Research Interests:
My name is Kevin Purcell and I am a doctoral fellow at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I work in the laboratory of Dr. Paul L. Leberg. I began my work here in Louisiana in the spring of 2003.
My work is primarily concerned with the role of Global Climate Change and saltwater intrusion on the adaptation and genetic structure of coastal marsh fish populations. To this end I am looking at changes in the salinity tolerance and allele frequencies of populations collected from different environmental salinities. More specific information about my research program and interests can be found on my research page.
Education:
East Stroudsburg University
B.S. Marine Science (May, 1999)
B.S. Biology (May, 1999)
My undergraduate education was at the University of East Stroudsburg in Pennsylvania. There I received two bachelors degrees in both Biology and Marine Science. The majority of my marine studies were conducted at Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium where I gained an understanding of the marine environment and developed a interest in marine systems.
Bloomsburg University
M.S. Biology (May, 2001)
My graduate career began at Bloomsburg University also in Pennsylvania. There I earned a master's degree in biology. Following my interest in marine systems I focused on marine invertebrates choosing marine sponges as the study species for my thesis. My thesis research was conducted overseas at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR).
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Currently working on a Ph.D. in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology.
My dissertation examines a series of questions which endeavor to understand how human driven changes in the coastal environment can drive the evolution of populations. Specifically, I am examining the role of saltwater intrusion on a number of genetic and demographic aspects of coastal marsh fish populations. For more detailed explanation see my research page.