THE CLOTFELTER LAB @ AMHERST COLLEGE
ABOUT US
The Clotfelter Lab at Amherst College is committed to creating an environment in which all students are equally and inclusively supported in their education and research training.
We are broadly interested in animal behavior, physiology, and functional morphology. Most of our current work focuses on a long-term study of tree swallows (Tacycineta bicolor) breeding in Western Massachusetts and on convict cichlid fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) in Central America. We also study biomechanics and behavior in crayfish (Procambarus and Faxonius spp.).
Ethan Clotfelter
Rufus Tyler Lincoln Professor of Biology
edclotfelter [at] amherst.edu
Ethan attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill before getting his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has spent most of his career studying birds before starting projects on fish and crayfish. He joined the faculty at Amherst College in 2003, and is now the Rufus Tyler Lincoln Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies. He enjoys hiking (often with his dog), running, cycling, and canoeing, and traveling with his family.
2026-2027 lab members
Nora Hakimian
Nora is a senior Biology major and honors thesis student from Seattle, Washington. She enjoys spending time outside, crafting, and playing music. She hopes to someday pursue a graduate degree in ecology/evolutionary biology.
Lola Ginsburg
Lola is a senior Biology major and honors thesis student from New York City.
Carys Shepard
Carys is a senior Biology major and honors thesis student from Washington, D.C. She enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, eating good food, and playing music with others. She has two pet cats, Dewey and Louie, and an older brother Hugh.
Zoe Strothkamp
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Zoe is a previous graduate of Amherst College (Class of 2024) who has spent much of the time since graduating studying seabirds in Alaska. She is re-joining the Clotfelter lab for the 2026-2027 academic year as a research associate.
