Mentorship

Mentoring philosophy

Each mentee has different experience levels, working and communication styles, and professional goals. As such, I strive to mentor each student individually and cater my mentoring style to their needs.

Current mentees

Mingyuan Zhu

2024 - Present | Undergraduate student, University of California, Davis.
Project: Fin evolution in fishes

Shih-Na Liu

2022 - Present | Undergraduate student, University of California, Davis.
Project: Body shape diversification in coral reef fishes

Former mentees

  • Victor de Brito (2020-2023) - Collection Manager, Cornell University
    • Publication: de Brito, V., R. Betancur-R, M.D. Burns, T.J. Buser, K.W. Conway, J.P. Fontenelle, M.A. Kolmann, W.T. McCraney, C.E. Thacker, D.D. Bloom. (2022). Patterns of phenotypic evolution associated with marine/freshwater transitions in fishes. Integrative Comparative Biology 62(2): 406-423. doi: 10.1093/icb/icac085
  • Lindsey DeHaan (2020-2023) - PhD student, University of Michigan
    • Publication: DeHaan, L.M., M.D. Burns, J.P. Egan, D.D. Bloom. (2023). Diadromy drives elevated rates of trait evolution and ecomorphological convergence in Clupeiformes (herring, shad, and anchovies). The American Naturalist doi: 10.1086/726894
  • Gabriella Commisso (2020-2023) - PhD student, University of Washington
  • Justin Hansen (2016-2019) - Assistant project leader, ODFW
    • Presentations: Hansen, J. and M.D. Burns. 2016. Evolution of the axial skeleton in the fish order Characiformes. Gilbert Ichthyology Society Annual Meeting, Blue River, OR (Oral Presentation)
  • Francisco Pickens (2013-2016) - Research staff, OSU
    • Publications: LaRochelle, C., F.A.T. Pickens, M.D. Burns, B.L. Sidlauskas. 2016. Long-term Isopropanol storage does not alter fish morphometrics. Copeia 104(2):411-420. doi: 10.1643/CG-15-303
    • Presentations: Pickens, F.A.T., Larochelle, C.R., Burns, M.D., and B.L. Sidlauskas. Long-term isopropanol storage does not alter fish morphometrics. RAFWE Symposium, Oregon State University February 2016 (Oral Presentation). Best undergraduate student talk.
  • Rachel Keefe (2016) - Postdoctoral Researcher, Mount Holyoke College
  • Marcus Chatfield, MSc (2014-2015) - Aquatic Resource Coordinator, Oregon Dept of State Lands
    • Publications: Burns, M.D., M. Chatfield, J.L.O. Birindelli, B.L. Sidlauskas. 2017. Systematic assessment of the Leporinus desmotes species complex, with a description of two new species. Neotropical Ichthyology 15(2): e160166. doi: 10.1590/1982-0224-20160166
  • Colette LaRochelle (2013-2015)
    • Publications: LaRochelle, C., F.A.T. Pickens, M.D. Burns, B.L. Sidlauskas. 2016. Long-term Isopropanol storage does not alter fish morphometrics. Copeia 104(2):411-420. doi: 10.1643/CG-15-303