Difference between revisions of "Kaitlin Gallagher"

From EEBedia
Jump to: navigation, search
(Awards)
(Research Interests)
Line 30: Line 30:
 
[[File:Gallagher_Flame_Cell.jpg|thumb|Transmission electron micrograph of a flame cell in the tapeworm ''Litobothrium aenigmaticum''. Image by Kaitlin Gallagher.]]
 
[[File:Gallagher_Flame_Cell.jpg|thumb|Transmission electron micrograph of a flame cell in the tapeworm ''Litobothrium aenigmaticum''. Image by Kaitlin Gallagher.]]
  
My research falls within the fields of evolutionary biology and parasitology. Broadly, I am interested in the evolution of tapeworms in elasmobranchs. My research has specifically focuses on tapeworm life cycles and the various stages the worm transitions through during that process. Tapeworms have complex life cycles in which they they will parasitize three to four different hosts throughout their life span and each host will contain a different stage of the tapeworm. Very little is actually known about the life cycles of a majority of the species of known tapeworms. Under the guidance of Dr. Janine Caira, I am attempting to elucidate the life cycles for several elasmobranch tapeworms that have been reported in both lamniform sharks and marine mammals.
+
My research falls within the fields of evolutionary biology and parasitology. Broadly, I am interested in the evolution of morphological novelty. I study novelty within a small, monogeneric order of tapeworms, Litobothriidea. This group contains 8 "typical" species and one morphologically divergent species. I am interested in the structures that underlie this novel morphology as well as the molecular basis for this change. I use microscopy (light, compound, SEM, and TEM) as well molecular and NextGen techniques to investigate this phenomenon.
 
+
 
+
I am also working with three species of tapeworm from the ''Litobothrium'' genus. in attempt to  the different tissue types found within the tapeworm. This genus contains an unusual species of tapewomr called ''L. aenigmaticum'' that is morphologically very different from its sister taxa. I have been examining this tapeworm using transmission electron microscopy in order to locate and describe several unusual tissue types that was previously reported by Caira et al. 2014. Once I have completed this I plan on comparing the genome of ''L. aenigmaticum'' to the genoes of two closely related species to see what is causing the extreme difference in morphology between these species.  
+
 
+
 
+
  
 
=='''Research Experience'''==
 
=='''Research Experience'''==

Revision as of 16:11, 12 May 2016

KaitlinGallagher.jpg

Doctoral Student

Voice: (860) 486-1882
Office: TLS 478
E-mail: kaitlin.gallagher@uconn.edu

Mailing address:
75 N. Eagleville Road, U-3043
Storrs, CT 06269


Education

Ph.D. Student (2013-Present)

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

University of Connecticut


B.A. (2009-2013)

Marine Biology

Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University


Research Interests

Transmission electron micrograph of a flame cell in the tapeworm Litobothrium aenigmaticum. Image by Kaitlin Gallagher.

My research falls within the fields of evolutionary biology and parasitology. Broadly, I am interested in the evolution of morphological novelty. I study novelty within a small, monogeneric order of tapeworms, Litobothriidea. This group contains 8 "typical" species and one morphologically divergent species. I am interested in the structures that underlie this novel morphology as well as the molecular basis for this change. I use microscopy (light, compound, SEM, and TEM) as well molecular and NextGen techniques to investigate this phenomenon.

Research Experience

2013-Present, Doctoral Student

University of Connecticut

Caira Lab, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology


2012-2013, Undergraduate Thesis Research

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University

Laramore Lab


2011-2012, Intern

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University

Laramore Lab


2011, Intern

Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University

Jacobson Lab, NOAA


Teaching Experience

Administrative Teaching Assistant, University of Connecticut
Principles of Biology II, August-December 2014


Laboratory Instructor, University of Connecticut
Principles of Biology II, August 2013 - May 2014, January 2015 - December 2015


Teaching Assistant, University of Connecticut
Evolutionary Biology, January 2016 - May 2016


Guest Lecturer, University of Connecticut
Biology 1108: Principles of Biology II, Lophotrochozoa; April 3, 2015
Evolutionary Biology, Evolution of Social Behavior; April 21, 2016

Oral Presentations at Scientific Meetings

Gallagher, K.A.*, Caira, J.N., and Cantino, M. 2015. Deciphering the bizarre internal anatomy of an enigmatic tapeworm. Annual Meeting of the New England Association of Parasitologists, April 18th, 2015, North Haven, Connecticut.


Gallagher, K.A.*, Janine Caira, Marie Cantino. 2014. Description of tissue structure and function of an enigmatic tapeworm, Litobothrium aenigmaticum, using TEM. 89th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Parasitologists, July 24, 2014, New Orleans, Louisiana.


Gallagher, K.A.*, Krebs, W.D., and Laramore, S.E. 2013. Examining the effect of seasons on Bonamia spp. prevalence and infectivity in bivalves from the Indian River Lagoon. Florida Atlantic University Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 12, 2013, Jupiter, Florida.


Gallagher, K.A.*, Krebs, W.D., and Laramore, S.E. 2013. Histological Examination of PCR Positive Bonamia spp., Bivalves from Florida’s Indian River and Lake Worth Lagoons. Aquaculture 2013, 21-25 February 2013, Nashville, TN.

Poster Presentations at Scientific Meetings

Gallagher, K.A.*, Janine Caira, Marie Cantino. 2014. Examination of tissue structure and function in Litobothrium aenigmaticum using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). 8th International Workshop on Cestode Systematics and Phylogeny, August 19, 2014, Sao Sebastio, Brazil.


Gallagher, K.A.*, Claxton, A., and Jacobson, K. A comparison of parasite assemblages in two native and one introduced species in the Columbia River estuary: an examination of competition and trophic interactions. SACNAS, 37-30 October 2011, San Jose, California.


Awards

2016 American Society of Parasitology Dresden Travel Award

2016 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department Zoology Award

2015 Outstanding Student Paper – New England Association of Parasitologists

2013 Outstanding Thesis Award – Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University

2013 3rd Place Honors College Oral Presentation Competition – Florida Atlantic University

2012-2013 FAU Undergraduate Research Grant – Florida Atlantic University

2011 Student Travel Grant, SACNAS Conference, San Jose, California