I am an evolutionary ecologist and molecular ecologist. My research focuses on understanding the generation and maintenance of phenotypic and genetic diversity through ecological selection and conservation genomics of reptiles and amphibians. I approach the study of biodiversity as inherently integrative, combining genomic, epigenomic, morphological, and ecological techniques. I am a Canadian, a Californian, and in my free time I enjoy backpacking, video games, and cooking.

2021 PhD University of California, Berkeley

2014 BS Cornell University

CV | Google Scholar | m.yuan@tcu.edu

I am planning to research the role of hybridization in the evolutionary radiation of lizards of the genus Anolis in the Caribbean. As an undergraduate I studied at Sonoma State University and abroad at Western Sydney University at the Hawkesbury Campus in New South Wales, Australia. I completed my M.S. at California State University, Northridge. My thesis investigated the dispersal patterns of the introduced gecko Hemidactylus turcicus in the United States using population genomics. I am originally from San José, California. A few of my favorite things include herping, reading, and music.

2026 MS California State University, Northridge

2019 BS Sonoma State University

I am planning to research endemic and invasive disease profiles in day geckos in Hawaii and Madagascar, as well as divergence across populations of the critically endangered Phelsuma antanosy in Madagascar. As an undergraduate, I studied at Cornell University in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Animal Physiology. After graduating, I worked as a lab technician at the Cornell Veterinary School in the Jongmin Kim lab, where I carried out research on germ cell gene silencing mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster. I am originally from Long Island, New York. Outside of science, I love hiking, crafting, reading, and spending time with my pets.

2024 BS Cornell University

I am pursuing a B.A. in Biology on the pre-med track, with a minor in Spanish for the Health Professions. I am a member of the Honors College, where I am developing ideas for my future honors thesis. Broadly, I am interested in how urbanization influences lizard populations and their pathogen profiles, and I hope to contribute to research that connects ecological and molecular perspectives. I am originally from Roseville, California, and I love spending time near the beach. In my free time, I enjoy baking, exploring new restaurants, and going to concerts.

I am a Biology major on the pre-dental track with a minor in Spanish for the Health Professions. In the lab, I assist with data collection for projects that examine how environmental variation and species interactions influence population dynamics. Through this work, I have developed a strong interest in how ecological change shapes genetic diversity within species. I am particularly interested in research on tortoise populations and how disturbances such as wildfires may influence long-term genetic patterns and population resilience. I am from Excelsior, Minnesota, and I love being out on the lake, trying new coffee shops with friends, and reading in my free time.

The lab is recruiting! Contact Dr. Yuan if you are interested in working with us.