Curriculum vitae

Seasonal variation in birds has long been recognized.  There are clear physiological changes (fattening for migration, molting, gonadal regression, etc.) as well as behavioral changes (territoriality, singing, mating effort etc.) which accompany the change of the season.  Circulating hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol, are thought to be responsible for some of these changes- the levels of these hormones rise dramatically as the birds approach their breeding season and drop off as the breeding season closes.  However, little is known about how these hormonal changes translate into system level seasonality; the role of steroid hormones in transcription factors suggests that an investigation into gene expression may hold the answers
 
The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) has long been used in studying the changes in seasonality.  Now, new molecular tools are available which allow unprecedented access to genomic level information for non-model systems.  I am currently working to deploy these genomic tools on the Dark-eyed Junco by sequencing the transcriptome of the Carolina subspecies in collaboration with the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CGB) at IU.  From this work, microarrays will be developed which will allow a direct window into the gene expression changes across season.  The new genetic information will also allow for greater detail in sequencing genes of interest for individual variation as well as population level changes between the Junco subspecies.