Jessie F. Salter
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Curriculum vitae

Jessie F. Salter


EDUCATION
PhD Candidate · Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA                                                                                                  2015 – present
Department of Biological Sciences and Museum of Natural Science
Advisors: Brant C. Faircloth and Robb T. Brumfield
Qualifying Exam passed May 6, 2016

BA · Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA                                                                                                                                                      2010 – 2014
Biology, cum laude 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Faircloth Lab, Louisiana State University                                                                                                                                                                 ongoing
  • Compiled sampling, extracted DNA, and prepared samples for next-generation sequencing of ultraconserved element (UCE) loci to infer a complete genus-level phylogeny of Typical Owls (Strigidae).
  • Captured genomic-scale DNA from 100+ year-old museum specimens.
  • Designed project to reconstruct ancestral biogeography and character evolution of bilateral ear asymmetry within Strigidae.

Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College                                                                                                                                 2013 – 2014
Undergraduate Research Advisor: John E. McCormack
  • Designed project to resolve disputed localities in the Fulvous Owl (Strix fulvescens). Extracted DNA from toepad tissues and amplified sections of two mitochondrial genes (CO2, ND6).
  • Designed and optimized primers and amplified historical DNA from museum specimens (ND2, ATPase). Contributed to international study resolving controversial evolutionary history of Pine Siskins (Spinus pinus).
Identified blood and feather samples, extracted DNA, and amplified genes using PCR for NSF-funded project to build new phylogenies of bird species of the Mexican highlands. Used genome-scale molecular methods and biogeographic methods to determine the influence of geological and climatic events on their evolutionary history.

PUBLICATIONS
Alvarez, S, JF Salter, JE McCormack, and B Mila. 2015. Speciation in mountain refugia: phylogeography and demographic history of the pine siskin and black-capped siskin complex. Journal of Avian Biology. PDF

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS
Salter, JF, PA Hosner, EL Braun, RT Kimball, BC Faircloth. 2017. Slow markers & fast birds: a subspecific phylogeny of the New World Quail using thousands of UCE loci. Talk. Joint meeting of American Ornithological Society and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists. Jul. 31 - Aug. 5, East Lansing, MI.

Salter, JF, CH Oliveros, JD Manthey, PA Hosner, MB Robbins, RG Moyle, BC Faircloth. 2016. A phylogenomic hypothesis of relationships among Typical Owls (Strigidae). Lighting Talk. Society of Systematic Biologists, Jan. 7-10, Baton Rouge, LA.

Salter, JF, CH Oliveros, JD Manthey, PA Hosner, MB Robbins, RG Moyle, BC Faircloth. 2016. A phylogenomic hypothesis of relationships among Typical Owls (Strigidae). Talk. North American Ornithological Conference, Aug. 16-20, Washington, D.C.

Salter, JF, CH Oliveros, JD Manthey, PA Hosner, MB Robbins, RG Moyle, BC Faircloth. 2016. A phylogenomic hypothesis of relationships among Typical Owls (Strigidae). Lightning Talk. The Evolution Conference, Jun. 17-21, Austin, TX. Watch this talk on youtube.

Salter, JF, JM Maley, JE McCormack. 2014. Sequencing DNA from museum specimens helps elucidate disputed localities in the Fulvous Owl (Strix fulvescens). Talk. Annual Meeting of the American Ornithologist’s Union, Sep. 23-27, Estes Park, CO.

GRANTS & AWARDS
SSB Graduate Student Research Award ($1700)                                                                                                                                                      2017
LSU BioGrads Student Research Award ($400)                                                                                                                                                         2017
AOS Student Travel Award ($180)                                                                                                                                                                                      2017
AMNH Chapman Grant ($1200)                                                                                                                                                                                           2017
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (Honorable Mention)                                                                                                            2017

LSU BioGrads Student Travel Award ($400)                                                                                                                                                                 2016
North American Ornithological Conference Student Travel Award ($240)                                                                                            2016
Society for the Study of Evolution Student Travel Award ($500)                                                                                                                   2016
Occidental College Summer Research Program Fellowship ($3900)                                                                                                           2013


TEACHING EXPERIENCE
BIOL 2153 Principles of Genetics                                                                                                                                                                        Spring 2016
BIOL 1208 Intro Biology Lab for Science Majors                                  
                                                                                                          Fall 2015
Graduate Teaching Assistant

CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE
LSUMNS Genetic Resources Collection                                                                                                                                         Aug 2016 – present
Curatorial Assistant
Catalogue and install incoming tissues in collection and database, assist with database maintenance.

SERVICE
LSU College of Science Executive Committee                                                                                                                            Apr 2016 – present
Graduate Student Member
Member of the Development & Membership Focus Initiative Group. Work with the College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson on fundraising strategies, new member recruitment to the Dean’s Circle, and future development of the College of Science.

OUTREACH
Louisiana Earth Day                                                                                                                                                                  Apr 22, 2017 | Apr 17, 2016
LSUMNS Volunteer
Selected bird specimens from the LSUMNS collection to teach the general public about the museum and ornithology program at LSU. Event was targeted to families.
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LSU Museum of Natural Science - Special Saturday                                                                                                                                 Apr 1, 2017
LSUMNS Volunteer
Assist with educational activities about Louisiana coastal natural history and geology. Event was targeted to families with kids ages 5-12; attended by 25 kids.

LSU Museum of Natural Science - Night at the Museum, Ornithology Collection                                                             Sep 29, 2016
Presenter
Selected owl specimens and spoke with event-goers about the unique adaptations owls have for hunting, the diversity of owls around the world and in Louisiana, and the findings of my research into their phylogenetic relationships. Event was targeted to LSU undergraduates and community members; attended by 40 people.
watch me talk about owls | press coverage of this event in The Advocate

LSU Fall Fest                                                                                                                                                                                      Sep 16, 2016 | Oct 2, 2015
LSUMNS Volunteer
Selected bird specimens from the LSUMNS collection to teach students and community members about the museum and ornithology program at LSU. Event was targeted to undergraduates and affiliated community members.

Yellow Rails and Rice Festival (7th Annual)                                                                                                                                                 Oct 29, 2015
Field Trip Facilitator
Facilitated day-long field trip to local rice farms and wetlands in Jennings, LA, highlighting local bird diversity. Festival participants came from all over the country to experience native Louisiana habitats and avifauna.

History 355 / Moore Laboratory of Zoology Collaboration                                                                                                       Jan – May 2014
Education in Action Program Facilitator
Developed a curriculum and six research topics for students in History 355 (Indigenous Peoples of Mexico). Using specimens and other resources from the MLZ collection, students investigated how the biology of Mexican bird species influenced their relative importance in Aztec culture, religion, and economy. Project culminated in a presentation to the Board of Trustees.

FIELD EXPERIENCE
West Texas                                                                                                                                                                                                            May 10 - 24, 2017
LSUMNS collecting trip
Co-led survey of Black Gap and Elephant Mountain WMAs, focus on Chihuahuan Desert, riparian, and pinyon-juniper bird species

SE Arizona                                                                                                                                                                                                   May 31 – Jun 11, 2015
MLZ collecting trip
Focus on bird species of the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mountain sky islands

Costa Rica and Panama                                                                                                                                                                      May 21 – Jun 14, 2014
Occidental College Tropical Ecology Field Course                                                                                                                
La Selva Biological Station, Pacuare Nature Reserve (CR); Institute for Tropical Ecology & Conservation (PA)

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
American Ornithologist’s Union
Sigma Xi
Society for the Study of Evolution
Society of Systematic Biologists


Updated May 2017
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