Hi! I’m @ProfRomi, an aquatic ecologist at Southwestern University. Visit my comprehensive webpage at www.profromi.com to learn more about my integration of research, teaching and a special interest in teaching with chocolate.  

In my science life, I work as an aquatic ecologist interested in how ecological life histories influence behavior, diversity and distribution of freshwater invertebrates. My lab has adopted a number of applications of molecular ecology to study freshwater snails.

My research at Southwestern focuses primarily on a group of large freshwater snails - commonly called apple snails because they can reach the size of an apple. In Texas, one species, Pomacea maculata (formerly P. insularum), occurs as a non-native, invasive species but has native populations in South America. 

My Teaching Philosophy rests on 4 main pillars:

1. Teach who you are

2. Make your classroom a lab (experiment!)

3. Make your lab a classroom (teach critical thinking!)

4. Connect anything and everything to chocolate!

I spent the summer of 2025 as a student myself - taking a Cocoa Masterclass in Bahia, Brazil, from Cacao Latitudes and working towards my Level 3 Certification from the International Institute for Cacao and Chocolate Tasting during a origin trip to Peru.  I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with my students.

Overall, my undergraduates and I focus on:

1. Using freshwater snails to understand the ecology of eDNA
2. Uncovering patterns of genetic diversity among cryptic native apple snails in Belize
3. Investigating the interactions between environmental DNA and microplastics

My research now primarily investigate applications of environmental DNA (think crime scene DNA but for invasive species) with Dr. Matt Barnes at Texas Tech University.  This work builds on genetic information gained from studying native apple snails in Uruguay/Argentina/Brazil through an international collaboration with South America colleagues (Mariana Meerhoff, Silvana Thiengo, Cristian Clavijo and Fabrizio Scarabino) and Dr. Ken Hayes (now at the Bishops Museum in Hawaii). In addition to focusing on eDNA, we now apply these species identification techniques and approaches to studying native apple snails found in Belize. In addition, I work with students in my research lab and the classroom to examine the impact of microplastics in local aquatic systems.

As a course undergraduate research experience, my Methods in Ecology and Evolution students get out in the field, collect water samples and process them to quantify the amount of microplastics, specifically microfibers (primarily coming from clothing as an effect of runoff) found in local waterways.  We just started to connect this element to my research agenda to see how microplastics may affect eDNA detection.  

I obtained by PhD from the University of Notre Dame in 2000 and my BS and BA from Loyola University Chicago in 1995. Find out more about undergraduate research, project descriptions and collaborators on my website.

2025

• Rosas, E., C. Bashara, D. Christie, R. L. Burks, and M. A. Barnes. 2025. Winning the shell game: environmental DNA (eDNA) confirms local control of the invasive apple snail, Pomacea maculata. Management of Biological Invasions 16(2): 397-410. https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2025.16.2.05 

2024

• Burks, R. L., C. Reynolds, E. Rosas, C. Bashara, L. Dolopchiev, C. Jerde and M. A. Barnes. 2024. Snail slime in real time: Challenges in predicting the relationship between environmental DNA and apple snail biomass. Management of Biological Invasions 15(3): 415-435. doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2024.15.3.06

2020

• Burks, R. L. 2020. Setting Up Nonparametric Tests. Make Teaching with R in Undergraduate Biology Less Excruciating 2020, QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/PFE8-D888
• Glasheen, P. M.*, S. R. Campos*, R. L. Burks and K. A. Hayes. 2020. First evidence of introgressive hybridization of apple snails (Pomacea spp.) in a native range. Journal of Molluscan Studies 86(2): 96-103. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyz035. 

2019

• Emery, N., A. Hunt, R. Burks, M. Duffy, C. Scoffoni, and A. Swei. 2019. Students as ecologists: Strategies for successful mentorship of undergraduate researchers. Ecology and Evolution: https://rdcu.be/btaia. 

2018

• Sterling, E. J,  L. Burks, J. Linder, T. Langen, D. S. Fernandez, D. Ruby, and N. Bynum. 2018A. Why is biodiversity important? An oral communication exercise. Lessons in Conservation 8:10–12. Available from http://www.amnh.org/our-research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/resources-and-publications/lessons-in-conservation/lessons-in-conservation-volume-viii
• Sterling, E. J,  L. Burks, J. Linder, T. Langen, D. S. Fernandez, D. Ruby, and N. Bynum. 2018B. Selecting areas for conservation: an oral communication exercise. Lessons in Conservation 8:13–16. Available from http://www.amnh.org/our-research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/resources-and-publications/lessons-in-conservation/lessons-in-conservation-volume-viii
• Sterling, E. J,  L. Burks, J. Linder, T. Langen, D. S. Fernandez, D. Ruby, N. Bynum, A. Bravo, and A.L. PorzecanskiC. 2018. Sharpen your oral communication skills! Lessons in Conservation 8:17–20. Available from http://www.amnh.org/our-research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/resources-and-publications/lessons-in-conservation/lessons-in-conservation-volume-viii

2017

• Perez, K. P., V. G. Gamboa, C. M. Schneider* and L. Burks. 2017. Resaca supports invasive apple snails (Pomacea maculata, Perry, 1810; Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae) within the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. CheckList 13(3): https://doi.org/10.15560/13.3.2134
• Glasheen, P. M.*, C. Clavo, M. Meerhoff, K. A. Hayes and L. Burks. 2017. Survival, recovery, and reproduction of apple snails (Pomacea spp.) following exposure to drought conditions. Freshwater Science 36(2): 316 - 324.
• Burks, R. L., J. Bernatis, J. E. Byers, J. Carter, C. W. Martin, W. G. McDowell and J. van Dyke. 2017. Identity, reproductive potential, distribution, ecology and management of invasive Pomacea maculata in the southern United States. Pages 293-334. 2nd edition of Global Advances in Ecology and Management of Golden Apple Snails.

2016

• Sterling, E., A. Bravo, A. Porzecanski, Burks, J. Linder, T. A. Langen, D. S. Fernandez, D. Ruby and N. Bynum. 2016. Think before (and after) you speak: Practice and self-reflection build student confidence and bolster performance in oral communication skills in ecology and conservation biology classes. Journal of College Science Teaching 45(6): 87-99.
• Burks, R. L., Miller* and A. Hill*. 2016. CABI Compendium project on Pomacea maculata. (Not traditional peer-review): http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/116486
• Perez, B. J.*, A. H. Segrest*, S. R. Campos*, R. L. Minton and L. Burks. 2016. First record of Japanese Mystery Snail Cipangopaludina, CheckList 12(5): http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/12.5.1973.

Recent Ecological Society of America Presentation  - Wait, don’t leave me? How to maintain research productivity with undergraduates after they graduate