IUCN SSC Anoline Lizard Specialist Group

Dr. Anna Thonis, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Researcher at New York University in the lab of Dr. Kristin Winchell. She completed her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University under the mentorship of Dr. H. Resit Akcakaya. Dr. Thonis' research uses a combination of computational and field methods to examine how different types of global change, including climate change and urbanization, affect species of reptile and amphibian, with a particular focus on Anolis lizards in Puerto Rico.  

I’m a biologist and data scientist with a broad interest in how complex systems evolve and adapt. My current research in the Neurogenesis and Brain Tumors Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, under the mentorship of Dr. Hugo Guerrero Cazares, focuses on understanding the evolution and cellular origins of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. Our lab investigates how GBMs that arise near neurogenic areas of the brain -regions associated with adult neurogenesis- are linked to particularly poor prognoses, and we aim to uncover the mechanisms driving this pattern

Previously, I studied the evolution of thermal physiology in Anolis lizards, using fieldwork, phylogenetic comparative methods, geospatial analysis, and predictive modeling to understand adaptation in biodiversity-rich regions like the Colombian Andes. Across both evolutionary biology and cancer research, I’m driven by a passion for uncovering patterns in complex biological data. I enjoy working across disciplines and applying data science to solve real-world problems -whether in understanding biodiversity or tackling challenges in human health.