Science Bldg. II, Rm U53, 503-725-3871

Left to right: Fishbein, Darby, Weitemier, Saadoun, Wilder, Halpin, Ovchinnikov, Chuba

Who We Are:

David Chuba
Ph.D. student; Hometown: Lusaka, Zambia
B.Sc. Hon., M.Sc. University of Cape Town, B.Sc. University of Zambia

I am currently working to understand the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the African Asclepias generic complex in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae (family Apocynaceae). This group currently includes about 250 species in about 18 genera. The African Asclepias complex is very intriguing group that has historically been subject to various taxonomic treatments mainly due the difficulty in utilizing only morphological characters for generic classification. Phylogenetic relationships of the African Asclepias complex (Asclepiadinae, Apocynaceae) have also for a long time been only a matter of intuitive speculation. Generic delimitations based on morphology in this group have been diverse and rather contentious. My hope is that a molecular approach we are utilizing in the Fishbein Lab will begin to indicate natural affinities of species in this interesting group and eventually aid in identification of useful characters for delimiting them into genera, both old and new. With regards to the biogeography, it has been hypothesized that past heterogeneous environments in Africa may have induced diversification in the African flora. The African Asclepias complex fits in as a suitable system to test this hypothesis, owing to its widespread distribution with pockets of generic endemism in subtropical southern Africa and tropical equatorial highlands. So far I have been obtaining chloroplast DNA sequence data (trnS-G, trnC-rpoB and rpl16). These have been analyzed and are beginning bring out some very interesting and in many case unexpected species relationships. I hope to soon sequence a nuclear region and infer a phylogeny from it as well. It will be interesting to see what results the nuclear DNA data show.

Haley Darby
Undergraduate student; Hometown:

Though throughout my childhood I spent a lot time with plants (particularly trying to use them to cure the ailments of my family) I am a somewhat recent convert to plant biology. One week while having nearly finished a degree in philosophy I was pondering why I wasn't studying botany. I was somewhere in the coast range in Oregon on a fantastically foggy and rainy day and was thinking to myself I should really be studying something where I can maximize my time outdoors with these ever so excellent trees, ferns and mosses. Thus began my studies in biology. Then somehow I ended up getting to do research for Dr. Fishbein. Now I take pictures of the leaves of Asclepias plants and count their hairs. I am the apprenticing hair specialist of the Fishbein lab. As The Smiths wrote, "Some milkweeds are hairier than others." I hope to continue to do more research in botany and hair care.

Mark Fishbein
Asst. Professor; Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
M.S., Ph.D. University of Arizona, B.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
Please visit my webpage for more info.

Kate Halpin
M.S. Student; Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska, USA

I grew up in Alaska where I spent the majority of my childhood camping and fishing on the Kenai River. While my parents were out fishing on the river I would spend my time walking around the woods and bogs with my dog-eared wildflower book and pick flowers for my Mom. At least that's what I did between catching tadpoles and minnows. That old love for picking flowers never died. Recently, I developed a couple of new favorite plants: Hastingsia (rush-lilies), Chlorogalum, and Camassia of the family Agavaceae. These genera are in need of some serious phylogenetic analysis and I have been adopted by the Fishbein lab to do this. This is my senior year at PSU and I am thrilled to be working on this project. Perhaps it will evolve into a Master's thesis if I decide to continue my studies at PSU. Mark sent me on a wild goose chase last summer to find some of these plants in Northern California. The picture is of me digging up a Hastingsia bulb that is one foot down in pure mud, but I didn't mind since I was surrounded by all kinds of beautiful plants like the stream orchid, Epipactis gigantea.

Sergey Ovchinnikov
Undergraduate Student; Hometown: somewhere in the Ukraine

I was born somewhere in Ukraine but grew up here in Portland OR. I went through the Portland Public Schools system and now attend Portland State as an Undergraduate. I have a deep interest in understanding the true relationship of the different species that inhabit the earth. Volunteering at the Fishbein lab seemed like the perfect opportunity to understand one of the methods employed in deciphering the great mystery. Here in lab I work with the rpl32-trnL region of the Asclepias Chloroplast Genome.

Basma Saadoun
Undergraduate Student; Hometown: Cairo, Egypt

I am in my senior year and I can't wait to finally graduate. I started working on my senior Thesis research. It's a little tricky, but I think I'll get the hang of it soon. I started thinking about what I want to do after I graduate. I am leaning towards graduate school, and I am looking into different programs. I hope to enter the master's program in molecular biology and biochemistry in OGI by the coming fall. As for PhD, I want to look for a program outside of Oregon just so that I would have a chance to move to a new place (I still love Oregon). I am now saving some money for airline tickets so I could take a short trip to Egypt and see all my friends and family.

Kevin Weitemier
M.S. Student; Hometown: Boise, Idaho, USA
B.S. Colorado College

After working in the Fishbein lab as a technician, I joined the Master's in biology program at Portland State in the fall of 2007. I am studying the phylogeographic history of a perennial lupine, Lupinus lepidus, specifically in relation to its distribution in the Cascade mountain range. The results will have implications for the biogeographic history of the Cascades as a whole and may help in identifying refuge areas utilized during periods of glaciation. L. lepidus contains multiple varieties that are morphologically intergrading and have been previously classified as several different species. To account for the ambiguity in the relationships between different varieties, and to aid in biogeographic interpretation, I will construct a phylogeny of the L. lepidus complex. The data I will use for these analyses will include microsatellite markers and non-coding regions of the nuclear and chloroplast genomes. Other topics that IÕm currently interested in include speciation patterns and processes (especially rapid and/or ambiguous speciation), host/parasite coevolution (including host/pathogen processes), and population biology. Before arriving at Portland State I attended Colorado College. My research there analyzed the phylogeny of the genus Primula (section Parryi) utilizing AFLP markers. After graduating in 2005 I worked as an intern for The Nature Conservancy at a preserve in central Idaho and as a paraprofessional (similar to a TA) for the biology department at Colorado College. kweitem at pdx dot edu

Mike Wilder
Undergraduate Student; Hometown: somewhere in Texas

I am finishing a molecular phylogeny of the genus Camassia, using two chloroplast loci. Upon completion of this project, I plan to investigate some of the carnivorous genera native to Oregon. Ultimately I hope to pursue an M.S. in Botany in Professor Fishbein's laboratory.

Where Are They Now?
Current coordinates of former lab members

Anna Brown
M.S. Student, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon

Jason Derbort
Medical Student, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi

Chris Doffitt
Ph.D. Student, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi

Chris Ellison
Ph.D. Student, University of California, Berkeley, California

Dawn Matarese
M.S. Student, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon

Dr. Robin O'Quinn
Asst. Prof., Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington

Margaret Parks
Lab Technician, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon

Robert Richardson
M.S. Student, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon

Ryan Wilde
Clinical Research Assistant, Allergy Associates Research Center, Portland, Oregon