Phelps Lab
Michael Phelps
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Animal Sciences
Washington State University
My research interests are broad, spanning many fields from molecular and cellular biology, organismal biology, ecology, and biotechnology. We use aquatic organisms as model systems, especially Pacific salmonids due to their unique physiology, life history, and economic importance. Most of our work focuses heavily on understanding the function of genes within these biological systems. Our research has both basic and applied applications and impacts basic science, conservation, aquaculture, and biomedical sciences. We specialize in the use of CRISPR genome editing technology and employ this powerful tool in most aspects of our research.
I am currently an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Washington State University and Director of the Thorgaard Center for Salmonid Physiology and Genomics. I obtained my bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in 2005 with a double emphasis in cellular and marine biology. In 2010, I received my PhD in environmental science from the University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries Animal and Veterinary Science. I have postdoctoral experience from the University of Washington in muscle stem cell biology from the Department of Biological Structure and cancer biology and CRISPR genome editing technology from the Department of Pathology.
Graduate Students
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Alex Lopez
Alex is a PhD student from the Carter lab in the School of Biological Sciences that is co-member of the Phelps Lab. He started at WSU in 2020. His undergraduate research experience in fisheries was from the lab of Paul Spruell at Eastern Washington University. Alex is investigating mechanisms of thermal adaptation in a unique population of Chinook salmon from the Lower Crab Creek tributary of the Columbia River. His research seeks to identify how Chinook salmon can adapt to increased stream temperatures predicted in future climate scenarios.
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Max Butensky
Max is currently working on 2 major things: preparing for his Preliminary exams (in pursuit of his Doctorate) by extensively studying every nuance of fish physiology, with a particular, experimental interest in pacific salmon maturation. In addition. I am also processing transcriptomic data (RNA) to comprehensively map cellular activity and systemic coordination, in my case the rapid, exaggerated growth in some pacific salmon. My research uses Pink salmon as a novel model system to gain insight into fundamental mechanisms of reproductive maturation and sexual dimorphism in Oncorhynchus.
Essentially, I am asking the question, “What causes pacific salmon to change their appearance during maturation?”
If you have questions, send them my way!
max.butensky@wsu.edu
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Sabrina Haney
Sabrina is a PhD student who started in the lab in the Fall of 2021. Sabrina is investigating elasmobranch reproductive physiology and ecological genomics using the Pacific Spiny Dogfish as a model system.
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Tholen Blasko
Tholen is a Masters student who started in the lab in the Fall of 2022. Tholen is a WSU graduate who is interested in developing novel field environmental DNA applications for salmon and trout conservation
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Tad Iritani
Tad is a WSU graduate who is conducting his Masters research on the biotic and abiotic factors that influence Pacific salmon spawning behavior in the Pacific Northwest. His research seeks to understand the factors contributing to spawning success in salmon in order to maximize wild salmon productivity.
Postdoctoral Researchers
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Brad Dimos
Brad is an NSF postdoctoral fellow who joined the lab in January of 2022. He received his PhD from the University of Texas Arlington on coral thermal stress response and functional ecology using transcriptome profiling and physiological techniques. Brad is interested in Chinook salmon thermal adaption in cardiac and mitochondrial function using a range of populations spanning from Alaska to Oregon.
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Shubhankar Sircar
Shubhankar is a virologist who joined the lab in June 2022. He obtained his PhD degree from the Amity University, Noida India, with funding support from ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute. Shubhankar is studying the biology of betacoronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. He is also developing a novel viral-antiviral technology as a therapy for viral infections.
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Contessa Ricci
Contessa (she/her) is a data scientist who joined the lab in January of 2022. Contessa received her PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington studying proteomic responses of coral reef holobionts to disease and thermal stress. She then went on to study hypertensive diseases of pregnancy before joining the Phelps Lab. Contessa is interested in environmental effects on salmon nutrition and human health impacts, particularly in relation to pregnancy.
Undergraduates
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Aimee Kessler
Undergraduate Researcher - Fish physiology
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Claudia Berry
Undergraduate Researcher - Salmon Physiology and Genetics
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Samantha Larson
Undergraduate Researcher - Salmon Ecology and environmental DNA
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Payton Hallos
Undergraduate Researcher - Fish Physiology
Managers
Paul Wheeler
Paul is the manager of the Thorgaard Center for Salmonid Physiology and Genomics and directs aquatic research in the lab. He also manages the WSU aquatic phenomics center. Paul has over 25 years of experience working with salmonid culture and genomics.
Lab Alumni
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Jasmine Richman, MS
Research Scientist - Mammoth Bioscinces
Thesis Title: INVESTIGATING THE ACTIVIN RECEPTOR PATHWAY AS A KEY REGULATOR OF MUSCLE GROWTH IN RAINBOW TROUT FOLLOWING WHOLE GENOME DUPLICATION EVENTS
Mammoth Biosciences