Dr. Robert Griffin-Nolan (PI)

Originally from Central New York, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Ithaca College where I studied understory plant responses to light quality in Peter Melcher's plant physiology lab. In 2019, I completed my PhD in Ecology with Dr. Alan Knapp at Colorado State University. My dissertation research focused on the role of community functional composition in differential sensitivity of grasslands to drought. For my postdoctoral work, I studied the physiological mechanisms of plant invasions (Syracuse University) as well as macroecological patterns of grass traits (Santa Clara University). In 2023, I started my position as Assistant Professor of Plant Physiology at California State University, Chico.

Click to download my CV

Lab Members

Anna Krause

Anna is a Masters student studying physiological traits of native CA grassland species in the contexts of restoration and drought. She got hooked on grasslands as an undergraduate at the University of Kansas, where she conducted research on the phenology of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) in an experimental prairie restoration at Konza Prairie Biological Station. In addition to a BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, she also holds BA degrees in English and French.

Click here for Anna's website

Hanan Abels-Sullivan

Hanan is a Masters student in the Wildland Management program. His project is focused on quantifying intra- vs. interspecific trait variability in oak savana woodlands following wildfire and prescribed fire.

Lexi Logan

Lexi received her BS from Chico State and is now working on a MS project focused on how plant functional traits influence soil carbon and litter decomposition following prescribed fire

Alden Tichinin 

Alden is a senior undergraduate student pursuing a BS in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry.  He started in the lab working on the GRASS-Net project, and more recently has been studying how seed banks respond to wildfire (in collaboration with Allison Brott in the Kaczynski lab). He is currently employed as a Batch Chemist and Lab Assistant at Xytogen Biotech and after graduation hopes to use bioinformatics to solve problems in systematics and ecology. He has an associate's degree in History, and is also a licensed EMT. 

Danielle Gallegos

Danielle is a Plant and Soil Science major in the college of Ag who is interested in how plant pathogens impact the physiology of invasive plants.

Lab Alumni

Ryan Suchomel (undergrad, 2024-2025), current position: working towards a teaching credential at Chico State
Angelina Garcia (undergrad, 2024-2025), current position: Graduate Student at Cal Poly Humboldt
Joseph Bolletino (undergrad, 2024-2025)
Andrew Burger (undergrad, 2024-2025)
Makayla Thoits (undergrad, 2024-2025)
Natalie Braun (undergrad, 2023-2024), current position: Scientific Aid with California Fish & Wildlife