoring in Biology with a minor in chemistry and is interested in working with wildlife. Jackie's research in the Levin lab investigated the relationship between male ventral plumage coloration and breeding colony size. Her research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative.
Clara Drummond, Agnes Scott College '20
Clara is a senior at Agnes Scott College from Roswell, GA. She is a Biology major and Environmental and Sustainability Studies minor who is interested in ecology and conservation. Clara's research in the Levin lab focused on the relationship between barn swallow colony size and the frequency of extra-pair paternity. Her research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative at Agnes Scott College.
Clara is a senior at Agnes Scott College from Roswell, GA. She is a Biology major and Environmental and Sustainability Studies minor who is interested in ecology and conservation. Clara's research in the Levin lab focused on the relationship between barn swallow colony size and the frequency of extra-pair paternity. Her research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative at Agnes Scott College.
Vaughn Wicker, Agnes Scott College '19
Vaughn was an Agnes Scott student from Atlanta, Georgia. He majored in biology and minored in mathematics. Vaughn joined the Levin lab in Summer 2017 and investigated telomere length heritability in barn swallows, especially how nest parasites influence nestling telomere length. His research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative and an Agnes Scott College Advantage Award. Vaughn is currently working in a lab for the GA Department of Public Health.
Vaughn was an Agnes Scott student from Atlanta, Georgia. He majored in biology and minored in mathematics. Vaughn joined the Levin lab in Summer 2017 and investigated telomere length heritability in barn swallows, especially how nest parasites influence nestling telomere length. His research was supported by the Goizueta Foundation STEM Success Initiative and an Agnes Scott College Advantage Award. Vaughn is currently working in a lab for the GA Department of Public Health.
Jazz Stephens, Agnes Scott College '18
Jazz studied biology at Agnes Scott College with minors in German and chemistry. Her next adventure includes vet school at the University of Georgia! Jazz's project investigated how variation in incubation behavior contributes to variation in telomere length. Her research was supported by the Leonard Doerpinghaus Biology Student Excellence Fund. Jazz is currently in vet school at the University of Georgia.
Jazz studied biology at Agnes Scott College with minors in German and chemistry. Her next adventure includes vet school at the University of Georgia! Jazz's project investigated how variation in incubation behavior contributes to variation in telomere length. Her research was supported by the Leonard Doerpinghaus Biology Student Excellence Fund. Jazz is currently in vet school at the University of Georgia.
Alina Ibrahim, Agnes Scott College '19
Alina did research in the Levin lab during her junior year at Agnes Scott College. Alina is from Stone Mountain, Georgia, but she also lived in India. She is currently majoring in Biology with a minor in public health and she is on the pre-vet track. She would one day like to work with either wildlife or exotic pets and is interested in ecology and conservation. Alina's research focused on the effects of nestling sex and growth on variation in telomere length. Her research was supported by an Advantage Award from Agnes Scott College.
Alina did research in the Levin lab during her junior year at Agnes Scott College. Alina is from Stone Mountain, Georgia, but she also lived in India. She is currently majoring in Biology with a minor in public health and she is on the pre-vet track. She would one day like to work with either wildlife or exotic pets and is interested in ecology and conservation. Alina's research focused on the effects of nestling sex and growth on variation in telomere length. Her research was supported by an Advantage Award from Agnes Scott College.
Gabriella Chebli, Agnes Scott College '19
Gabi, who is from Miami, FL, did research in the Levin lab during her junior year at Agnes Scott College. She is double-majoring in biology and chemistry and is interested in pursuing a graduate degree in chemical ecology or a related field. Gabi collaborated with Iris during the Spring 2018 semester to understand whether telomere length and dynamics predict social behavior and reproductive success of barn swallows. Her contributions to the work were funded by Agnes Scott.
Gabi, who is from Miami, FL, did research in the Levin lab during her junior year at Agnes Scott College. She is double-majoring in biology and chemistry and is interested in pursuing a graduate degree in chemical ecology or a related field. Gabi collaborated with Iris during the Spring 2018 semester to understand whether telomere length and dynamics predict social behavior and reproductive success of barn swallows. Her contributions to the work were funded by Agnes Scott.
Maya Djordjevich, Agnes Scott College '17
Maya was an Agnes Scott student from Bethesda, Maryland. She majored in Biology with a minor in Public Health and graduated cum laude. Maya is currently applying to vet school and she is interested in working with wildlife and doing conservation research. Maya analyzed videos of barn swallows feeding their 8-day old chicks. Her research investigated whether a male's level of social interactivity with his mate (measured via proximity loggers) predicted his parental behavior. She presented her work at SPARC and at the annual Wilson Ornithological Conference and she's currently contributing to a publication of her research! Maya's conference travel was supported by an Advantage Award from Agnes Scott College. Maya is currently in vet school at Kansas State University.
Maya was an Agnes Scott student from Bethesda, Maryland. She majored in Biology with a minor in Public Health and graduated cum laude. Maya is currently applying to vet school and she is interested in working with wildlife and doing conservation research. Maya analyzed videos of barn swallows feeding their 8-day old chicks. Her research investigated whether a male's level of social interactivity with his mate (measured via proximity loggers) predicted his parental behavior. She presented her work at SPARC and at the annual Wilson Ornithological Conference and she's currently contributing to a publication of her research! Maya's conference travel was supported by an Advantage Award from Agnes Scott College. Maya is currently in vet school at Kansas State University.
