Kaitlin Gallagher

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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

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.

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

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

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 - Present

Oral Presentations at Scientific Meetings

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

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