Welcome to the OMICS Lab !!
Our lab investigates how organisms persist in novel environments, emphasizing the mechanisms of genetic adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and their interplay in driving trait evolution. By integrating comparative ‘omics’ approaches (Genomics, Transcriptomics, Epigenomics, Metagenomics, and Metabolomics) with Eco-physiology, we aim to uncover the molecular basis underlying adaptive evolution. Our research spans a range of non-model systems, particularly focusing on birds and mammals, providing insights into the evolutionary and ecological processes shaping biodiversity.
Lab News
January 2026
Our recent paper was featured in a Kent State News Article.
November 2025
Our behind the paper story was featured in Springer Nature Research Communities.
November 2025
A popular science article quoted PI Lamichhaney.
September 2025
#OMICSLab Undergraduate student Jami Greb, and PhD student Trixie Taucher were featured in Environmental Science and Design Research Institute (ESDRI) Newsletter.
September 2025
#OMICSLab PhD student, Macey Mills Receives 2025 Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award.
August 2025
#OMICSLab members, Prashant, Aarati, Trixie, Macey and Jami attended Annual American Ornithological Society Meeting in St. Louis, Missouri and presented their research work.
April 2025
I’m incredibly honored to receive the New Faculty Outstanding Research and Scholarship Award !! A heartfelt thanks to Kent State University for the continued support and encouragement—it’s a privilege to be part of such a vibrant academic community. Special thanks to all the amazing members of the #LamichhaneyLab. Your hard work and creativity makes everything possible. This award is a reflection of our collective efforts. Excited to keep pushing the boundaries of research and discovery together !!
April 2025
Congratulations to all #LamichhaneyLab Members who received prestigious awards today.
Sydney Finger – Judith Koonce Memorial Award.
Jami Greb – Dorcas J. Anderson Faculty Award.
Sydney Finger – Ralph W. Dexter Faculty Award.
Jami Greb – Dr. & Mrs. Robert W. Squires Scholarship.
Dominique Costarella – Clinton & Olive Hobbs Endowment Botany Award.
Prashant Ghimire – Graduate Student Leadership Award.
Aarati Basnet – Graduate Student Outstanding Paper Award.
Aarati Basnet – Graduate Student Excellence in Research Award.
Prashant Ghimire – University Fellowship.
Prashant Ghimire – David B. Smith Scholarship.
April 2025
Two graduate students of our lab (Aarati Basnet and Dominique Costarella) presented their research at National Forum on Biological Control Conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
April 2025
Our lab member, Melia Romine successfully defended her PhD thesis. She did population and comparative genomic studies in Himalayan Pikas.
March 2025
Our lab published a paper in Journal Molecular Biology and Evolution. In this study, we conducted the Genomic study of Avian Vampire Fly from the Galápagos Islands to study their invasive success.
December 2024
Our lab published a paper in Journal Ornithological Applications. In this study, we have developed Perdix hodgsoniae (Tibetan Partridge) inhabiting the highlands of the Tibetan Plateau as a system to study genetic basis underlying short-term plastic response to rapid changes in elevation.
October 2024
Three members of our lab attended American Ornithological Society (AOS) meeting held in Rocky Mountains, Colorado.
July 2024
Graduate student from our lab, Melia Romine received the Best Student Presentation Award at World Lagomorph Conference held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
July 2024
An interview with Prof. Rosemary Grant published in The Guardian cites our paper on hybrid speciation in Darwin’s Finches.
May 2024
Our lab was funded by Environmental Science and Design Research Institute (ESDRI) to study early stage invasion dynamics of Box Tree Moths in midwestern USA.
May 2024
Our lab was featured in the news about migration patterns of birds and the problems affecting migration.
May 2024
Our lab published a paper in the journal G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics. In this study, we have utilized museum genomics approach to analyze historic specimens of Woolly-necked storks (Ciconia spp.) and examine their genetic composition and taxonomic status and explore the evolutionary and adaptive trajectories of populations over the years.
April 2024
Congratulations to all OMICS lab members who were awarded at the Annual Departmental Award Ceremony.
Teresa Raba – Arts and Sciences Distinguished Student Leadership Award.
Teresa Raba – Ralph W. Dexter Faculty Award.
Penélope Cervantes – Dorothy J. Stuhlmiller Scholarship in Biology.
Trixie Taucher – Outstanding TA Award.
Prashant Ghimire – University Fellowship.
April 2024
Our lab has been funded by NIH to study molecular mechanisms associated with acute and chronic hypoxia tolerance !!
April 2024
Our Honors student, Teresa Raba has successfully defended her Undergraduate Honors Thesis. Congratulations, Teresa !!
April 2024
Our Honors student, Teresa Raba has won the prestigious “Distinguished Leadership Award” from College of Arts & Sciences.
April 2024
Our lab published a paper in Frontiers in Bird Sciences. Here, we studied changes in gene expression within distinct populations of the black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and the American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) inhabiting diverse habitats across various geographical locations.
December 2023
Isabella Ricchetti graduated from the lab with MS degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Congrats Izy !!
October 2023
Our lab published a paper in Journal of Molecular Biology and Evolution where we we studied genomic variation, gene expression, and long-term adaptation in Tibetan Partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae) populations residing across the elevational gradient of the Tibetan Plateau.
September 2023
OMICS Lab Fall retreat.
August 2023
Three of our lab members (Trixie, Prashant and Isabella) presented their research at the Annual Meeting of American Ornithological Society held in Ontario, Canada.
May 2023
Our lab published a paper in Journal of Ecology & Evolution that provide evidence of reduced genetic diversity in Asian pikas distributed across the Himalayas and indicate that recurrent gene flow is possibly a key mechanism for maintaining genetic diversity and adaptive potential in these species.
July 2022
OMICs Lab annual summer retreat
June 2022
Our grad student Prashant Ghimire attended American Ornithological Society meeting in Puerto Rico and gave an oral presentation titled “Conserving Woolly-necked stork in Nepal”. He won the best student presentation award at the conference. Congratulations Prashant !!
May 2022
Our grad student Melia Romine attended “Changing Microbiome” conference at Boalsburg, PA and presented a poster titled “Host-microbiome interactions along a dynamic habitat range -uncovering mechanisms of community assembly and co-evolution”
February 2022
A popular science article about birds and their genomes quoted the work from our lab.
theomicslab.com 