Education
Princeton University, Graduate School, Princeton, NJ Sept. 2015-Aug. 2020
MA, PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Academic Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Dissertation Committee Chair: Andrew Dobson, PhD
Dissertation Defense Recording - 08.03.2020
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
MA, PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Academic Advisor: Bridgett vonHoldt, PhD
Dissertation Committee Chair: Andrew Dobson, PhD
Dissertation Defense Recording - 08.03.2020
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
Friends of the Island Fox Research Grant (2020)
Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020-2021)
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)
Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020-2021)
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)
Research Experience
Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC Sept. 2020-Present
Advisors: Jesús Maldonado, PhD and Klaus-Peter Koepfli, PhD
vonHoldt Lab, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ Sept. 2015-Aug. 2020
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
Advisors: Jesús Maldonado, PhD and Klaus-Peter Koepfli, PhD
vonHoldt Lab, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ Sept. 2015-Aug. 2020
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 (2016-2020)
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
Jasmine Lu (Undergraduate Thesis, Princeton University '21)
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
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
Conferences & Workshops
The Center for Health and Wellbeing Student Research Symposium, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University (2020)
Oral Presentation, “Genomic underpinnings and consequences of sarcoptic mange severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America (2020)
Oral Presentation: "Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island
foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae)"
North American Congress for Conservation Biology, Society for Conservation Biology North America (2020)
Oral Presentation: "Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island
foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae)"
*Recipient of Student Presentation Award for "Best Full Length Presentation"
Annual Island Fox Working Group Meeting, Santa Barbara Zoo (2020)
Oral Presentation: "The host-associated microbiome of Santa Catalina Island foxes"
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2019)
Oral Presentation: "Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population"
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”
Columbia-Rutgers-Princeton-Penn-Yale Student Conference (CRPPY), Princeton University (2019)
Oral Presentation, “Genetics of urban colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in urban canids”
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”
*Recipient of Award for "Best Full Length Presentation"
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)”
Evolutionary Biology in Guarda, Switzerland, Basel University and the ETH Zurich (2016)
Workshop Participant
Recent Advances in Conservation Genetics (ConGen) in Tihany, Hungary, American Genetic Association (2016)
Workshop Participant
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”
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, “Genomic underpinnings and consequences of sarcoptic mange severity in Yellowstone National Park wolves”
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America (2020)
Oral Presentation: "Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island
foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae)"
North American Congress for Conservation Biology, Society for Conservation Biology North America (2020)
Oral Presentation: "Microbial dysbiosis and its implications for disease in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island
foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae)"
*Recipient of Student Presentation Award for "Best Full Length Presentation"
Annual Island Fox Working Group Meeting, Santa Barbara Zoo (2020)
Oral Presentation: "The host-associated microbiome of Santa Catalina Island foxes"
Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York (SCCS-NY), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History (2019)
Oral Presentation: "Microbial diversity and its implications for disease in an endemic fox population"
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”
Columbia-Rutgers-Princeton-Penn-Yale Student Conference (CRPPY), Princeton University (2019)
Oral Presentation, “Genetics of urban colonization: Neutral and adaptive variation in urban canids”
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”
*Recipient of Award for "Best Full Length Presentation"
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)”
Evolutionary Biology in Guarda, Switzerland, Basel University and the ETH Zurich (2016)
Workshop Participant
Recent Advances in Conservation Genetics (ConGen) in Tihany, Hungary, American Genetic Association (2016)
Workshop Participant
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”
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)
American Genetic Association (2017-Present)
American Society of Mammalogists (2017-Present)
The Wildlife Society, Student Board Member of the Molecular Ecology Working Group (2017-Present)
Society for the Study of Evolution (2017-2018)
American Society of Naturalists (2017)
American Civil Liberties Union (2017)
Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution (2017)
Phi Beta Kappa Society (2015)
American Genetic Association (2017-Present)
American Society of Mammalogists (2017-Present)
The Wildlife Society, Student Board Member of the Molecular Ecology Working Group (2017-Present)
Society for the Study of Evolution (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, and Service
AGA Blog Contributor (2020-Present)
Skype a Scientist Presenter (2020-Present)
Reviewer for Molecular Ecology, Conservation Genetics Resources, PLoS ONE, and Journal of Urban Ecology (2016-Present)
Princeton University Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Alternative Careers Seminar Presenter (2021)
Middle School Science Outreach Presenter, Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Roanoke City, VA) (2020)
Princeton Alliance Church Servant Leader, Young Adults Ministry (2020)
Animal Alliance of New Jersey Volunteer (2019-2020)
Princeton University EEB Scholars Presenter and Mentor (2018-2020)
Princeton University Women in Science Program (WISP) Member (2015-2020)
Princeton University Open Labs Science Café Presenter (2018)
Princeton University Bring Your Kids to Work Day Roundtable Leader (2018)
Princeton Alliance Church Servant Leader, Middle School Ministry (2017)
Princeton University Evolution Group Organizer (2015-2017)
Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Undergraduate Research Blog Editor-in-Chief (2014)
Columbia University Environmental Biology Society (C.U.E.B.S.) Founder (2013-2015)
Columbia Science Review (C.S.R.) Blog Columnist (2013-2015)
Skype a Scientist Presenter (2020-Present)
Reviewer for Molecular Ecology, Conservation Genetics Resources, PLoS ONE, and Journal of Urban Ecology (2016-Present)
Princeton University Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Alternative Careers Seminar Presenter (2021)
Middle School Science Outreach Presenter, Woodrow Wilson Middle School (Roanoke City, VA) (2020)
Princeton Alliance Church Servant Leader, Young Adults Ministry (2020)
Animal Alliance of New Jersey Volunteer (2019-2020)
Princeton University EEB Scholars Presenter and Mentor (2018-2020)
Princeton University Women in Science Program (WISP) Member (2015-2020)
Princeton University Open Labs Science Café Presenter (2018)
Princeton University Bring Your Kids to Work Day Roundtable Leader (2018)
Princeton Alliance Church Servant Leader, Middle School Ministry (2017)
Princeton University Evolution Group Organizer (2015-2017)
Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Undergraduate Research Blog Editor-in-Chief (2014)
Columbia University Environmental Biology Society (C.U.E.B.S.) Founder (2013-2015)
Columbia Science Review (C.S.R.) Blog Columnist (2013-2015)
