Education
Princeton University, Graduate School, Princeton, NJ Sept. 2015-Present
PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Academic Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Dissertation Committee Chair: Andrew Dobson, PhD
Columbia University, Columbia College, New York, NY Sept. 2011-May 2015
BA in Environmental Biology, GPA 3.92
Departmental Thesis: “Method for the noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
Thesis Advisor: George Amato, PhD
Thesis Mentor: Jenna Lawrence, PhD
PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Academic Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Dissertation Committee Chair: Andrew Dobson, PhD
Columbia University, Columbia College, New York, NY Sept. 2011-May 2015
BA in Environmental Biology, GPA 3.92
Departmental Thesis: “Method for the noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
Thesis Advisor: George Amato, PhD
Thesis Mentor: Jenna Lawrence, PhD
Honors, Grants, & Fellowships
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2015-2020)
Student Travel Award, American Society of Mammalogists (2019)
Grants in Aid of Research, American Society of Mammalogists (2017)
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund, American Museum of Natural History (2017)
Health Grand Challenge Research Award, Center for Health and Wellbeing, Princeton University (2017)
Women Scientists in Conservation Biology Research Award, EEB Department, Princeton University (2016)
Professional Development Travel Funds, Princeton University Graduate School (2016)
Health Grand Challenge Research Award, Center for Health and Wellbeing, Princeton University (2016)
Dobzhansky Award for Outstanding Thesis in Evolutionary Biology, E3B Department, Columbia University (2015)
Phi Beta Kappa, Columbia College, Columbia University (2015)
Magna Cum Laude, Columbia College, Columbia University (2015)
Dean’s List, Columbia College, Columbia University (2012-2015)
Student Travel Award, American Society of Mammalogists (2019)
Grants in Aid of Research, American Society of Mammalogists (2017)
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund, American Museum of Natural History (2017)
Health Grand Challenge Research Award, Center for Health and Wellbeing, Princeton University (2017)
Women Scientists in Conservation Biology Research Award, EEB Department, Princeton University (2016)
Professional Development Travel Funds, Princeton University Graduate School (2016)
Health Grand Challenge Research Award, Center for Health and Wellbeing, Princeton University (2016)
Dobzhansky Award for Outstanding Thesis in Evolutionary Biology, E3B Department, Columbia University (2015)
Phi Beta Kappa, Columbia College, Columbia University (2015)
Magna Cum Laude, Columbia College, Columbia University (2015)
Dean’s List, Columbia College, Columbia University (2012-2015)
Research Experience
vonHoldt Lab, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ Sept. 2015-Present
Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics – AMNH, New York, NY Sept. 2013-Aug. 2015
Advisor: George Amato, PhD
The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY Sept. 2012-Jan. 2013
Advisor: Natalie Boelman, PhD
Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics – AMNH, New York, NY Sept. 2013-Aug. 2015
Advisor: George Amato, PhD
The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY Sept. 2012-Jan. 2013
Advisor: Natalie Boelman, PhD
Teaching Experience
McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, Graduate Teaching Fellow (2016-Present)
EEB 521: Winter Ecology Field Course in Yellowstone National Park, Princeton University (2019)
EEB 309: Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University (2015, 2016)
EEB 521: Winter Ecology Field Course in Yellowstone National Park, Princeton University (2019)
EEB 309: Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University (2015, 2016)
Mentoring Experience
Kennedy Leverett* (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University '20)
Mikaela Walkup (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’19)
Catherine Caro* (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’17)
Rohan Hylton (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’17)
Quin Pompi (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’17)
Amelia Krause* (Laboratory Learning Program for High School Students, Princeton Day School ‘17)
Samantha Wu (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’16)
* coauthor on peer reviewed publication
Mikaela Walkup (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’19)
Catherine Caro* (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’17)
Rohan Hylton (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’17)
Quin Pompi (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’17)
Amelia Krause* (Laboratory Learning Program for High School Students, Princeton Day School ‘17)
Samantha Wu (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University ’16)
* coauthor on peer reviewed publication
Conferences & Workshops
99th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, American Society of Mammalogists (2019)
Oral Presentation: "Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population"
Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID), Princeton University (2019)
Poster Presentation: "Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in a genetically depauperate species"
Northeast Natural History Conference, Eagle Hill Institute (2019)
Oral Presentation (Invited): “Genetics of urban coyote colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in NYC's newest residents”
Bridging Theory and Experiment in Microbial Communities, Princeton Center for Theoretical Science (2018)
Workshop Participant
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2017)
Oral Presentation: “Genetic underpinnings of disease susceptibility in Yellowstone wolves”
Awarded “Best Talk of the Conference”
The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting (TWS), The Wildlife Society (2017)
Oral Presentation: “Molecular underpinnings of sarcoptic mange susceptibility and severity in Yellowstone wolves”
The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution Annual Meeting (SMBE), The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution (2017)
Poster Presentation: “Underpinnings of sarcoptic mange susceptibility and severity in Yellowstone wolves (Canis lupus)”
The Center for Health and Wellbeing Student Research Symposium, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University (2016)
Poster Presentation: “Genetic underpinnings of sarcoptic mange susceptibility and severity in Yellowstone wolves"
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2016)
Oral Presentation: “A novel molecular method for noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
Evolutionary Biology in Guarda, Basel University and the ETH Zurich (2016)
Workshop Participant
Recent Advances in Conservation Genetics Workshop, American Genetic Association (2016)
Workshop Participant
New York Area Population Genomics Workshop, Princeton University (2016)
Workshop Participant
Network Analysis Short Course, University of California, Los Angeles (2015)
Workshop Participant
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2014)
Poster Presentation: “Method for the noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
Student Research Showcase, The Earth Institute, Columbia University (2013)
Poster Presentation: “Arctic arthropods: seasonal change at the base of the tundra food web”
Student Climate and Conservation Congress (SC3), The Green Schools Alliance (2009)
New Jersey State Representative
Oral Presentation: "Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population"
Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID), Princeton University (2019)
Poster Presentation: "Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in a genetically depauperate species"
Northeast Natural History Conference, Eagle Hill Institute (2019)
Oral Presentation (Invited): “Genetics of urban coyote colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in NYC's newest residents”
Bridging Theory and Experiment in Microbial Communities, Princeton Center for Theoretical Science (2018)
Workshop Participant
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2017)
Oral Presentation: “Genetic underpinnings of disease susceptibility in Yellowstone wolves”
Awarded “Best Talk of the Conference”
The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting (TWS), The Wildlife Society (2017)
Oral Presentation: “Molecular underpinnings of sarcoptic mange susceptibility and severity in Yellowstone wolves”
The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution Annual Meeting (SMBE), The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution (2017)
Poster Presentation: “Underpinnings of sarcoptic mange susceptibility and severity in Yellowstone wolves (Canis lupus)”
The Center for Health and Wellbeing Student Research Symposium, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University (2016)
Poster Presentation: “Genetic underpinnings of sarcoptic mange susceptibility and severity in Yellowstone wolves"
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2016)
Oral Presentation: “A novel molecular method for noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
Evolutionary Biology in Guarda, Basel University and the ETH Zurich (2016)
Workshop Participant
Recent Advances in Conservation Genetics Workshop, American Genetic Association (2016)
Workshop Participant
New York Area Population Genomics Workshop, Princeton University (2016)
Workshop Participant
Network Analysis Short Course, University of California, Los Angeles (2015)
Workshop Participant
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2014)
Poster Presentation: “Method for the noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
Student Research Showcase, The Earth Institute, Columbia University (2013)
Poster Presentation: “Arctic arthropods: seasonal change at the base of the tundra food web”
Student Climate and Conservation Congress (SC3), The Green Schools Alliance (2009)
New Jersey State Representative
Professional Memberships
Society for Conservation Biology (2017-Present)
Society for the Study of Evolution (2017-Present)
American Society of Mammalogists (2017-Present)
The Wildlife Society, Student Board Member of the Molecular Ecology Working Group (2017-Present)
American Genetic Association (2017-2018)
American Society of Naturalists (2017)
American Civil Liberties Union (2017)
Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution (2017)
Phi Beta Kappa Society (2015)
Society for the Study of Evolution (2017-Present)
American Society of Mammalogists (2017-Present)
The Wildlife Society, Student Board Member of the Molecular Ecology Working Group (2017-Present)
American Genetic Association (2017-2018)
American Society of Naturalists (2017)
American Civil Liberties Union (2017)
Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution (2017)
Phi Beta Kappa Society (2015)
Science Communication & Outreach
Princeton University EEB Scholars October 2018
Oral Presentation: “Genetics of urban colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in coyotes inhabiting the New York
metropolitan area”
Princeton University Open Labs Science Café May 2018
Oral Presentation: “Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Genetics of urban coyote colonization”
Princeton University Bring Your Kids to Work Day April 2018
Table Leader, “North American wolves, coyotes, and foxes”
Princeton University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Women in Science Program (WISP) Group Member Sept. 2015-Present
Columbia University Environmental Biology Society (C.U.E.B.S.) April 2013-May 2015
Founder, Executive Board Member, Mentor
Columbia Science Review (C.S.R.) Oct. 2013-May 2015
Spread Science Blog Columnist
Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Undergraduate Research Blog May 2014-Dec. 2014
Creator, Editor-in-Chief, Blog Columnist
Oral Presentation: “Genetics of urban colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in coyotes inhabiting the New York
metropolitan area”
Princeton University Open Labs Science Café May 2018
Oral Presentation: “Ecology and Evolutionary Biology: Genetics of urban coyote colonization”
Princeton University Bring Your Kids to Work Day April 2018
Table Leader, “North American wolves, coyotes, and foxes”
Princeton University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Women in Science Program (WISP) Group Member Sept. 2015-Present
Columbia University Environmental Biology Society (C.U.E.B.S.) April 2013-May 2015
Founder, Executive Board Member, Mentor
Columbia Science Review (C.S.R.) Oct. 2013-May 2015
Spread Science Blog Columnist
Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Undergraduate Research Blog May 2014-Dec. 2014
Creator, Editor-in-Chief, Blog Columnist
