Ph.D. Student
Indiana University
Department of Biology
Jordan Hall 142
1001 E. 3rd St.
Bloomington, IN 47405
E-mail: nmgerlac AT indiana DOT edu
Education:
- Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL (High School, 1998)
- Organization for Tropical Studies, Duke University. Undergraduate Semester Abroad Program. Costa Rica, Fall 2001.
- Cornell University, B.A. (Biology-Ecology and Evolutionary Bio, 2002). Honors in Biology and Distinction in all Subjects.
- Indiana University, Ph.D. program, Department of Biology, 2003-present. Advisor: Ellen Ketterson
Publications:
- Lauay, C., N. M. Gerlach, E. Adkins-Regan, and T. J. Devoogd. Female zebra finches require early song exposure to prefer high quality song as adults. Animal Behaviour 68(6): 1249-1255.
- Gerlach, N.M., J. M. Earnhardt, S. D. Thompson. Lineage loss, genetic diversity, and effective population size in the North American captive cheetah population. In preparation.
Poster Presentations:
- Creamer, J., E. Conrad, N. Gerlach, Z. Shipp, and J. Thompson. Underhair structure of Castor canadensis and its historical implications. AAAS/AJAS Annual Meeting and Science Innovation Exposition, February 2000. Washington, D.C Also presented at Sakharov's Readings, May 2000. St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Gerlach, N. M., C. Lauay and T. Devoogd. Early auditory experience shapes adult song preferences in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis). Animal Behavior Society International Meeting, July 2002. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
- Gerlach, N. M., J. M. Earnhardt, and S. D. Thompson. Lineage loss, genetic diversity, and effective population size in the North American captive cheetah population. Society for Conservation Biology International Meeting, June/July 2003. Duluth, MN, USA.
- Gerlach, N. M. and E. D. Ketterson. Behavioral responses to a GnRH challenge in captive male dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, January 2006. Orlando, FL, USA.
Teaching Experience:
- Spring 2001: Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for BioEE 274: "Vertebrates: Structure, Function, and Evolution", taught by Dr. Kelly Zamudio at Cornell University.
- January 2003 and 2005: Co-instructor for "Tropical Forests of Costa Rica", an Intersession field course offered through the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and the Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica.
- Fall 2003-Spring 2004: Assistant Instructor for L113: Introductory Biology Lab, Indiana University.
Honors and Awards:
- 1998-2002: Dean's List, College of Arts & Sciences, Cornell University
- 1998-2002: Cornell Presidential Research Scholar
- 1999-present: Member, Golden Key
- 2000-present: Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
- 2002-present: Member, Phi Beta Kappa, Cornell Chapter
- 2002: Graduation with Honors in biology and Distinction in all subjects
- 2002: Genesis Award - Best poster paper presented by an undergraduate, Animal Behavior Society National Meeting.
- 2002-2003: Dr. Scholls Science Fellowship/Chicago Community Trust Internship
- 2003-present: Women in Science Fellowship, Indiana University
- 2004-present: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Previous Research:
- 1997-1998: "Microscopic underhair structure of Castor canadensis and its historical and economic implications."
- 1999-2002: "Early auditory experience shapes adult song preferences in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis)."
- 2001: "Nearest-neighbor distance and call rates in a neotropical treefrog, Hyla microcephala."
- 2002-2003: "Lineage loss, genetic diversity, heritability of fitness, and effective population size in a captive population of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)."
- 2003: "Changes in male-male interactions and headbob displays in response to sub- and super-normal robot stimulus in sagebrush lizards (Scleroporus graciosus)."
o 2004: "GnRH and ACTH: effects on behavior, impact of relatedness, and changes in testosterone in captive dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis)."
Professional Societies and Affiliations:
- Animal Behavior Society
- Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior at Indiana University