Tick Magnet

I am a student of ecology and evolutionary biology at Stony Brook University, working on finishing up my BS.
I currently work in a herpetological phylogenetics lab, where I am working on reconstructing the evolutionary tree of various North American salamander species (Desmognathus)through mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequencing.
Independently, I am studying the dispersal patterns and dynamics of an introduced population of Italian wall lizards along railroad right-of-ways in suburban, urban and industrial areas of Long Island.
In conjunction with several other varanid enthusiasts and academics, we are in the process of publishing a quarterly journal, entitled "Biawak" (Biawak is a Bahasa-Indonesia and Malay word for "monitor lizard"), which is dedicated exclusively to the study of monitor lizard biology and captive husbandry.
I am very interested in the mechanisms and processes which shape our natural world. Evolution is of great interest to me, as well as the senseless war which Christian fundamentalist groups have waged on the scientific community.
I love to travel, and enjoy spending time out in nature; with hopes of traveling to New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia, and Europe within the next few years.
I am sick of New York; sick of the winters, sick of the traffic, and sick of the hoards of selfish, arrogant, and conceited people... Winter is really rough up here, as there is absolutely nothing for a person like myself to do during the colder months except eat, drink, and get fat. I can't wait to graduate, so I can move some place warm and inviting (perhaps the Philippines?) and do absolutely nothing with my life