Education
Princeton University, Graduate School, Princeton, NJ Sept. 2015-Aug. 2020
MA, PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Academic Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Dissertation: “An inclusive understanding of molecular variation in population genetics and wildlife disease ecology”
Dissertation Defense Recording - 08.03.2020
Columbia University, Columbia College, New York, NY Sept. 2011-May 2015
BA in Environmental Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean's List
Thesis Advisor: George Amato, PhD
Departmental Thesis: “Method for the noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
2015 Winner of the Dobzhansky Award for Outstanding Thesis in Evolutionary Biology
MA, PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Academic Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Dissertation: “An inclusive understanding of molecular variation in population genetics and wildlife disease ecology”
Dissertation Defense Recording - 08.03.2020
Columbia University, Columbia College, New York, NY Sept. 2011-May 2015
BA in Environmental Biology, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean's List
Thesis Advisor: George Amato, PhD
Departmental Thesis: “Method for the noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
2015 Winner of the Dobzhansky Award for Outstanding Thesis in Evolutionary Biology
Professional Appointments
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC Sept. 2020-Present
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Conservation Genomics & Center for Species Survival
Advisors: Jesús Maldonado, PhD and Klaus-Peter Koepfli, PhD
Primary Study Systems: Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) & Channel Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis)
SCBI Staff Profile
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Conservation Genomics & Center for Species Survival
Advisors: Jesús Maldonado, PhD and Klaus-Peter Koepfli, PhD
Primary Study Systems: Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) & Channel Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis)
SCBI Staff Profile
Previous Research
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY Sept. 2013-Aug. 2015
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics
Advisor: George Amato, PhD
I developed the first noninvasive molecular sexing method applicable to multiple families within mammalian order Carnivora
to aid conservation monitoring and management of at-risk species.
The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY Sept. 2012-Jan. 2013
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Advisor: Natalie Boelman, PhD
I catalogued over 23,000 terrestrial arthropods as part of larger-scale effort to examine ecological succession and altered food
web dynamics in the changing Arctic
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics
Advisor: George Amato, PhD
I developed the first noninvasive molecular sexing method applicable to multiple families within mammalian order Carnivora
to aid conservation monitoring and management of at-risk species.
The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY Sept. 2012-Jan. 2013
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Advisor: Natalie Boelman, PhD
I catalogued over 23,000 terrestrial arthropods as part of larger-scale effort to examine ecological succession and altered food
web dynamics in the changing Arctic
Grants & Fellowships
2020-2021: Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program Postdoctoral Fellowship, $54,550
2015-2020: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, $138,000
2020: Friends of the Island Fox 2020 Research Grant, $5,000
2019: American Society of Mammalogists Student Travel Award, $500
2017: Center for Health & Wellbeing Health Grand Challenge Research Award, $5,000
2017: American Museum of Natural History Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund, $2,350
2017: American Society of Mammalogists Grants-in-Aid of Research, $1,500
2016: Princeton University Women Scientists in Conservation Biology Research Award, $7,500
2016: Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology First Year Seed Money, $2,500
2016: Center for Health & Wellbeing Health Grand Challenge Research Award, $2,000
2016: Princeton University Graduate School Professional Development Travel Funds, $500
2015-2020: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, $138,000
2020: Friends of the Island Fox 2020 Research Grant, $5,000
2019: American Society of Mammalogists Student Travel Award, $500
2017: Center for Health & Wellbeing Health Grand Challenge Research Award, $5,000
2017: American Museum of Natural History Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund, $2,350
2017: American Society of Mammalogists Grants-in-Aid of Research, $1,500
2016: Princeton University Women Scientists in Conservation Biology Research Award, $7,500
2016: Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology First Year Seed Money, $2,500
2016: Center for Health & Wellbeing Health Grand Challenge Research Award, $2,000
2016: Princeton University Graduate School Professional Development Travel Funds, $500
Invited Seminars & Guest Lectures
2021: Applied Molecular Ecology (EEB331), Princeton University
Guest Lecture for Undergraduates, “Designing and implementing microbiome studies in wildlife populations”
2021: Cross-Center Seminar, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Invited Seminar, “Mites, microbes, and tumors: The ear canal microbiome of Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2021: Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Program, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Invited Seminar, “Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2021: Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University
Guest Lecture for Undergraduates, “Black-footed ferrets in research: Using collections to advance conservation science and practice”
2021: Alternative Career Seminar, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
Invited Seminar, “Research and conservation at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute”
Guest Lecture for Undergraduates, “Designing and implementing microbiome studies in wildlife populations”
2021: Cross-Center Seminar, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Invited Seminar, “Mites, microbes, and tumors: The ear canal microbiome of Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2021: Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology Program, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Invited Seminar, “Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2021: Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University
Guest Lecture for Undergraduates, “Black-footed ferrets in research: Using collections to advance conservation science and practice”
2021: Alternative Career Seminar, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
Invited Seminar, “Research and conservation at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute”
Conference Presentations
2021: Annual Black-footed Ferret Genomics Working Group Meeting
Oral Presentation, “Examining epigenetic & microbial variation in captive-managed black-footed ferrets”
2020: The Princeton University Center for Health & Wellbeing Student Research Symposium
Oral Presentation, “Genomic underpinnings and consequences of sarcoptic mange severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2020: North American Congress for Conservation Biology (NACCB)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes”
***Recipient of Student Presentation Award for “Best Full Length Presentation”
2020: Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting (ESA)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2020: Annual Island Fox Working Group Meeting
Oral Presentation, “The host-associated microbiome of Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2019: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population”
2019: 99th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population”
2019: Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID)
Poster Presentation, “Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population”
2019: Northeast Natural History Conference (NENHC)
Invited Oral Presentation, “Genetics of urban coyote colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in NYC’s newest residents”
2019: Columbia-Rutgers-Princeton-Penn-Yale Student Conference (CRPPY)
Oral Presentation, “Genetics of urban colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in urban canids”
2017: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Oral Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
***Recipient of Award for “Best Full Length Presentation”
2017: The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting (TWS)
Oral Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2017: The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution Annual Meeting (SMBE)
Poster Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2016: The Princeton University Center for Health & Wellbeing Student Research Symposium
Poster Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2016: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Oral Presentation, “A novel molecular method for noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
2014: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Poster Presentation, “A novel molecular method for noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
2013: The Columbia University Earth Institute Student Research Showcase
Poster Presentation, “Arctic arthropods: seasonal change at the base of the tundra food web”
Oral Presentation, “Examining epigenetic & microbial variation in captive-managed black-footed ferrets”
2020: The Princeton University Center for Health & Wellbeing Student Research Symposium
Oral Presentation, “Genomic underpinnings and consequences of sarcoptic mange severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2020: North American Congress for Conservation Biology (NACCB)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes”
***Recipient of Student Presentation Award for “Best Full Length Presentation”
2020: Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting (ESA)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2020: Annual Island Fox Working Group Meeting
Oral Presentation, “The host-associated microbiome of Santa Catalina Island foxes”
2019: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population”
2019: 99th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM)
Oral Presentation, “Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population”
2019: Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID)
Poster Presentation, “Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population”
2019: Northeast Natural History Conference (NENHC)
Invited Oral Presentation, “Genetics of urban coyote colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in NYC’s newest residents”
2019: Columbia-Rutgers-Princeton-Penn-Yale Student Conference (CRPPY)
Oral Presentation, “Genetics of urban colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in urban canids”
2017: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Oral Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
***Recipient of Award for “Best Full Length Presentation”
2017: The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting (TWS)
Oral Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2017: The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution Annual Meeting (SMBE)
Poster Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2016: The Princeton University Center for Health & Wellbeing Student Research Symposium
Poster Presentation, “Genetic underpinnings of disease severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
2016: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Oral Presentation, “A novel molecular method for noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
2014: Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY)
Poster Presentation, “A novel molecular method for noninvasive sex identification of order Carnivora”
2013: The Columbia University Earth Institute Student Research Showcase
Poster Presentation, “Arctic arthropods: seasonal change at the base of the tundra food web”
Teaching Experience
2016-2020: McGraw Center for Teaching & Learning, Graduate Teaching Fellow
- I trained first time science educators in implementing active teaching strategies, creating inclusive classrooms, and leading effective lecture, seminar, and laboratory-based undergraduate courses. I also performed classroom observations to provide real-time feedback to science educators during the semester.
- I participated in assistant in instruction (AI) orientation, served as an AI for two semesters, attended and led teaching pedagogy workshops, developed a written teaching philosophy, and designed an original syllabus.
- I guided first year graduate students through design and implementation of short-term research projects in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA.
- I led weekly discussion sections for undergraduates that included critique of primary literature, group activities (e.g., Pokémon phylogeny construction), and Jeopardy-style review to engage students with the material. I also implemented a communication project that challenged students to creatively share science with the public.
Mentoring Experience
2021-2022: Elton Tran, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ‘22 – Santa Cruz Island Skunk Microbiome
2021-2022: Emily Yu, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ‘22 – Northern Elephant Seal Microbiome
2020-2021: Jasmine Lu, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ‘21 – Santa Catalina Island Fox Microbiome
2019-2020: Kennedy Leverett**, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’20 – Microbiome of Canid Sarcoptic Mange
2018-2019: Mikaela Walkup, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’19 – Santa Catalina Island Fox Epigenetics
2016-2017: Catherine Caro**, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’17 – Red Fox Urbanization Genetics
2016-2017: Rohan Hylton, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’17 – Santa Catalina Island Fox Genetics
2016-2017: Quin Pompi, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’17 – Yellowstone National Park Wolf Genetics
2016: Amelia Krause**, High School Laboratory Learning Student – Coyote Urbanization Genetics
2015-2016: Samantha Wu, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’16 – Yellowstone National Park Wolf Genetics
**student coauthor on peer-reviewed publication
2021-2022: Emily Yu, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ‘22 – Northern Elephant Seal Microbiome
2020-2021: Jasmine Lu, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ‘21 – Santa Catalina Island Fox Microbiome
2019-2020: Kennedy Leverett**, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’20 – Microbiome of Canid Sarcoptic Mange
2018-2019: Mikaela Walkup, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’19 – Santa Catalina Island Fox Epigenetics
2016-2017: Catherine Caro**, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’17 – Red Fox Urbanization Genetics
2016-2017: Rohan Hylton, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’17 – Santa Catalina Island Fox Genetics
2016-2017: Quin Pompi, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’17 – Yellowstone National Park Wolf Genetics
2016: Amelia Krause**, High School Laboratory Learning Student – Coyote Urbanization Genetics
2015-2016: Samantha Wu, Princeton University Senior Thesis Student ’16 – Yellowstone National Park Wolf Genetics
**student coauthor on peer-reviewed publication
Science Communication, Outreach, & Diversity Initiatives
2021-Present: Association of Minority Zoo & Aquarium Professionals (member)
2020-Present: American Genetic Association AGA Blog (blog columnist; 2 posts)
2020-Present: Skype a Scientist (presenter for elementary & middle school students; 12 presentations)
2021: Ozarks Science & Engineering Fair (senior high division zoology judge)
2018-2020: Princeton University Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Scholars Program (mentor & presenter for prospective graduate students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM)
2015-2020: Princeton University Women in Science Program (member)
2018: Open Labs Science Café (presenter for high school students)
2018: Bring Your Kids to Work Day (roundtable leader for elementary school students)
2013-2015: Columbia Science Review (blog columnist; 8 posts)
2020-Present: American Genetic Association AGA Blog (blog columnist; 2 posts)
2020-Present: Skype a Scientist (presenter for elementary & middle school students; 12 presentations)
2021: Ozarks Science & Engineering Fair (senior high division zoology judge)
2018-2020: Princeton University Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Scholars Program (mentor & presenter for prospective graduate students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM)
2015-2020: Princeton University Women in Science Program (member)
2018: Open Labs Science Café (presenter for high school students)
2018: Bring Your Kids to Work Day (roundtable leader for elementary school students)
2013-2015: Columbia Science Review (blog columnist; 8 posts)
Academic & Professional Service
Invited Peer Reviewer: Conservation Genetics Resources; Ecology & Evolution; Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution; Journal of Urban Ecology; Molecular Ecology; PeerJ; PLoS ONE; Scientific Reports
2020-Present: Black-footed Ferret Genomics Working Group (member)
2020-Present: Channel Island Fox Conservation Working Group (member)
2020-Present: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Genomics Journal Club (member & presenter)
2020-Present: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Microbiome Journal Club (member & presenter)
2015-2020: Princeton University Evolution Group (organizer, member, & presenter)
2015-2020: Princeton University Disease Group (member & presenter)
2017-Present: The Wildlife Society Molecular Ecology Working Group (student board member)
2013-2015: Columbia University Environmental Biology Society (C.U.E.B.S.) (founder & executive board member)
2020-Present: Black-footed Ferret Genomics Working Group (member)
2020-Present: Channel Island Fox Conservation Working Group (member)
2020-Present: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Genomics Journal Club (member & presenter)
2020-Present: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Microbiome Journal Club (member & presenter)
2015-2020: Princeton University Evolution Group (organizer, member, & presenter)
2015-2020: Princeton University Disease Group (member & presenter)
2017-Present: The Wildlife Society Molecular Ecology Working Group (student board member)
2013-2015: Columbia University Environmental Biology Society (C.U.E.B.S.) (founder & executive board member)
Workshops
2018: Bridging Theory & Experiment in Microbial Communities
2016: Evolutionary Biology in Guarda, Switzerland
2016: Recent Advances in Conservation Genetics (ConGen) in Tihany, Hungary
2009: The Green Schools Alliance Student Climate & Conservation Congress (SC3)
2016: Evolutionary Biology in Guarda, Switzerland
2016: Recent Advances in Conservation Genetics (ConGen) in Tihany, Hungary
2009: The Green Schools Alliance Student Climate & Conservation Congress (SC3)
Field Experience
2019: Catalina Island Conservancy Fox Trapping, Santa Catalina Island (California, USA)
- I shadowed collaborators during annual island fox monitoring efforts to observe and aid microbiome sample collection.
- I guided first year graduate students through design and implementation of short-term research projects on lichen growth and animal traffic patterns in different microclimates.
- I designed and implemented a short-term research project on ant-plant mutualisms in “devil’s gardens” in the Amazon rainforest.
- I learned how to identify local species of coral, fish, and terrestrial vertebrates through classroom, snorkeling, and hiking experiences.
Media Coverage
2021: "Fox Foto Friday - Island Foxes in Washington D.C.?" (Friends of the Island Fox)
2021: "Yellowstone's wolves are fighting mange at the genetic level" (Wyoming Public Radio, Audio Clip)
2021: “Genetics study shows why some Yellowstone wolves dodge mange” (Billings Gazette)
2021: “Study of mange in Yellowstone wolves could inform conservation efforts, scabies research” (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
2021: “Mange in Yellowstone wolves reveals insights into human scabies and conservation biology” (Princeton University)
2021: "Fox Foto Friday - Island Foxes Healthy Inside and Out" (Friends of the Island Fox)
2020: "FIF Research Grant to Investigate Diversity of Island Fox Microbiome" (Friends of the Island Fox)
2020: “Mites, microbes, and cancer in Santa Catalina Island foxes” (Friends of the Island Fox)
2020: “Microbes linked to cancer in threatened California foxes, report Princeton researchers” (Princeton University)
2020: “Are coyotes moving into your neighborhood?” (Science News for Students)
2019: “What can the ears of island foxes tell us?” (Forbes)
2019: “The city fox phenomenon” (Ecology and Evolution Blog)
2018: “Montreal turns to coyote hazing after 19 people are bitten” (New York Times)
2021: "Yellowstone's wolves are fighting mange at the genetic level" (Wyoming Public Radio, Audio Clip)
2021: “Genetics study shows why some Yellowstone wolves dodge mange” (Billings Gazette)
2021: “Study of mange in Yellowstone wolves could inform conservation efforts, scabies research” (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
2021: “Mange in Yellowstone wolves reveals insights into human scabies and conservation biology” (Princeton University)
2021: "Fox Foto Friday - Island Foxes Healthy Inside and Out" (Friends of the Island Fox)
2020: "FIF Research Grant to Investigate Diversity of Island Fox Microbiome" (Friends of the Island Fox)
2020: “Mites, microbes, and cancer in Santa Catalina Island foxes” (Friends of the Island Fox)
2020: “Microbes linked to cancer in threatened California foxes, report Princeton researchers” (Princeton University)
2020: “Are coyotes moving into your neighborhood?” (Science News for Students)
2019: “What can the ears of island foxes tell us?” (Forbes)
2019: “The city fox phenomenon” (Ecology and Evolution Blog)
2018: “Montreal turns to coyote hazing after 19 people are bitten” (New York Times)
Professional Memberships
2021-Present: Association of Minority Zoo & Aquarium Professionals (member profile)
2017-Present: American Genetic Association
2017-Present: American Society of Mammalogists
2017-Present: Society for Conservation Biology
2017-Present: The Wildlife Society (Molecular Ecology Working Group Student Board Member)
2017-2018: Society for the Study of Evolution
2017: American Civil Liberties Union
2017: American Society of Naturalists
2017: Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution
2015: Phi Beta Kappa Society
2017-Present: American Genetic Association
2017-Present: American Society of Mammalogists
2017-Present: Society for Conservation Biology
2017-Present: The Wildlife Society (Molecular Ecology Working Group Student Board Member)
2017-2018: Society for the Study of Evolution
2017: American Civil Liberties Union
2017: American Society of Naturalists
2017: Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution
2015: Phi Beta Kappa Society
