Our Team
Dr. Nicole Bedford (she/her)
Dr. Nicole Bedford is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. She earned her B.Sc. in Marine Biology from the University of British Columbia and her Ph.D. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University. As a Gordon Family Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School, she studied neural circuits for context dependent behavior in the Department of Neurobiology. Her research explores the genetic and neural basis of behavioral diversity.
Morgane Vandendoren
Morgane is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Bedford Lab.
Danielle Taylor
Danielle Taylor received her B.A. from Colby College in 2023 with dual degrees in Biology and Geology and is now a Ph.D. candidate in the Program in Neuroscience, working in the Bedford Lab. Her research focuses on identifying the genetic makeup of central and peripheral neural circuits that underlie nocturia and other lower urinary tract conditions in aged mice. Danielle is part of the NSF supported TAPDINTO-STEM Mentorship Network. Outside the lab, Danielle enjoys spending time outdoors, especially skiing and climbing.
Rachel Fanelli (she/her)
Rachel grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and earned her A.S. in Biology from Laramie County Community College (2013), followed by a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wyoming (2016). She completed her M.Sc. in Biology at Queen’s University in Canada in 2021. After working as a Research Technician in the Bedford Lab for two years, Rachel began her Ph.D. in Fall 2024 in the Program in Ecology and Evolution. She is supported by a WY NASA Graduate Research Fellowship. Her research focuses on how torpor influences cognition and neuroanatomy in chipmunks. Broadly, she is interested in the functional and mechanistic bases of animal behavior. Outside the lab, Rachel enjoys long walks with her three dogs and husband, reading library books, and spending time outdoors hiking, camping, fishing, and tinkering in R.
Samantha Killmer (‘26)
Samantha is an undergraduate from Portage, Michigan, majoring in Biology and Spanish with a minor in Honors at the University of Wyoming. She is supported by a Barry Goldwater Scholarship. She plans to graduate in 2026 and pursue a career in biological research. Her current work focuses on statistical methods for analyzing torpor stages in least chipmunks. For her capstone project, she used Hidden Markov Models to predict huddling behavior transitions in mice based on variables like body temperature. In her free time, Sam enjoys caring for her 40+ houseplants, spending time with her gecko Randall, playing violin, and running long distances.
Kinley Solem (‘26)
Kinley Solem is an undergraduate student from Gillette, Wyoming. She earned an associate’s degree in General Science and Biology from Gillette College in December 2024 while playing collegiate volleyball. Kinley is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of Wyoming and plans to graduate in May 2026. After graduation, she intends to attend veterinary school and become a veterinarian. She joined the lab to gain hands-on experience in a laboratory and veterinary setting. In her free time, Kinley enjoys playing sports, reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors.
Eleanor Veauthier (‘28)
Eleanor Veauthier is an undergraduate student from Casper, Wyoming. She is majoring in Chemistry with a pre-medicine focus. She plans to graduate in May 2028 and hopes to attend medical school after that. In the Bedford Lab, she is investigating the relationship between tissue abnormalities and changes in peripheral nervous system functioning in aging mice. She is supported by the Wyoming Research Scholars Program. Outside of the lab, Eleanor enjoys Nordic skiing, reading, and spending time outdoors.