Kaitlin Gallagher
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
Contents
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.
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 - 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
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