|
Daniel J Paluh
Assistant Professor Department of Biology University of Dayton 300 College Park Dayton, Ohio 45469-2320 Courtesy Faculty Department of Natural History Florida Museum of Natural History. Email: [email protected] Office phone: +1 937-229-3011 Lab: SC 326 Shipping address: University of Dayton Central Receiving - Biology Attn: Daniel Paluh 1529 Brown St. Dayton, OH 45469-2912 Download CV - last updated Aug. 2025 Google Scholar ResearchGate GitHub |
|
Graduate Students
|
Sudipta Kalita
Email: [email protected] PhD student in UD Department of Biology M.Sc., 2021, University of Bonn B.Sc., 2019, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai ResearchGate Sudipta joined the lab in January 2024. His research has focused on the paleobiology of extinct metoposaurid amphibians from the Late Triassic, especially the shoulder girdle using bone microanatomy and histology techniques. For his dissertation research, he is exploring the evolution, development and adaptation of cranial bones at the level of bone tissue across metamorphic and adult stages of extant frogs. He is also developing techniques to analyze topographical variation of skull roof ornamentation observed in hyperossified frogs and extinct amphibians from the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic eras. Recent publications Kalita, S., E.M. Teschner, and D. Konietzko‐Meier. 2025. Illuminating the dark mess of fibers: Application of circular cross polarized light in unravelling the bone tissue structure of the dermal pectoral girdle of Metoposaurus krasiejowensis. Journal of Anatomy. Early View Klein, N., D. Konietzko-Meier, S. Kalita, M. Noda, S. Ishikawa, Y. Taguchi, W. Anzai, and S. Hayashi. 2024. Unique bone histology of modern giant salamanders: a study on humeri and femora of Andrias spp. Zoological Letters 10: 18. PDF Recent awards SSAR Victor Hutchison Graduate Student Poster Award in the category of Physiology & Morphology (2024) |
|
|
Andrew Capitosti
PhD student in UD Department of Biology M.Sc., 2025, Southern Illinois University B.Sc., 2023, Southern Illinois University Andrew joined the lab in August 2025. He began his research career as undergrad, at Southern Illinois University, by working in a parasitology lab characterizing nematodes and cestodes found in the Konza Prairie. With herpetology always being the subject he was most interested in, he did his Master's research at SIU where he examined the validity of handheld evaporimeters to measure cutaneous evaporative water loss. He also examined the ecological effects on total evaporative water loss, specifically examining how the total evaporative water loss rates of five different anuran species of varying ecomorphs changed across increasing temperature. His current broad research interests include herpetology, ecology, evolution, phylogenetics, developmental biology, and physiology. |
|
|
Danny Heinz
M.Sc. student in UD Department of Biology Hanley Sustainability Institute Graduate Fellow B.Sc., 2021, Ball State University Danny joined the lab in August 2025. He received a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Zoology at Ball State University in 2022 where he studied northern saw-whet owl migration and local reptile and amphibian populations. Since then he has traveled across the country to work on different projects, such as investigating how Mojave Desert Tortoises utilize land affected by wildfires and solar farms in Las Vegas, Nevada with USGS, and assessing river and stream health and ecology through fish, macroinvertebrate, and water quality surveys with the EPA. He is investigating the prevalence, source, and impact of mouthpart deformities in local tadpole populations as a UD Hanley Sustainability Institute Graduate Fellow! |
|
Undergraduate Students
Hoang Yen Vy Nguyen, University of Dayton
Vy has been helping collect preliminary data on the mechanisms underlying tail shape diversity in tadpoles by evaluating the change in tail shape induced by the downregulation of several major signaling pathways during development.
Joseph Dickman, University of Dayton
Joseph has assisted in collecting data from the literature on the diversity of the tadpole feeding apparatus in family Microhylidae to better understand two unusual genera: Otophryne of South America and Scaphiophryne of Madagascar.
Jackson Jones, University of Dayton
Jackson is characterizing the precise timing of tooth formation during metamorphosis in the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) using histology and H&E staining. The aim of this study is to assess the variability in the timing of tooth induction across frog diversity and determine if and how the formation of first-generation teeth is affected by keratinized tadpole mouthparts.
Mayson Brokos, University of Dayton
Mayson is currently investigating the skeletal development of the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) using clearing and double staining techniques and histology in collaboration with Sudipta!
Caitlyn O'Malley, University of Dayton
Caitlyn is using DNA barcoding to identify grasshopper specimens that were collected from a solar prairie in California! This is a collaborative project with Dr. Chelse Prather's Insect Ecology Lab at UD.
Nicholas Canfield & Arianna Olivares, University of Dayton
Nick and Arianna are investigating the intraspecific variation of the tadpole feeding apparatus in the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) and Green frog (Rana clamitans) to evaluate how the jaw sheaths and keratodonts change during growth and development. They are also helping to quantify the relationships among water quality parameters, disease occurrence, and the prevalence/type of tadpole developmental deformities in collaboration with Danny.
Vy has been helping collect preliminary data on the mechanisms underlying tail shape diversity in tadpoles by evaluating the change in tail shape induced by the downregulation of several major signaling pathways during development.
Joseph Dickman, University of Dayton
Joseph has assisted in collecting data from the literature on the diversity of the tadpole feeding apparatus in family Microhylidae to better understand two unusual genera: Otophryne of South America and Scaphiophryne of Madagascar.
Jackson Jones, University of Dayton
Jackson is characterizing the precise timing of tooth formation during metamorphosis in the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) using histology and H&E staining. The aim of this study is to assess the variability in the timing of tooth induction across frog diversity and determine if and how the formation of first-generation teeth is affected by keratinized tadpole mouthparts.
Mayson Brokos, University of Dayton
Mayson is currently investigating the skeletal development of the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) using clearing and double staining techniques and histology in collaboration with Sudipta!
Caitlyn O'Malley, University of Dayton
Caitlyn is using DNA barcoding to identify grasshopper specimens that were collected from a solar prairie in California! This is a collaborative project with Dr. Chelse Prather's Insect Ecology Lab at UD.
Nicholas Canfield & Arianna Olivares, University of Dayton
Nick and Arianna are investigating the intraspecific variation of the tadpole feeding apparatus in the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) and Green frog (Rana clamitans) to evaluate how the jaw sheaths and keratodonts change during growth and development. They are also helping to quantify the relationships among water quality parameters, disease occurrence, and the prevalence/type of tadpole developmental deformities in collaboration with Danny.
Join the Lab
Undergraduate Opportunities
I am excited to provide research opportunities to undergraduate students at University of Dayton! Prior research experience is not required, but a genuine interest in biology, research, and learning new skills is necessary. Please send me an email at [email protected] if you are interested!
Postdoc Opportunities
I do not currently have funding to support postdocs but would be excited to sponsor external postdoctoral fellowship (e.g., NSF PRFB) applications. Please send me an email at [email protected] if you would like to collaborate!
Graduate Opportunities
I do not currently have funding to support additional graduate students in my lab. If you are interested in joining the lab in the future, please send me an email at [email protected] with your CV and a brief statement of your interests. We are committed to forming a positive and inclusive lab environment that promotes creative research and collaboration among all members.
I am excited to provide research opportunities to undergraduate students at University of Dayton! Prior research experience is not required, but a genuine interest in biology, research, and learning new skills is necessary. Please send me an email at [email protected] if you are interested!
Postdoc Opportunities
I do not currently have funding to support postdocs but would be excited to sponsor external postdoctoral fellowship (e.g., NSF PRFB) applications. Please send me an email at [email protected] if you would like to collaborate!
Graduate Opportunities
I do not currently have funding to support additional graduate students in my lab. If you are interested in joining the lab in the future, please send me an email at [email protected] with your CV and a brief statement of your interests. We are committed to forming a positive and inclusive lab environment that promotes creative research and collaboration among all members.
Lab Alumni
Undergraduate students
Kyliah Gilliam-Beale, University of Dayton
Penny McGraw, University of Dayton
Jacob Szafranski, University of Dayton
Madeline Brinkman, University of Dayton
Pre-Dental major. Currently a dental student at Indiana University School of Dentistry.
Daniela Salcedo-Recio, University of Florida
Biology major. Currently a dental student at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
Maya Rayle, Harvard University
Biology major. Currently a MS student at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Kyliah Gilliam-Beale, University of Dayton
Penny McGraw, University of Dayton
Jacob Szafranski, University of Dayton
Madeline Brinkman, University of Dayton
Pre-Dental major. Currently a dental student at Indiana University School of Dentistry.
Daniela Salcedo-Recio, University of Florida
Biology major. Currently a dental student at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
Maya Rayle, Harvard University
Biology major. Currently a MS student at University of Wisconsin-Madison.