CHRISTINE M. BERGEON BURNS

Bachelor of Science, 2001-2005, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Honors in Biopsychology and Cognitive Science. Minor: Biology.

Advisor: Theresa M. Lee

Ph.D., 2006-present, Indiana University, Bloomington (degree anticipated in 2012).

Department of Biology: Program in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior

Advisors: Dr. Ellen Ketterson and Dr. Greg Demas

Research Grants

2009                Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, National Science Foundation. $14,972.

2009                South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union – Nathaniel R. Whitney, Jr. Memorial Research Grant. $475.

2008                South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union – Nathaniel R. Whitney, Jr. Memorial Research Grant. $500.

Travel Awards

2007-2008       Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology – Student Support Program Award. Housing for Annual Meeting.

2008                IU Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior – Student Travel Award. $400.

Fellowships and Honors

2007                Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation.

2006                University Fellowship, Indiana University, Bloomington.

2005                Honors in Biopsychology and Cognitive Science, University of Michigan.

2003                Golden Key International Honor Society.

2006-2007       Associate Instructor, Indiana University. BIO Q201: Biology for Elementary Teachers.

Present      Coordination of testosterone-mediated phenotypes and underlying endocrine mechanisms across divergent populations of the dark-eyed junco (J. hyemalis). Dissertation research, Indiana Univeristy, advised by Dr. Ellen Ketterson and Dr. Greg Demas.

2006          Preliminary graduate research: Dose-responsivity of siberian hamsters (Phodopsus sungorus) to kisspeptin. Preliminary graduate research project, Indiana University, advised by Dr. Greg Demas and Dr. Ellen Ketterson.

2006          Maintenance of polymorphism via disassortative mating in the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). Field assistant for Dr. Elaina Tuttle, Indiana State University, at Cranberry Lake Biological Station, Cranberry Lake, NY.

2005          Phenotypic plasticity and life history strategies in Daphnia mendotae. NOAA Aquatic Ecology Fellow for Dr. Scott Peacor, Michigan State University, at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Muskegon, MI.

2005          Effects of prenatal steroid hormone exposure on juvenile behavior in domestic sheep. Undergraduate thesis research, University of Michigan, advised by Dr. Theresa Lee.

2004          Effects of multiple environmental stressors on growth and development of nestling cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). Field assistant for Dr. Shannon Bouton, University of Michigan, at field site near Gibbon, NE.

Journal Articles

Greives, T.J., K.L. Long, C.M. Bergeon Burns, and G.E. Demas. Submitted. Response to exogenous kisspeptin varies according to sex and reproductive condition in Siberian hamsters.

Malcolm, K.D., L.M. Jackson, C.M. Bergeon, T.M. Lee, V. Padmanabhan, and D.L. Foster. 2006. Long-term exposure of female sheep to physiologic concentrations of estradiol: Effects on the onset and maintenance of reproductive function, pregnancy, and social development in female offspring. Biology of Reproduction 75:844-852.

Other Publications

Bergeon Burns, C.M. 2009. The “White-winged” Dark-eyed Junco of the Black Hills. South Dakota Bird Notes 61(2):32-35.

Meeting Presentations

Bergeon Burns, C.M.*, K.E. Cain and E.D. Ketterson. White-winged junco research in the Black Hills. South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union Spring Meeting, Custer, SD, 15-17 May 2009. (Oral Presentation).

Bergeon Burns, C.M.*, K.E. Cain and E.D. Ketterson. Phenotypic integration of testosterone-mediated characters across distinct subspecies of the dark-eyed junco. The Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA, 3-7 January 2009. (Poster Presentation).

Cain, K.E.*, C.M. Bergeon and E.D. Ketterson. Morphological and physiological correlates of digit ratio in the Dark-eyed junco. The 126^th Stated Meeting of the  American Ornithologists' Union, Portland, OR, 9 August 2008. (Oral Presentation).

Bergeon, C.M.*, K.E. Cain and E.D. Ketterson. Reproductive timing in geographically distinct subspecies of junco. The Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, TX, 2-6 January 2008. (Poster Presentation).

Cain, K.E.*, C.M. Bergeon and E.D. Ketterson. Does digit ratio correlate with gonad function or morphological characters in a songbird? The Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, TX, 2-6 January 2008. (Poster Presentation).

Malcolm, K.D.*, L.M. Jackson, C.M. Bergeon, T.M. Lee, V. Padmanabhan, and D.L. Foster. 2006. Chronic exposure to estradiol during gestation and suckling alters LH surge dynamics and increases aggressive behavior in the female sheep. Biol Rep Special Issue, Abstract 422, p 166. (Oral Presentation).

Invited Seminars

Bergeon Burns, C.M. and E.D. Ketterson. Black Hills State University Science Seminar Series. Spearfish, SD, 4 December 2009. (Oral Presentation scheduled).

Cain, K.E.*, C.M. Bergeon and E.D. Ketterson. Morphological and physiological correlates of digit ratio in the Dark-eyed junco. Mountain Lake Biological Station Summer Research Series. Mountain Lake, VA, 22 July 2008. (Oral Presentation).

Departmental Seminars and Presentations

Bergeon Burns, C.M.*, K.E. Cain and E.D. Ketterson. Phenotypic integration of testosterone-mediated characters across distinct subspecies of the dark-eyed junco. Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior’s Annual Animal Behavior Conference, Bloomington, IN, 10 April 2009. (Poster Presentation).

Bergeon Burns, C.M. Examining integration and independence of testosterone-mediated traits and underlying endocrine mechanisms in the Dark-eyed junco (J. hyemalis). Evolution Ecology and Behavior “Brown Bag,” Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 10 February 2009. (Oral Presentation).

Cain, K.E., C.M. Bergeon and E.D. Ketterson. Does digit ratio predict gonad function: Testing a primary assumption of 2D:4D. Center for Integrative Study of Animal Behavior's Annual Animal Behavior Conference, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 24 April 2008. (Oral Presentation).

Professional Membership

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Ornithologists’ Union

Animal Behavior Society

Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior at Indiana University

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union

Wilson Ornithological Society

Professional Service

Journal Reviewer (ad hoc): Journal of Ornithology

Departmental Service

2009                Department of Biology, Graduate Recruitment Weekend, Departmental Ambassador and Prospective Student Host

2008-2009       CISAB Animal Behavior Conference, Planning Committee Member

2008-2009       Department of Biology, Graduate Recruitment Weekend, Prospective Student Host

2008                Department of Biology, Graduate Recruitment Weekend, Transportation Committee Member

2007                Department of Biology, Graduate Recruitment Weekend, Activities Committee Member

Community Service

Invited Speaker: Animal Communication, Mary Castle Elementary School, Indianapolis, IN, 20 March 2009.

Judge, South Central Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington, IN, 7 March 2009.

Undergraduates Mentored

2008    Alexander Barton, Sarah Kromrey, Erin Spevak (NSF REU)

2009    Matt Boser (NSF REU), Rachel Maranto, Elizabeth Schultz, Connor Wood