Graduate Students

Mackessy lab group Jan. 2023 - with Dr. Melisa Benard Valle, visiting Fulbright scholar.

Tanner Harvey is originally from the east coast and earned his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Bowdoin College in Maine. He has always been fascinated by venomous snakes and the toxinology of venoms.  He is pursuing a Ph. D. in Biological Sciences and is isolating specific proteins from crude snake venom to evaluate their toxicity and mechanisms of action.  In the future he plans to pursue a career studying the pharmacological applications of biotoxins and he hopes that the potential for biomedical development of venom toxins will help motivate the protection of venomous species worldwide.  When not studying or in the lab he enjoys rock climbing, hiking mountains, and exploring new places.

Tanner Harvey

Sam Kerwin was born in Illinois and completed his bachelor’s degree in Applied Biological Sciences from Arizona State University. He is currently a Master’s student in the Venom Analysis Lab studying venom storage mechanisms within the glands of Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox). Sam served as a venomous caretaker at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary in Arizona and is now a curator in the Natural History Museum at UNC. In the future, Sam seeks to continue a career in academia studying venomous snake evolution while working towards reducing the negative interactions between snakes and humans. While out of the lab Sam enjoys cooking, herping, and spending time outdoors.

Sam Kerwin

Calvin Vick

Calvin Vick’s place of nativity is Isanti, Minnesota. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Central Arkansas, where he studied Sceloporus thermal ecology and assisted graduate students in their research. He is working to obtain a Master’s in biology. In the Venom Analysis Lab, he is characterizing range-wide variation in venom composition of the Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus). In the future, Calvin plans to pursue a PhD and continue to study the venoms of snakes and other toxins. When not working in the lab, Calvin spends much of his free time searching for reptiles and amphibians, but he can also be seen hunting and fishing.

Steven Klioze was born in Florida and in 2022, earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a minor in chemistry from the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Longo lab, studying disease ecology in imperiled amphibian species. He is currently a Master’s student in the Venom Analysis lab where he plans to characterize the venom of three rear-fanged species from South Texas/Central America: Speckled Racers (Drymobius margaritiferus), Northern Cat-eyed Snakes (Leptodeira septentrionalis) and Black Striped Snakes (Coniphanes imperialis). During the summer of 2022, Steven assisted in population surveys for Desert Massasaugas (Sistrurus tergeminus edwardsii) in southeastern Colorado under Dr. Mackessy. In the future, Steven plans on pursuing an MD/PhD in toxicology, following his passions for venomics, chemistry, and medicine. Outside of the lab, Steven enjoys field herpetology, traveling, and photography. 

Steven Klioze

Kaleb Hill

Kaleb Hill was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana where he obtained his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of New Orleans. Kaleb is a Master’s student in the Venom Analysis Lab and studies venom resistance of rattlesnakes (against their own venom), as well as resistance in other snakes that prey on rattlesnakes. He is planning to pursue a career in academia, and his other research interests include feeding ecology and bio-mechanics of snakes. When he is not working in the lab, Kaleb enjoys BBQing, snowboarding, backpacking and bouldering.

Eric Januszkiewicz is originally from upstate New York and earned his bachelor’s degrees in biology, biochemistry, and chemical biotechnology at East Stroudsburg University. He also completed his Master’s degree there studying ophidiomycosis in Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus). Now he is pursuing his PhD looking into the molecular basis for venom variation in rattlesnake species. In the future, Eric plans to continue molecular research with venomous snakes with the hopes of a career in academia. In his free time, you can find Eric rock or ice climbing, mountaineering, skiing or boarding, woodworking, or doing just about anything outdoors.

Eric Januszkiewicz