Assistant Professor
Department of Genetics
Rutgers University
Office: Nelson Biological Laboratory, Room B416, Busch Campus
Email: christina.bergey@rutgers.edu

Position: Madagascar Program Director, Rutgers University; Lecturer, University of Antananarivo
Email: dirranrak@gmail.com

Rindra is a distinguished Biological Anthropologist specializing in human genetics, genomics, and evolutionary anthropology. With a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Antananarivo, Madagascar, in collaboration with Penn State, his groundbreaking Ph.D. dissertation focused on nuclear DNA to uncover the genetic ancestry of Malagasy populations. Currently, Rindra serves as Madagascar Program Director of the Bergey laboratory, where he leads and supervises programs focused on genetics, health, and conservation. He contributes to projects on malaria and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), addressing critical public health challenges. His leadership also extends to field research, where he co-leads studies on mosquito and lemur genetics, in collaboration with Rutgers University and the University of Antananarivo. A passionate educator and mentor, he lectures and guides students in anthropology, genetics, and bioinformatics. His publications in genetics and genomics address both human and environmental challenges in Madagascar. Rindra combines scientific expertise with a commitment to ethical practices, ensuring community engagement and equitable benefit-sharing in genomic research.

Position: NIH NJACTS fellow, Department of Genetics, Rutgers University
Email: mc2707@dls.rutgers.edu

Morgan’s broad interests range from evolutionary genomics to gross anatomy. His dissertation research comprised the ways in which primates have evolved to tolerate or detoxify xenobiotic compounds or plant secondary metabolites through natural selection on cytochrome P450 genes. Currently, Morgan is leading projects focused on adaptation in primates with a particular interest in the bamboo lemurs of Madagascar and how they have adapted to consume an extremely specialized diet that can contain many times the level of cyanide required to kill an animal of that body size. He is also leading a study on the vector ecology of the mosquito that carries La Crosse Virus, which causes pediatric encephalitis in places like Ohio. Aside from research, Morgan has a passion for education and has taught a number of subjects at the secondary, postsecondary, and graduate levels since beginning his educational career in 2011.

Program: Human Evolutionary Studies (Anthropology), Rutgers University
Email: rmd222@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

Becca is interested in how sperm competition drives the evolution of sperm proteins in primates with different mating systems. Specifically, Becca is looking at how genes implicated in sperm competition may have convergently involved in strepsirrhines, as well as how these genes may be differentially expressed in the testes across primates. Becca is passionate about LGBTQ visibility and outreach in STEM, and they are involved in both the Rutgers Anthropology graduate student-led Equity and Inclusion initiative and in the American Association of Biological Anthropology’s LGBTQ subcommittee, GayABA.

Program: Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University
Email: lindsey.hauff@rutgers.edu

Lindsey is interested in the application of evolutionary and population genomics to biodiversity conservation. Her research uses molecular and bioinformatic approaches to reconstruct the past demographic history of endangered primate species in Madagascar in order to model how the species may be able to adapt to rapid habitat change. Her analyses often make use of DNA from non-invasive samples from wild primates, as well as DNA from museum specimens.

Program: Human Evolutionary Studies (Anthropology), Rutgers University
Email: miarisoa.ramilison@rutgers.edu

Miari’s research interests include lemur ecology and evolution, parasites, infectious disease, and conservation. She graduated from Central Washington University in 2023 with her second master’s degree in Primate Behavior. Her research focused on the relationship between the intestinal parasite burden and social contact behavior in Tibetan macaques in China. She also holds a master’s in Zoology from the University of Mahajanga in Madagascar. At that time, she did research on the morphology, ecology, and ectoparasites in two species of mouse lemurs (golden brown and grey mouse lemurs) in northwestern Madagascar. For her Ph.D., she’s studying pathogen prevalence and transmission in lemurs and other animals.

Program: Human Evolutionary Studies (Anthropology), Rutgers University
Email: sr2320@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

Stéphie is an anthropological geneticist interested in how genetic ancestry, evolutionary processes, and environmental factors shape susceptibility to disease. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Antananarivo focused on the impact of environmental factors on anthropometric variation, and later worked on community-engaged population genomics. She has received the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies Dean’s Fellowship for her Ph.D. work which will investigate genetic and immunological determinants of respiratory disease responses while helping to build genomics capacity in Madagascar.

Program: Anthropology, New York University (co-advised)
Current position: Bioinformatics Analyst, Weill Cornell Medicine

Amber completed her Ph.D. in biological anthropology on the coevolution of malaria and primates. She investigated immune response evolution using dual-transcriptomics of diverse species, including macaques, colobus monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and owl monkeys. She is also passionate about scientific outreach and teaching. During her Ph.D., she was awarded an NSF DDRIG, a Predoctoral Ford Fellowship, and a P.E.O. award, and traveled to Japan as a JSPS scholar.

Current position: Founder and CEO, Evolv

During his time in the lab, Cory used bioinformatic and molecular approaches to understand the transmission of vector-borne pathogens, with the ultimate goal of developing technology to prevent their spread. His research aimed to understand immunity in human disease vectors, primarily in mosquitoes. He has spun off a start-up company, Evolv, that aims to apply similar methods to generate GLP-1 agonist supplements.

• Emily Ali
• Alexandra Beck
• Angela Casallas
• Kiara Diaz Rodriguez
• Aditya Girish
• Corinne Groome

• Nikita Guelmer (Aresty Program)
• Vibhavari Madhava (Honors)
• Theo Martin (Aresty Program)
• Asyra Simon
• Kevin Tilton