Please reach out to us if you would like to join the team!
Senior personnel
Dr. Keng-Lou James Hung <KLJHung(at)ou.edu> [curriculum vitae]
Assistant Professor, Oklahoma Biological Survey and Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory
James is a community ecologist from Vancouver, Canada. James's research focuses broadly on insect conservation, with an emphasis on quantifying impacts of environmental variables on pollinator communities and the pollination services they provide. In his spare time, James enjoys being outdoors with his kids, making food with his wife, growing vegetables, photographing wildlife, and playing the violin in his church band. James's favorite insects are bees, of course! His favorite non-bee insect is the mole cricket.
Dr. Justin Bain <jbain(at)ou.edu> [Justin's homepage]
Postdoctoral Researcher, Oklahoma Biological Survey
Justin is an ecologist with a fascination for understanding how food and nutrition structure species interactions, especially in the context of plant-pollinator interactions. Justin completed his PhD at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden, where he studied the nutritional ecology of wild bumble bees at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. When not doing science, Justin enjoys running, playing tennis, and reading sci-fi/fantasy novels. Although he is a huge fan of bumble bees, his favorite insects are cactus bees (Diadasia spp.).
Staff
Gibson McElhaney and Tipton Gentry
Research Technicians
Gibson and Tipton are research technicians who are surveying the southern half of the state of Oklahoma for the rare Arogos skipper butterfly (Atrytone arogos).
Graduate students
Sam O'Dell <sodell(at)ou.edu>
PhD Student 2022 -
Sam is an ecologist who enjoys working with plants, pollinators, and interactions between these two fascinating groups! He has worked for a variety of government institutions on the ecology and management of various insect taxa. He recently completed his MSc degree at San Diego Sate University, where he studied seasonal patterns of plant-pollinator interaction networks. In his free time, he enjoys being in nature with his family, soccer, rollerblading, and the beach. His favorite insect (for now) is Habropoda depressa, the California mountain-digger bee.
PhD Student 2022 -
Sam is an ecologist who enjoys working with plants, pollinators, and interactions between these two fascinating groups! He has worked for a variety of government institutions on the ecology and management of various insect taxa. He recently completed his MSc degree at San Diego Sate University, where he studied seasonal patterns of plant-pollinator interaction networks. In his free time, he enjoys being in nature with his family, soccer, rollerblading, and the beach. His favorite insect (for now) is Habropoda depressa, the California mountain-digger bee.
Ben Turnley <benturnley(at)ou.edu>
PhD Student 2023 -
Ben is interested in native bee community ecology and conservation biology. He completed his MSc degree at the University of New Mexico. While at UNM, he assessed changes in community-level trait values and functional diversity of the Sevilleta LTER bee assemblage with climate change. In his free time Ben enjoys hiking, birdwatching, soccer, tennis, and disc golf. His favorite insects are alkali bees (Nomia spp.)
Ben Turnley <benturnley(at)ou.edu>
PhD Student 2023 -
Ben is interested in native bee community ecology and conservation biology. He completed his MSc degree at the University of New Mexico. While at UNM, he assessed changes in community-level trait values and functional diversity of the Sevilleta LTER bee assemblage with climate change. In his free time Ben enjoys hiking, birdwatching, soccer, tennis, and disc golf. His favorite insects are alkali bees (Nomia spp.)
Jackson Wingert <jackson.t.wingert-1(at)ou.edu>
MSc Student 2023 -
Jackson completed his Bachelor’s in Entomology at Texas A&M University. He is interested in studying parasites and parasitoids of solitary bees. In his free time he enjoys expanding his personal insect collection and playing Dungeons and Dragons. His favorite insect is Atta texana, the Texas Leafcutter Ant.
Jackson Wingert <jackson.t.wingert-1(at)ou.edu>
MSc Student 2023 -
Jackson completed his Bachelor’s in Entomology at Texas A&M University. He is interested in studying parasites and parasitoids of solitary bees. In his free time he enjoys expanding his personal insect collection and playing Dungeons and Dragons. His favorite insect is Atta texana, the Texas Leafcutter Ant.
E.M. Dineesha Premathilake <dineeshapr(at)ou.edu>
PhD Student 2025 -
Dineesha is interested in macroecology and big-data applications for biodiversity and conservation research. She completed her MSc at the University of Central Oklahoma, where she combined field-based camera-trapping with quantitative modeling to investigate species distribution and behavior. She worked as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Biology at the University of Central Oklahoma for three years before beginning her PhD at the University of Oklahoma. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, nature photography, and culinary exploration with her husband.
PhD Student 2025 -
Dineesha is interested in macroecology and big-data applications for biodiversity and conservation research. She completed her MSc at the University of Central Oklahoma, where she combined field-based camera-trapping with quantitative modeling to investigate species distribution and behavior. She worked as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Biology at the University of Central Oklahoma for three years before beginning her PhD at the University of Oklahoma. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, nature photography, and culinary exploration with her husband.
Izzy Gonzales <isabelle.s.gonzales-1(at)ou.edu>
MSc Student 2025 -
Izzy Gonzales graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science and a minor in Entomology. She is passionate about insect conservation and is currently working on Arogos butterfly surveys in the southern half of Oklahoma. Her favorite bees are those in the genus Dianthidium, also known as pebble bees. She also has a huge interest in cicadas and is currently working toward collecting every species in Oklahoma for her personal collection.
Jasmine Cates <jasmine.a.cates-1(at)ou.edu>
PhD Student 2025 -
Jasmine completed her Bachelor’s in Fisheries and Wildlife Science at Arkansas Tech University. Before joining the Hung Lab, Jasmine worked at the Auburn University Native Bee Lab as the lead research assistant. She is interested in native bee community ecology and landscape genetics. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys reading, crafting, and relaxing outdoors. Her favorite insects are Xylocopa micans (Southern carpenter bee) and Phanaeus vindex (Rainbow scarab).
Undergraduate students
Kaylee Do
Undergraduate Research Associate
Kaylee loves all things biology! She is a teaching assistant for Biology 1124 and is the Vice President of OU's Beekeeper's Association. She also volunteers at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History and enjoys collecting cute, tiny, trinkets in her free time. Her favorite insects are white-winged fairy bees!
Izzy Encapera
Honors College First-Year Research Experience Scholar; Honors Research Assistantship Scholar
Izzy is a sophomore psychology major from Wichita, KS. She worked in the lab as a part of the FYRE program and continues as a research associate in the lab. In her free time, she enjoys photography, embroidery, and going to antique malls to find vintage teacups for her collection. Her favorite organisms are Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana).
Austin Hill
Undergraduate Research Associate
Austin is an undergraduate student at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a biology degree. With a long-time interest in entomology, he is currently processing specimens for the bumble bee surveys conducted around the state of Oklahoma. His favorite insects are antlions and their relative owlflies.
Israel Lugo
Undergraduate Research Associate
Israel Lugo is from OKC and is currently a senior in the Environmental Studies department. He is studying the effectiveness of different green spaces as a resource for early spring butterflies. In his free time, he likes to attend to his plant collection, work on his vehicles, enjoy nature, and flower bomb lots or parks with his dogs. His favorite butterfly is the Monarch, Danaus plexippus.
Hamza Saeed
Undergraduate Research Associate
Hamza is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in biology on the premed track. He assists with sample processing and pinning in the lab. In his free time, Hamza enjoys reading books outdoors, especially under a tree when the weather is nice. He also loves watching movies with his family during breaks and going to the gym with his friends. His favorite insect is the long-tailed giant ichneumon wasp (Megarhyssa macrurus).
Jacob Castro
Undergraduate Research Associate
Jacob is an undergraduate student working on computer vision and pollinator diversity.
Lab alumni
Lauren Rosenfelt MSc (2021-2024)
MSc Graduate
Lauren Rosenfelt's Master's thesis investigated the multitude of ecosystem functions gained when converting Bermudagrass turfs to pollinator-friendly gardens, with remnant prairies as a benchmark. She was co-advised by Dr. Lara Souza. After graduating, she continues her career as a freelance natural science illustrator.
MSc Graduate
Lauren Rosenfelt's Master's thesis investigated the multitude of ecosystem functions gained when converting Bermudagrass turfs to pollinator-friendly gardens, with remnant prairies as a benchmark. She was co-advised by Dr. Lara Souza. After graduating, she continues her career as a freelance natural science illustrator.
Alec VanCuren (2021-2024)
Research Technician
Alec started as an undergraduate research associate, during which he helped established the quantum dot protocol for studying pollen transfer at our lab, and subsequently worked on bumble bee surveys around the state of Oklahoma. He is interested in studying how alpine mammal migrations and core habitat are impacted by land-use changes and a warming climate.
Research Technician
Alec started as an undergraduate research associate, during which he helped established the quantum dot protocol for studying pollen transfer at our lab, and subsequently worked on bumble bee surveys around the state of Oklahoma. He is interested in studying how alpine mammal migrations and core habitat are impacted by land-use changes and a warming climate.
Mary Powley (2022-2023)
Research Technician
Mary was our first field and lab technician and was instrumental in setting up the lab and conducting baseline surveys of bees in Oklahoma. After her time in our lab, she started a PhD in the Dan Cariveau Lab at the University of Minnesota.
Sutton Spinner (2025)
Honors Research Assistant
Sutton is majoring in biology and letters. He is trying to merge his interest in wildlife with his skill in photography. Currently, he is pursuing a career as a researcher/photographer, with National Geographic as his goal.
Sutton Spinner (2025)
Honors Research Assistant
Sutton is majoring in biology and letters. He is trying to merge his interest in wildlife with his skill in photography. Currently, he is pursuing a career as a researcher/photographer, with National Geographic as his goal.
Jayden Thomas (2023)
Undergraduate Research Associate
Jayden is a current undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a biology degree. His research focuses on plant species and ecosystems functions. In his free time, he enjoys reading and listening to music. His favorite organism is the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Undergraduate Research Associate
Jayden is a current undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a biology degree. His research focuses on plant species and ecosystems functions. In his free time, he enjoys reading and listening to music. His favorite organism is the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
Abby Ren (2022-2023)
Honors Research Assistant
Abby is from the Tulsa area, and she is currently finishing her undergraduate degree majoring in biochemistry. Abby was part of the team that worked on the first publication out of the Hung Lab: Woody flowering plants support early-spring pollinators in urban greenspaces.
Brooke Hadden (2022-2023)
Honors Thesis Scholar
Brooke's honors thesis focused on the effects of mowing on the blooming phenology of weedy Symphyotrichum species in central Oklahoma, and the pollinator species that forage on this plant. Prior to beginning her honors thesis, she was also a member of the early spring pollinators team, where she contributed to the first publication out of the Hung Lab: Woody flowering plants support early-spring pollinators in urban greenspaces.
Honors Thesis Scholar
Brooke's honors thesis focused on the effects of mowing on the blooming phenology of weedy Symphyotrichum species in central Oklahoma, and the pollinator species that forage on this plant. Prior to beginning her honors thesis, she was also a member of the early spring pollinators team, where she contributed to the first publication out of the Hung Lab: Woody flowering plants support early-spring pollinators in urban greenspaces.
Abbygail Tan (2021-2023)
Undergraduate Research Associate
Abbygail studied pollen flow, and built and deploying wooden nest blocks to study nest-site selection by cavity-nesting Hymenoptera.
Jenna Howery (2021-2022)
Undergraduate Research Associate
Jenna assisted with processing bee specimens for the Oklahoma Native Bee Inventory Project.
Tori Wierzchowski (2021-2022)
Honors Thesis Scholar
Tori's honors thesis focused on documenting pollinators' use of early-spring-blooming wild and ornamental plant species in urban landscapes. She spearheaded the first publication out of the Hung Lab: Woody flowering plants support early-spring pollinators in urban greenspaces.
