Kaitlin Allen
Postdoctoral Researcher on NSF Astylosternus project
Ph.D., 2021, University of Kansas
M.S., 2015, Villanova University
B.S., 2013, Truman State University
Email: kallen@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
Website: https://kaitlineallen.weebly.com
Katie’s research focuses on systematics, biogeography, and niche evolution in amphibians and reptiles. While at UF, she is working on the phylogenomics and niche evolution of night frogs (Astylosternus) and hairy frogs (Trichobatrachus) from Central Africa. She is mentored by Dave Blackburn with whom she and Walter Tapondjou collaboratively developed a NSF project funded by the Systematics and Biodiversity Science Cluster.
Zuania Colón-Piñeiro
NSF Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow [beginning September 2025]
Ph.D., 2025, University of Florida
M.S., 2017, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
B.Sc., 2008, University of Puerto Rico, Bayamón
Email: colonpineiro.z@ufl.edu
Google Scholar, ResearchGate
Zuania’s research integrates ecology, physiology, and morphology to understand amphibian responses to environmental changes and diseases. She will leverage field observations, laboratory experiments, museum specimens, and mathematical models to disentangle how nutritional provisioning from amphibians with different reproductive modes respond to a changing world. She will be an NSF-PRFB fellow sponsored by Dave Blackburn, Ana V. Longo, and Hannah Vander Zanden.
Sonali Garg
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., 2019, University of Delhi, India
M.S., 2010, University of Delhi, India
B.Sc., 2008, University of Delhi, India
Email: sonaligarg@ufl.edu
Google Scholar
Sonali’s research focuses on systematics, evolution, biogeography, behavior, and conservation of frogs in South Asia. She combines field, museum, and laboratory studies to gather support from multiple lines of evidence for describing new taxa, resolving century-old taxonomic confusions and consequently revising the groups in question, and inferring evolutionary patterns of diversification and distribution in various frog groups across Asia at large. At UF, she is looking into the evolution of endemic radiations from phylogenomic and ecomorphological perspectives.
Helen Bond Plylar
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., 2024, Utah State University
M.S., 2015, Southeastern Louisiana University
B.Sc., 2013, Southeastern Louisiana University
Email: h.plylar@ufl.edu
Google Scholar
Helen is broadly interested in the comparative development and morphology of reptilian sensory and cardiovascular systems, particularly in snakes. She is a 2024 recipient of an NSF PRFB and is co-sponsored by Dave Blackburn and Gareth Fraser. Her research combines comparative anatomy, developmental genetics, and experimental manipulation of the embryonic environment to examine co-development and plasticity of structures critical to prey detection and prehension in snakes: the trigeminal nerve, teeth, and pit organs.
Walter Paulin Tapondjou
Postdoctoral Researcher on NSF Astylosternus project
Ph.D., 2022, University of Kansas
M.S., 2011, Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon
B.S., 2008, Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon
Email: tankwalter@floridamuseum.ufl.edu
ResearchGate
Walter’s research focuses on biogeography, systematics, and evolution in reptiles and amphibians from the mountains of Central Africa. While at UF, he is working on the phylogenomics and niche evolution of night frogs (Astylosternus) and hairy frogs (Trichobatrachus) from Central Africa. He is mentored by Dave Blackburn with whom he and Kaitlin collaboratively developed a NSF project funded by the Systematics and Biodiversity Science Cluster.
María Camila Vallejo-Pareja
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ph.D., 2024, University of Florida
M.S., 2018, Sam Houston State University
B.Sc., 2011, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá
Email: maria.vallejo@ufl.edu
ResearchGate
María’s research focuses on the fossil record of frogs, including their diversity, biogeography, and trait evolution. She’s currently working on a variety of projects related to frogs from the Cretaceous to the Oligocene and across North America and Central America.