https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/teaching daily 0.75 2026-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1543725241601-PQIC532EVCKT04JHUSGT/Take+notes.jpg Teaching, Outreach, and Service Sage advice for all students. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1543724478677-89RUQSEALY0TEMO2RI47/Lincoln+Memorial+Ceiling.JPG Teaching, Outreach, and Service The ceiling of the Lincoln Memorial, made of paraffin-saturated panels of Alabama marble. https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/home-2 daily 1.0 2025-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/2a5aec29-b786-48e3-864b-1786d04639b0/LabLogo.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1539093518962-C51LZ15MROFNBA3MFST7/Courtney+Fitzpatrick+2017-44+copy.jpg Contact | CV | About the PI https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1539790000583-W1O9H4ORU5095SBMXFI5/Court+Kenya+2+OScleanish+2+2.jpg Contact | CV | About the PI - About the PI After receiving a BA in visual art from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I worked in the non-profit sector at The Hetrick-Martin Institute. Before, during, and after college, I supported myself by working in restaurants. I completed a PhD in Biology at Duke University in collaboration with the Amboseli Baboon Research Project. I completed postdoctoral fellowships at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) and at Indiana University as part of the NIH funded Common Themes in Reproductive Diversity research group. I am now growing my research group in the Biology Department at Texas A&M University. Our group is part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Interdisciplinary Doctoral Degree Program. https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/publications daily 0.75 2026-02-10 https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/research-1 daily 0.75 2018-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1543510197587-ZF83CLRDSQZ1GHTMBIUG/rhoda_for_website.jpg Copy of Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1543250057707-92UFEL7VNUA8SGNW4UN4/FIG.1_27April2015.jpg Copy of Research https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/maji-moto daily 0.75 2025-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1544597989640-8EO3JK2I74UAXD5JTWSA/47.jpg Creative Non-Fiction https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/research daily 0.75 2025-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/0826ffc0-6ba7-4ecf-9e49-7cb5343be2cb/Ippy+Crab+Scan.jpg Research - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1544913453150-6TCO1PUTO98WEMHBNXAI/Ippy%2527s%2Bprints%2B1.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1544911359921-OHHX8YE8XKX7E8EZLD5C/rhoda_for_website.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1544911487197-PKROAV9E5OAZHY4AE4BO/VIB%253AKOL%2Bin%2Btall%2Bgrass%2Bcopy.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1545078840735-8O7RAHAU2RHG7H1FD0UO/FIG.1_27April2015.jpg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1545080506456-1BXTNCB4BXSX1ZBKJNAB/image-asset.jpeg Research https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/people daily 0.75 2026-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/686e5173-2a94-4dc5-8fdd-b44fb9df9d99/Brittany.jpg People - Brittany Cornell Brittany is a fourth-year Biology PhD candidate interested in herpetology, evolutionary ecology and animal behavior. She studied biology during her undergrad at Sam Houston State University. She stayed at SHSU to complete her master’s in Biology, during which she worked on Agkistrodon piscivorus habitat and refuge selection, as well as skeletal morphology in Gekkota. In the Fitzpatrick Lab, she studies reproductive ornamentation in female Phrynosomatid lizards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/76965829-48b5-409f-b23e-30f349bf8a27/Austen.png People - Austen Ehrie Austen is a fourth-year Biology PhD candidate who primarily studies animal behavior and organismal biology with an emphasis on sexual selection, mating behavior, and reproduction in non-human primates. Austen is particularly interested in exploring phenotypes that challenge traditional evolutionary paradigms. In 2022 he graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Animal Behavior and a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. While at Indiana University Austen conducted two independent research projects: one investigating the neurotranscriptomic profiles of reproductive behaviors in a sex-role reversed shorebird (Jacana spinosa) and the other testing whether parallel laser photogrammetry could be used to measure the testes of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) non-invasively. In the Fitzpatrick Lab, he is examining how copulation rate and fetal/infant death influences the probability of conception in the female Amboseli baboons. Austen also enjoys watching horror movies and thinking of ideas for future tattoos. CV https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/375c68b7-a4be-4659-9a0d-6767b0d0e921/Ruby.png People - Ruby Mustill Ruby is a third-year Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) PhD candidate interested in life history, sexual selection, and the evolution of primate behavior and signaling. She studied anthropology and evolutionary biology at Columbia University, where she wrote a senior thesis comparing sexual swellings and sexual behavior in adolescent and adult female Kinda baboons. After graduating from Columbia in 2021, she studied rhesus macaques in Puerto Rico and Kinda baboons in Zambia. Ruby’s PhD research is focused on the evolution of adolescence in primates. She particularly enjoys reading about new findings that challenge traditional Darwinian ideas about sex roles in animals, and she aims to do the same with her future research. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/b0c96383-0434-4b42-b93c-a377ce8ae6ca/Mary.jpg People - Mary Gomulak Mary is an undergraduate student majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology. She is particularly interested in herpetology, reptile and amphibian habitat restoration, conservation programs, and animal behavior in hopes of becoming a wildlife biologist. As a member of the Fitzpatrick Lab, she is currently helping with research on female ornamentation in Sceloporus virgatus, and she plans on continuing herpetological research throughout her future career. She enjoys hiking, fishing, painting, and a good game of volleyball! Read more about Mary’s research in our lab here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/c4283877-a5b0-4d1f-97d2-368e5aab12a2/Tallulah.jpg People - Tallulah Tallulah is the official mascot of the Fitzpatrick Lab. She is primarily interested in crickets. https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/join-our-group daily 0.75 2026-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1634849185469-B06ANYBKNQO3IPE8KEMR/StripedPlateauLizard.jpeg Join Our Group - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/updates daily 0.75 2026-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770511557140-PCGF859AW5ZSNC7YAB36/IMG_2252.jpg Lab Member Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770511213684-G8ITFH6BJ07P3JT0OGHE/IMG_2401.jpg Lab Member Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/c4283877-a5b0-4d1f-97d2-368e5aab12a2/Tallulah.jpg Lab Member Updates - Hello, Tallulah! Tallulah is the Fitzpatrick Lab’s newest member and lab mascot. 04/2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770508642776-JLZZJG5TCDBU73VTEGLM/20250423_153944.jpg Lab Member Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770332147540-6F5LQRPHVB5UNLI60QNN/Seren.jpg Lab Member Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/017f89bb-e11f-48c0-9314-966d9948c11c/IMG_9019.JPG Lab Member Updates - Welcome, Ruby! The newest addition to the Fitzpatrick Lab is Ruby Mustill! She joined the lab in Fall 2023 as a PhD student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Interdisciplinary Program. Learn more about Ruby under the “People” tab. 08/2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/bbc37ec5-0896-4adb-a34c-c5c9a3f96ff9/IMG_7262.jpg Lab Member Updates - Good luck, Elizabeth It’s a bittersweet time for the Fitzpatrick Lab. After a successful Animal Behavior Society conference in Portland, we must now send our postdoc Elizabeth off to The Ohio State University. She’s joining the Carter Lab, where she’ll be a research scientist with a lead role in investigating social cooperation and communication in vampire bats. Elizabeth, we loved having your expertise and camaraderie in our lab, and we can’t wait to hear about all the exciting work you’ll do in your new position! 07/2023 https://fitzpatrickresearch.com/lab-news daily 0.75 2026-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770412951039-CSPQHEPNIGAJOAHE2LYQ/IMG_5611.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770412912680-VDG8IKZP32QB80D6J0TZ/IMG_20260206_085432.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770694951956-6V948C2JPJGTY0N94E0H/IMG_20260206_085524.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770693898842-IQKNZVKUP1ULWDNEOL7V/GYSSPart.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770335431505-J67W6GCNYFQ46DYQRO2E/SingaporeGarden.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770693920841-JKGGE11YIZJ5JIZJ7G12/NobelLaureate.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/e749e695-2427-4a0b-a59c-2ef1ea296dd9/Gingerbread.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures The Fitzpatrick Lab and the Pepper Lab co-hosted Andrea Sweigart for a visit to EEB. Andrea delivered a fascinating talk about kin selection in the genus Mimulus, and she gamely participated in a lab gingerbread house-making activity. Thanks for a fun visit, Andrea! 12/01/2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/6f3f49ba-a95f-49b9-b9e6-5170752df5de/IMG_5771.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures - PhD candidate Ruby! Big congratulations to Ruby for passing her qualifying exams with flying colors, making her the third PhD candidate in the lab! 11/17/2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/dc1b76a5-d8a4-4124-a741-39aed03c2484/Dillon+Award.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures - Lawrence S. Dillon Award Congratulations to Austen for receiving the Lawrence S. Dillon award from the Biology Department, which recognizes excellence in both teaching and research. 08/17/2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770393471245-UXKW5PXKKV1LQ5XWGXTI/IMG_2827.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770393473956-C75G65SUVLCPCCOD0VK4/TeachingCerts.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1770393472367-78VOZUIQDAXZ1WOATKWX/IMG_2918.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/e3efe1f9-d94b-4a41-a776-6c36eda91c41/IMG_1954.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures - Susan Alberts is inducted as a Hagler Fellow As a director of the Amboseli Baboon Research Project, and as Courtney’s PhD advisor once upon a time, Dr. Susan Alberts has close ties with the Fitzpatrick Lab and we are thrilled about her induction into the Texas A&M Hagler Institute for Advanced Study. To learn more about Dr. Alberts’s research, visit her lab page here. To learn more about the Hagler Institute at Texas A&M, click here. 02/28/2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733696752-90Q9K4BA347MHNJNKY5X/IMG_1934.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762731390020-KIFB7PBVE4SSSZUT131B/IMG_0735.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733206710-R7PXETVMETMYQUA0EN6W/20250225_131200.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762734333413-H1NA2XIRXU56AUDIMSH2/IMG_1799.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733801788-78U059XBV2RZZEH9EG8F/IMG_1818.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1738257872307-HLGISSKFUGR7XWNCJM34/AustenBrittanyNolan.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732433314-9I5QBBCHOULY6RIIO5JM/Brittany_Award.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732660545-7E4TPZOORD6U3SYTW7FE/Brittany_DataBlitz.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1738257874464-6WUCQKNXP61G7UYYUNXA/ColtonCecile.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762731147895-9H5WM87QMIBYBD8XCXRM/Courtney_Shoto.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762731114427-G6GC963IDKA8UONFYZVC/Ruby_Poster.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1732296770259-H8B4ZIR5JDBC4ILTQUAP/Image_20241113_191015_053.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1732296749711-8LJ527ER0X4R2L4BG9Q7/img_1020-1.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733846659-JWKKQ6IP59LHNEAH1MKQ/IMG_9185.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762747701544-R4L11LXDCCG6YA1JVLK3/IMG_7965.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1724946872098-WMX5SHLZQIQTDM5YKC41/IMG_7918.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732772199-5AZRWI0PVBF418BIBY0E/IMG_7966.png Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733251484-XREKW2MNOH5TQNO7OI00/20240627_133012.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732813415-A99I7GEVLZOJV30W01KI/20240627_151530.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732873868-XPZQNUU6JNJ8704YB9MZ/IMG_20240628_233716_617.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1724680773590-MD5ZKNK1KKNKNX392J20/Image_20240530_121304_066.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1724680773014-WJQ97OE07ITWSW6H5ZJC/IMG_3451.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732929069-IPFF9NP8HYVQ4UB7A6HZ/img_3797.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732950426-AEIIQTDW80DEQI15NHWK/IMG_2804.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732965750-M2QEQPCP8TUSAMYYFIEK/IMG_3434.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762732997818-5M8TTY9PJH6KDHZ6GW0W/unnamed.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/b0483f0e-b8c6-4c4a-a554-199857d333b1/GRFP.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures - A celebration for Austen Austen recently published his first manuscript and was awarded an NSF GRFP. 04/15/2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/731c9141-9556-42be-8c3a-28b650446862/Patty+Brennan.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures - Ruby invites Dr. Patty Brennan to give an EEB seminar talk Dr. Brennan delivered a fantastic talk on sexual conflict and the coevolution of elaborate genitalia. 03/25/2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/2ca22a0a-21b2-4faf-b112-f0859768686d/IMG_8885.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures - Fitzpatrick crew at SPRC 2024 We spent the day at the Texas A&M Student and Postdoc Research Conference (SPRC), hearing about the awesome science being conducted by members of the TAMU Biology Department. 02/07/2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733409961-GMZZV9K54XIBFMUC81TD/IMG_8091.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713286564361-HV7NV5CFDEJG68ZCBH4O/IMG_8100.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733425497-D8VVYNMSXKWC46GGPNZR/IMG_8137.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713286979263-4FSYB5CV0VRZ3VS2U2AM/IMG_7853.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733532973-YWJW9E1RJUEFDTGLNITF/IMG_7857.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1762733549463-TC33OGJDT3G15K7L8MAC/IMG_7860.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/426c8f32-7e33-4683-8e8f-eed8bb30d0f2/LabLogo.jpg Lab News and Exciting Adventures - Our official lab logo is born! We are so excited to have all the different aspects of our research program represented in this beautiful design by Ro Mottsmith. Make sure you look closely enough to find the life cycle diagram represented, which is a nod to the theoretical dimension of the Fitzpatrick Lab’s research. 06/2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289700371-PEBQBDKFJZ3XADNDEQYG/IMG_3799.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289774416-BDZ2G7ZPDB9SCKDK79W0/IMG_3652.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289774362-9DLR7LZ45VUIST3EA5ZB/IMG_3683.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289775395-N4ISTIQJKM6HIWY2MX1X/IMG_3715.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289775874-K6V9RVH5M0MXYMD7HL60/IMG_3779.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289777544-D6UU5OKR4QNTZIACL1J1/IMG_3827.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289777790-E90PMI0KTD7XNU7Q3QRU/IMG_3789.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ba8b9a593a632423f70489a/1713289930818-SHCBCRGZDBNF974AWEG7/IMG_3797.jpeg Lab News and Exciting Adventures