Lab Bios
J.D. Gantz, PhD
J.D. boating in Antarctica Photo by Leslie Potts
I grew up in Ohio and earned a BS in biology from Mount Union College, the small liberal arts college near my hometown. After taking some time off to figure out what was next, I joined the Laboratory of Ecophysiological Cryobiology at Miami University (Ohio) for my graduate studies. During my six years there, I investigated how insects survive a variety of environmental stresses, with a particular focus on chilling, freezing, and dehydration. The Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica, was among my primary study subjects, which gave me a chance to travel to the Antarctic Peninsula to collect and study these remarkably stress tolerant animals.
I earned my PhD in the summer of 2018 and started as an Assistant Professor of Physiology in the Department of Biology and Health Sciences at Hendrix College shortly thereafter. Here, I am continuing my research on the physiology of invertebrates that live in polar regions and other extreme environments. Since joining the faculty at Hendrix, I have been fortunate to collaborate with many amazing students while continuing my Antarctic research and launching a new project in Alaska.
Avery Colclaser
I have always had a strong interest in science, but it wasn’t until I came to Hendrix that I realized the variety of ways that I could explore that interest. My goal is to work in the health care field, and I was not expecting research on insect cold tolerance to teach me anything about health care. However, I soon learned that insect cold tolerance research is currently being used in a number of applications related to healthcare, including to improve the process of organ donation and to understand the underlying cause of migraine headaches. Working in Dr. Gantz’ lab has helped me to look at science from a different perspective and has ultimately transformed me from a student into a researcher. After I graduate from Hendrix in May of 2022, I hope to begin my journey towards a career in occupational therapy..
Joseph Lara
Coming from a family of immigrants, I never really knew what pursuing a future in STEM would entail. Most of my knowledge of what happens after high school came from cousins, friends, and my school’s guidance counselor. It wasn’t until the fall of 2018, when I first attended Hendrix College, that I really learned what it meant to pursue a career in STEM and was able to begin fostering my passion for science. In the two years since, I’ve had the opportunity to develop and pursue my interests in the intersection of disciplines like developmental psychology and geriatrics, or nutrition and the gut microbiome. Additionally, I recently started investigating the physiological adaptations underlying insect cold tolerance in the Gantz Lab. After Hendrix, I hope to attend medical school and increase reach in underserved and underrepresented communities.
Mohannad Al-Hindi
I grew up in Chicago, IL and moved to Arkansas where I began my college career at Hendrix College in 2018. A future in science has always been something I dreamed of as a kid, but it wasn’t until I started college that I realized why this was. After being exposed to the world of science through college courses, research on insect cold tolerance with Dr. Gantz, and clinical work in hospitals, I realized that this is what I love to do. After graduating from Hendrix (expected in May 2022) with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, my goal is to spend a year doing research then to attend medical school. My dream is to become a health professional working in marginalized communities that lack access to proper health care, such as the refugee communities that affect my family’s background in the Middle East.
Grace Bryant
I was raised in Benton, Arkansas, and began my college career at Hendrix College in 2018. After growing up in a small, conservative community, I decided to pursue a BS in biology and neuroscience at a small liberal arts college to explore different perspectives of science. Throughout my past 3 years at Hendrix, I have been able to expand my knowledge and interests beyond solely learning about the human body and medicine by exploring the genetics and biology of unicellular and multicellular organisms. After I graduate from Hendrix College in May of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and biology, I plan to attend medical school or pursue a PhD in clinical research.
