People

Lab members

Jessie Williamson – Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology and Physiology

Affiliate Curator, Museum of Vertebrates

Jessie has broad interests in avian evolution, ecology, and ecophysiology, particularly as they relate to how birds live and move in high-elevation environments. She loves doing science in collaborative teams and prefers to be above 3,000 meters in elevation. When not studying birds, Jessie likes to bird at migrant traps, hike, camp, and explore Wyoming's quirky outdoor spots.

jessie.williamson@uwyo.edu

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Elisa Ramos – Postdoctoral Research Associate

Elisa studies vertebrate evolution, comparative genomics, and molecular adaptation, focusing on how animals repeatedly diversify and conquer radical environmental shifts – from sea turtles returning to the ocean to hummingbirds scaling the Andes. She integrates high-resolution bioinformatics with specimen-based natural history data in collaborative teams. When not curating bird genomes or trapping gulls on city rooftops, Elisa loves learning new things, especially through traveling, exploring local natural history museums, and hiking outdoors.

elisa.ramos@uwyo.edu

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Ben Wiens – Postdoctoral Research Associate

Ben is an evolutionary genomicist interested in understanding the processes that generate and maintain biodiversity through time. Trained as a specimen-based mammalogist, he loves to do science that integrates field, collection, and bioinformatic components – and he even likes birds sometimes 😉. Outside of work, Ben enjoys gardening, snowboarding, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.

bwiens@uwyo.edu

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Margaret (Margie) Hemp – Ph.D. Student

Margie has a passion for asking (and answering) questions, whether they're about the human-wildlife conflict with Andean Condors in Ecuador or the relationship between flower phytochemicals and nectar-feeding birds. Margie has been a birder since 12 years of age and loves being immersed in academic study/research. Margie also likes to stay physically active, practice Spanish, and explore the outdoors.

mhemp@uwyo.edu

Collin Porter – Ph.D. Student

Collin is interested in the evolutionary, ecological, and eco-physiological dynamics that facilitate movement across environmental gradients, particularly in alpine birds that migrate between high and low elevations. He is passionate about integrating contemporary field data with museum collections to explore questions that span broad spatial and temporal scales. Outside of his studies, he enjoys photography, hiking, listening to and playing music, and exploring new places through birding.

Collin.Porter@uwyo.edu

Website

Ornithology at the University of Wyoming