Kaitlin Gallagher

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Revision as of 16:11, 12 May 2016 by Kaitlin Gallagher (Talk | contribs) (Research Interests)

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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

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