PhD Researcher · University of [Your University]
Arctic ornithology, avian immunology & population genomics — studying how birds survive and adapt at the top of the world.
About Me
I am a PhD student in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at Boise State University, working in the Conservation Genetics Lab under Stephanie Falla. My work takes me to some of the most remote corners of the planet — the Arctic tundra — where I study how birds respond to environmental challenges at the molecular level.
My research sits at the intersection of ecology, immunology, and genomics. I am particularly interested in how host–pathogen dynamics shape genetic diversity in migratory shorebirds and seabirds, and how immune gene variation underlies differential survival and fitness in wild populations.
Before starting my PhD, I [brief background]. Outside the lab, I am an avid wildlife photographer and birder.
What I Study
I study the ecology, behavior, and life-history of birds breeding in high-latitude Arctic environments. My focal species include [shorebirds/seabirds/etc.], with fieldwork conducted in [e.g. Svalbard, Alaska, Iceland].
I investigate how immune investment is shaped by ecological trade-offs and parasite pressure. I combine functional assays with genomic approaches to understand variation in immune defense across individuals and populations.
Using whole-genome sequencing and reduced-representation approaches, I characterize patterns of genetic diversity, population structure, and signatures of selection in wild bird populations across the Arctic.
Selected Works
Title of your most recent publication: immune gene variation in Arctic-breeding shorebirds
Journal of Avian Biology, 55(3), e02891
Population structure and gene flow in a long-distance migratory seabird across the Arctic breeding range
Molecular Ecology, 32(14), 3847–3864
Ecological drivers of MHC diversity in Arctic shorebird populations: parasite pressure versus mate choice
Evolution, 76(9), 2112–2128
Seasonal variation in innate immune function in a migratory Arctic bird
Functional Ecology, 35(4), 891–902
Seabird colony, [Location], [Year]
Field camp under the aurora, [Year]
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2021 – Present
PhD in [Your Field]
University of [Your University] · Supervisor: [Name]
2019 – 2021
MSc in [Your Field]
University of [Your University] · Thesis: [Title]
2015 – 2019
BSc in [Biology / Zoology / etc.]
University of [Your University]
Fieldwork
Summers 2021–2024
Arctic Field Research
[Location(s)] — shorebird & seabird ecology, banding, sampling
2020
Field Assistant
[Project / PI Name] — [Location]
Awards & Funding
2023
[Fellowship / Award Name]
[Funding body or institution]
2022
[Travel Grant / Conference Award]
[Granting body]
Teaching & Service
2022–2024
Graduate Teaching Assistant
[Course Name(s)] · [Your University]
2023
Peer Reviewer
Journal of Avian Biology · Molecular Ecology
Get in Touch
I'm always happy to hear from fellow researchers, potential collaborators, or anyone interested in Arctic birds and genomics. Feel free to reach out.