Meet the Team
Troy Neptune, PhD
Primary Investigator
Visiting Assistant Professor
Oberlin College & Conservatory
he/they
I have always been curious about the natural world and the ways animals interact with their environments. As an ecologist, I enjoy exploring questions that reveal how organisms respond to environmental challenges and how we can use that knowledge to better understand and conserve biodiversity. When I am not researching or teaching, I enjoy gardening with my husband and hanging out with my adorable cats, Dorian and Penny. I am also an artist! Check out my work on my artist Instagram.
I hope to build a lab environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, be creative, and develop their own passion for science.
Micaela Tahta Dadourian
Undergraduate Researcher
BA in Biology, expected spring 2027
Oberlin College & Conservatory
Any pronouns
I became a biology major, primarily interested in ecology, because it’s a field that is constantly searching to understand every living being on this planet and how interactions among organisms sustain all lives, ecosystems, and the Earth as a whole. This field of study becomes even more enticing when I am able to delve into the lives of creatures that reside in habitats completely different from mine. When I am not in the lab, you can find me crocheting, kickboxing, or trying new vegetarian recipes. I am excited to continue learning about amphibians, crypsis, and the effects of light pollution on aquatic environments.
Recent iNaturalist Observations
One of my favorite things to do when I am outside is adding observations to iNaturalist. Here are a few of my most recent finds.