Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Kirt L. Onthank

Education:
PhD: Washington State University, 2013 (Supervisor: Dr. Ray Lee)
MS: Walla Walla University, 2008 (Supervisor: Dr. David Cowles)
BS: Walla Walla University, 2006

For more info see my complete CV

Current Graduate Students

Rebecca Senn

Project: Spatial learning in sepiolids

Jeffery Schell

Project: TBD

Collaborators

Alan Verde

Affiliation: Maine Maritime Academy

► ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ ◄

Lloyd Trueblood

Affiliation: La Sierra University

Lab Alumni

Graduate Students

Chris Reeve

Graduated: 2016

Current: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Thesis: Can octopuses breath air: Investigation of in-air respiration in Octopus rubescens

Maureen Hayden

Graduated: 2017

Current: Doctoral Student, Texas A&M University, Wicksten Lab

Thesis: Thermal preference in the smoothskin octopus (Muusoctopus leioderma)

Taylir Schrock

Graduated: 2018

Current: Sacred Heart Medical Center

Thesis: Octopus rubescens response to environmental chemical cues

Monica Culler

Graduated: 2019

Current: Seattle Pacific University

Thesis: Temperature and ocean acidification effects on the immune system of Octopus rubescens

Katie Pekar

Graduated: 2019

Current: Foundry Vineyards

JoMarie Alba

Graduated: 2020

Current: University of Alaska, Southeast

Thesis: Predatory strategies and behaviors of Octopus rubescens in response to ocean warming and acidification

Sofie Sonner

Graduated: 2021

Current: EPA Headquarters, Washington D.C.

Thesis: Metabolic cost of Octopus rubescens chromatophore system

Ariyatath (Jaydee) Sereewit

Graduated: 2022

Current: Research Scientist, University of Washington, Greninger Lab

Thesis: A-to-I RNA editing in Octopus rubescens in response to ocean acidification

Jefferson (Jesse) Humbert

Graduated: 2022

Current: Doctoral Student, San Diego State University, Hovel Lab

Thesis: Den associated behavior of Octopus rubescens revealed by a motion-activated camera trap system

Cheyne Springbett

Graduated: 2023

Current: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Thesis: Digging in: An investigation of burrowing behavior in Muusoctopus leioderma

Ricky Wright

Graduated: 2024

Current:

Thesis: Characterizing A-to-I RNA Edits in Nervous Tissue of Octopus rubescens in response to Ocean Acidification

Joy Williams

Graduated: 2025

Current: Faculty at Lane Community College

Thesis: Genetic Sex Determination in Octopus rubescens

Meg Mindlin

Graduated: 2025

Current:

Thesis: Tickled Zinc: Characterizing A-to-I Edits in Nervous Tissue of Octopus rubescens in Response to Ocean Acidification

Brandon Bowers

Graduated: 2025

Current:

Thesis: Disorientation and its Use to Investigate the Vestibular System of Octopus rubescens