Principal Investigator
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Dr. Christopher M. JerniganChris joined the Department of Biology at Wake Forest University in Fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor. He did his postdoc identifying some of the neural correlates of social identity processing in P. fuscatus at Cornell University in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior working with Michael J. Sheehan. He did his PhD with Dr. Brian H. Smith in the Social Insect Research Group (SIRG) at Arizona State University working on olfactory and behavioral plasticity of bees. Outside of the lab you can find him spending time with his family and cooking.
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Graduate Students
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Eleanor GreeneElla earned her B.S. from University of California, Berkeley in 2024, where she studied entomology and evolutionary biology. Her undergraduate research focused on species delimitation and evolutionary relationships within an unresolved group of ground beetles. After graduating, she worked as a research intern at University of Wisconsin–Madison. There, she contributed to the construction of the BeeMachine app, an image-based platform for pollinator identification in the Midwest. Her research interests include insect evolution and development, phylogenetics, and general entomology. Ella joined the Jernigan Lab as a Ph.D. student in 2026. Outside the lab, she enjoys watercolor and ink art, insect collecting, and film.
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Tyler ShawAs a lifelong insect enthusiast, Tyler has been involved in a range of entomological research spanning agricultural pests, invasive species, honey bee behavior, and insect neuroethology. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Florida studying the population dynamics and flight phenology of the lepidopteran agricultural pests with Dr. Silvana Paula-Moraes. He worked with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services researching control strategies of invasive snails and the Mediterranean fruit fly. Later, he joined Virginia Tech to assist Dr. Margaret Couvillon with honey bee waggle dance research and with Dr. Sweta Agrawal at Virginia Tech. Leading him to his current role as a PhD student in the Jernigan Lab at Wake Forest University. Outside the lab, Tyler enjoys hiking, nature photography and illustration, reading, and beekeeping.
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Postdoctoral Scholars
Coming soon!
Undergraduate Researchers
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Lacy February- '27Lacy joined the Jernigan Lab in Spring 2026. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. Lacy was awarded the Wake Forest Research Fellowship to conduct research over the summer. In addition to her work in the Jernigan Lab, Lacy also conducts research in the biochemistry department, studying epigenetics in fission yeast. She is on track to graduate in Spring 2027 and is currently applying to medical school, hoping to matriculate in Fall 2027. Outside of the lab, she is actively involved on campus through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Deacon Doula program, and as a President's Aide!
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Adrian Andreescu- '27Adrian Joined Spring 2026. Adrian is a Biology major on track tor graduate with a Bachelor of Science in spring 2027. Adrian was awarded the Center for Molecular Signaling summer research fellowship to study wasp cognition in the Jernigan lab. He plans to attend medical school after graduating. On campus Adrian is involved with Mock Trial having a position as the tournament director. He also spends time in the Zeyl lab researching corn snake cognition.
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Thomas Long- '27Thomas joined the Jernigan Lab in spring 2026 and is currently on track to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in the spring of 2027. Thomas received the inaugural Jernigan lab summer research fellowship. After graduation, he will be pursuing a gap year before planning to attend medical school. Outside of the lab, Thomas is also involved in other areas of campus, such as the campus EMS squad, where he serves as a lieutenant. He is also involved with religious life on campus, serving as President of the Baptist Student Union.
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Lab Alumni
Coming not too soon!