Dr. Rebecca Varney
Principal Investigator, Purveyor of baked goods, Orderer of pipet tips

Originally from California, I was surprised to find that I loved Nebraska winters. I received my B.S. in Genetics from the University of California, Davis, and a Master's from the University of West Florida where I first fell in love with the special brand of weird that is marine invertebrates. I completed my PhD at the University of Alabama with Kevin Kocot and a postdoc with Todd Oakley at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I then promptly embraced my love of marine biology by moving the middle of the country. I consider Nebraska equidistant from both oceans, and though I spend summers at Friday Harbor Laboratories in the Pacific, I also have freshwater projects that fuel my appreciate for native Nebraska habitats. When not in the lab, I play with my infant daughter and spoil my two dogs.

CV                     Google Scholar

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Graduate students

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Undergraduate researchers

Christina Van Haren

Christina is planning to pursue genetic counseling. She is working on genome skimming data from museum specimens.

Kate Ohnoutka
Photographer of ostracods, Main microscopist

Kate is pre-professional and already working in human health. Rebecca has convinced her to dabble in adorable swimming creatures, so she is working with ostracods and Daphnia. Kate has always been passioante about the environment/environmental issues. She is planning to go to medical school after completing her B.S.

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A future student
This could be you!

Please contact Dr. Varney if you're interested in joining the lab!