The Research Team
Undergraduate researchers are the engine of this lab. Every project, every dataset, every publication carries their contributions.
Interested in joining? Get in touchCurrent Lab Members
4 members
Principal Investigator
Dr. Carl Hjelmen
Research Focus
Genome size evolution, sex chromosome differentiation, underreplication, forensic entomology
Since Fall 2023
Haylee Beck
Project
Survey of forensically relevant Diptera across Utah ecoregions
Since Summer 2025
Beth Larsen
Project
Genome size evolution of Paleopterous insects
Since Spring 2026
Dawn-Marie Hornsby
Project
Optimizing DNA recovery and amplification from blow fly dietary samples to improve environmental DNA detection for biodiversity and forensic applications.
Since Spring 2026
Joshua Nilsson
Project
Investigating the rate of genome size evolution across insect orders utilizing a multistep bioinformatic pipeline
Research Alumni
16 researchersFormer lab members have gone on to PhD programs, industry positions, and continued research. We're proud of every one of them.
Bailey Jannuzzi
Developing genomic and bioinformatic pipelines for environmental DNA detection from Diptera samples
Olivia Frary
Genome size differences between homogametic and heterogametic individuals and links to lifespan
Babs Jetton
Constructing a Diptera phylogeny and investigating karyotype evolution
Remington Motte
Evolutionary biology and comparative phylogenetic methods; Dscam1 evolution in Hymenoptera
Audrey French
Chromosome shape variation and evolution in fruit flies
Marissa Ohran
Assembling and assessing heterochromatin-rich genomes
Samantha Curnow
Genome size evolution in Drosophila species and relationships to temperature and climate
Texas A&M University
Alex McGuane
miRNA qPCR and RNA preparation
Entomology
Michelle Jonika
Immature blow fly sex identification using qPCR
Entomology / Genetics / Forensics
Elizabeth Piron
Genome size and underreplication estimates
Entomology / Genetics
Renee Holmes
Genome size and underreplication estimates
Entomology
Melissa Mynes
Genome size and underreplication estimates
Entomology / Genetics
Margaret Garrett
Genome size and underreplication estimates
Entomology / Genetics
Zoe Ward
Development of forensic entomology experiments
Entomology / Genetics
Anika Sharma
Fulbright Scholar — mRNA markers of development in Chrysomya rufifacies
Entomology
Alli Konstantinov
Phylogenetic trait simulations
Biology
Interested in Joining the Lab?
Undergraduate researchers at all levels are welcome. No prior research experience required — just curiosity and commitment. Projects are available in genomics, bioinformatics, field entomology, and more.
Carl.Hjelmen@uvu.eduLab Awards & Achievements
No entries match that filter.
2026
Cyrus Nielsen starts graduate program in Germany (Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena)
Bailey Jannuzzi starts Ph.D. program at William & Mary
Jun 2026
Talk Award
Bailey Jannuzzi wins Best Undergraduate Talk at the Annual North American Forensic Entomology Association Meeting — Grand Junction, CO
Apr 2026
Student Award
Bailey Jannuzzi wins UVU College of Science Outstanding Student Award for Biology
Apr 2026
Student Award
Cyrus Nielsen wins UVU College of Science Outstanding Student Award for Biology
Apr 2026
Valedictorian
Cyrus Nielsen awarded Valedictorian Status for the UVU College of Science
Apr 2026
Honors Award
Cyrus Nielsen wins UVU Honors Program Summit Award — Project with the most immediate and potential impact
2025
Nov 2025
Talk Award
Cyrus Nielsen wins 1st Place Talk Award at the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Portland, OR
Nov 2025
Talk Award
Bailey Jannuzzi wins 2nd Place Talk Award at the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Portland, OR
Nov 2025
Poster Award
Haylee Beck wins 1st Place Student Poster Award at the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Portland, OR
Nov 2025
Travel Grant
Cyrus Nielsen awarded UVU College of Science Scholarly Activities Committee (SAC) travel award to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Portland, OR
Nov 2025
Travel Grant
Bailey Jannuzzi wins UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Dissemination Grant to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Portland, OR
Nov 2025
Travel Grant
Haylee Beck wins UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Dissemination Grant to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Portland, OR
Sep 2025
Publication
Remington Motte publishes first-author peer-reviewed paper from work done at UVU
Olivia Frary starts Ph.D. program at University of Rochester
Barbara Jetton starts Ph.D. program at University of Utah
Marissa Ohran awarded an NSF RaMP Postbaccalaureate Fellowship for work at Georgia Southern University
Apr 2025
Student Award
Olivia Frary wins UVU College of Science Outstanding Student Award for Biology
Apr 2025
Student Award
Barbara Jetton wins UVU College of Science Outstanding Student Award for Biology
Apr 2025
Faculty Award
Dr. Hjelmen awarded UVU College of Science Dean's Distinguished Faculty Scholarship Award
May 2025
Research Grant
Dr. Hjelmen awarded a UVU Grants for Engaged Learning 2-year research award to fund bioinformatic and ecology work on blow flies with students, pay hourly, and to bring students to NAFEA and Entomological Society of America meetings in 2026
May 2025
Research Grant
Dr. Hjelmen awarded a UVU Capitol Reef Field Station grant to aid in student-driven field work on blow flies across the Colorado Plateau
Jan 2025
Research Grant
Bailey Jannuzzi awarded UVU College of Science Scholarly Activities Committee (SAC) research award to do molecular and bioinformatic work on blow fly gut contents
Jan 2025
Research Grant
Bailey Jannuzzi awarded UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity research grant to do molecular and bioinformatic work on blow fly gut contents
2024
Nov 2024
Travel Grant
Haylee Beck wins UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Dissemination Grant to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Phoenix, AZ
Nov 2024
Travel Grant
Olivia Frary wins UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Dissemination Grant to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Phoenix, AZ
Nov 2024
Travel Grant
Barbara Jetton wins UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Dissemination Grant to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Phoenix, AZ
Nov 2024
Travel Grant
Audrey French wins UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Dissemination Grant to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Phoenix, AZ
Remington Motte starts Ph.D. program at University of Arkansas
Jun 2024
Research Grant
Haylee Beck awarded UVU College of Science Scholarly Activities Committee (SAC) research award to perform field work in Grand Gulch, UT
2023
Nov 2023
Travel Grant
Remington Motte wins UVU Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity Dissemination Grant to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — National Harbor, MD
Nov 2023
Travel Grant
Remington Motte awarded UVU College of Science Scholarly Activities Committee (SAC) travel award to attend the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — National Harbor, MD
Nov 2023
Invited Talk
Remington Motte invited as a speaker for a special symposium at the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — National Harbor, MD
Apr 2023
Travel Grant
Remington Motte awarded UVU College of Science Scholarly Activities Committee (SAC) travel award to attend the Pacific Branch Entomological Society of America Meeting — Seattle, WA
2022
March 2022
Publication
Magnolia Morelli publishes first-author peer-reviewed paper from work done at UVU
Nov 2022
Poster Award
Marissa Ohran wins 2nd Place Student Poster Award at the Annual National Entomological Society of America Meeting — Vancouver, BC
Jul 2022
Research Grant
Dr. Hjelmen awarded a UVU Grants for Engaged Learning award to bring students to the 2022 Entomological Society of America Meeting and to update the department's entomological outreach supplies