Tyson Research Center Staff
Kim Medley
DIRECTOR
Kim oversees all Tyson operations, including planning and facilitating use of Tyson for research, education, and outreach. She also leads a research program that focuses on the effects of human perturbations to ecological and evolutionary processes on disease vectors and their pathogens. Website
Solny Adalsteinsson
Staff Scientist
Solny develops, coordinates, and conducts research to support and expand long-term environmental research at Tyson. Solny’s research interests include tick-borne disease ecology, urban wildlife ecology, and human impacts on zoonotic disease systems. Website
Elizabeth Biro
Natural Resources Coordinator
& Staff Scientist
Elizabeth manages landscape and research infrastructure for current and future research conducted at Tyson. She manages several long-term monitoring and network projects for Tyson. As one of the leaders of the St. Louis Wildlife Project, she is interested in the interaction of wildlife and urbanization. Her other research interests include disease ecology, ecological restoration, biodiversity studies and conservation. She is also one of the founders and advisors of the Tyson Conservation Corps and works to bring conservation and restoration opportunities to students and the Tyson community.
Tim Derton
Maintenance Technician
Tim is a vital part to the general maintenance and workings of Tyson. He is a jack of all trades and helps with any facility issues that may arise.
Susan Flowers
Education, Outreach, and DEAI Coordinator
Susan facilitates the involvement of pre-college and undergraduate students in authentic research experiences with Tyson-based scientists. She helps elevate diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity practices within the community and works with Tyson researchers in support of their mentoring skills and broader impacts activities.
Pete Jamerson
Facilities Manager
Pete is responsible for the upkeep of Tyson buildings, roads, and vehicle fleet. He makes sure all infrastructure systems are running smoothly (water, solar, geothermal, electrical, internet, etc.).
Erin O’Connell
Research and Conservation project coordinator
Erin collects and curates data for long-term flora and fauna monitoring projects at Tyson and in the greater St. Louis region. She helps manage Tyson’s monitoring programs for plants, bats, deer, and megafauna, and assists with Tyson’s contributions to large-scale research networks.
Dan Walton
Maintenance Technician
Dan provides maintenance support and general upkeep of our facilities. He works closely with Pete and Tim on various projects on our buildings and around our site.
Katie Westby
Staff Scientist
Katie's research focuses on the ecology and evolution of mosquitoes of medical importance. She began studying mosquito communities at Tyson in 2012 as a PhD student and now conducts both field and laboratory experiments full time. Website
Executive Committee
Feng Sheng Hu
Richard G. Engelsmann Dean of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Biology and of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
Lucille P. Markey Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences
Beverly Wendland
Provost
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Kim Medley
Director
Tyson Research Center