Curriculum Vitae

Education

2017 – 2022: University of Massachusetts Amherst. PhD, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology; Craig Albertson – Chair

2014 – 2016: Western Kentucky University. MSc; Michael L Collyer – Graduate Advisor

2011-2014: Murray State University

2009-2011: West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Publications and Presentations 

(*) denotes undergraduate

Publications: Google Scholar Profile, Research Gate

Verbal Presentations

  • Gilbert, MC, CS Lerose*, AJ Conith, RC Albertson. 2022. On the origins of extreme morphologies and their evolutionary consequences in fanfishes and other Bramidae. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Phoenix, AZ. SICB+
  • Gilbert, MC, SN Piggott*, RC Albertson. 2021. Muscle and bone plasticity in a winnowing, South American cichlid (Satanoperca daemon). Cichlid Science. University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
  • Gilbert, MC, A Akama, C Cox Fernandes, RC Albertson. 2019. Rapid morphological change in multiple cichlid ecotypes following the damming of a major clearwater river in Brazil. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologist and Herpetologists. Snowbird, Utah.
  • Gilbert, MC, L Delorenzo*, RC Albertson. 2018. Developmental morphology of a putative cilia mutation in zebrafish. Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology Meeting. Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California, US
  • Gilbert, MC, L Delorenzo*, RC Albertson. 2018. Developmental morphology of a putative cilia mutation in zebrafish. Northeast Regional Craniofacial Meeting. Boston college, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, US
  • Gilbert, MC, ML Collyer. 2016. Impacts of habitat fragmentation on the cranial morphology of a threatened desert fish (Cyprinodon pecosensis). WKU Research Symposium: Reach Week. Bowling Green, Kentucky, US
  • Flinn, MB, B Richardson, MC Gilbert*, B Tumulo, C Soldo*. 2014. Hatchery Creek Restoration at Wolf Creek Dam, Russel County, KY: Constructing the “Field of Dreams”. Kentucky Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Lexington, Kentucky, US

Poster Presentations

  • Piggott, SN*, RC Albertson, MC Gilbert. 2022. Muscle and bone plasticity in a winnowing, South American cichlid. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Phoenix, AZ. SICB+
  • Gilbert, MC, C Lerose*, AJ Conith, C Cox Fernandes, RC Albertson. 2020. Ontogeny of Caquetaia spectabilis: delayed skull development accommodates extreme jaw protrusion. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Austin, TX, US
  • Gilbert, MC, AJ Conith, C Lerose*, JK Moyer, S Huskey, RC Albertson. 2020. Evolution, Ontogeny, and Anatomy of Pterycombus spp, with insights into the functional tradeoff between feeding and locomotion. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Austin, TX, US
  • Gilbert, MC, A Akama, C Cox Fernandes, RC Albertson. 2019. Rápidas alterações morfológicas em ciclídeos em resposta a mudanças antropogênicas no Baixo Rio Tocantins. Econtro Brasilero de Ictiologia. Belem, Para, Brazil
  • Gilbert, MC, A Akama, C Cox Fernandes, RC Albertson. 2019. Rapid morphological shifts in native new world cichlids in response to anthropogenic alteration to a major clearwater river in the Amazon river system. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Tampa, Florida, US
  • Tetrault, ER, MC Gilbert, M Chen*, L Suttenfield*, RC Albertson. 2018. Getting to the Root of Bone Degeneration: Studies in zebrafish offer new roles for ciliary rootlets in skeletal growth and homeostasis. Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology Meeting. Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California, US
  • Gilbert, MC, ML Collyer. 2016 Impacts of habitat fragmentation on the cranial morphology of a threatened desert fish (Cyprinodon pecosensis). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. New Orleans, Louisiana, US
  • Gilbert, MC*, H. Cetin, M.B. Flinn. 2013. Remote sensing analysis of the seasonal variation in chlorophyll-a concentration in Kentucky Lake using Landsat imaging to determine gradients in habitat quality for bighead and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and H. molitrix). Murray State University Scholar’s Week, Murray, Kentucky, US

Teaching Experience

  • 2020, 21: BIO 582: DNA to Diversity
    Graduate Teaching Assistant; University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Biology
  • 2020: BIO 265: Form and Function (Dr. Ethan Clotfelter)
    Guest Lecturer; Amherst College, Department of Biology
  • 2018-20: BIO 151: Introductory Biology I
    Graduate Teaching Assistant; University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Biology
  • 2017: BIO 216: Biological Inquiry and Analysis
    Lecturer; Murray State University, Department of Biological Sciences
  • 2016, 17: BIO 101: Biological Concepts
    Lecturer; Murray State University, Department of Biological Sciences
  • 2015, 16: BIOL 225: Animal Biology and Diversity (Zoology) Lab
    Lead Graduate Teaching Assistant; Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology
  • 2014: BIOL 225: Animal Biology and Diversity (Zoology) Lab
    Graduate Teaching Assistant; Western Kentucky University, Department of Biology
  • 2013, 14: BIO 216: Biological Inquiry and Analysis
    Undergraduate Teaching Assistant; Murray State University, Department of Biological Sciences

Mentoring

Graduate

Current (‡ MS student, *Undergraduate; †Undergraduate Thesis): 

  • 2022 –  : Alex Kwiatkowski* in fish anatomy and anatomization
  • 2022 –  : Ciara Woodburn* in fish anatomy and anatomization.

Former (‡ MS student, *Undergraduate; †Undergraduate Thesis): 

  • 2021 – 2022: Margaret Oftring* in comparative fish anatomy, development, imaging, staining, collections-based research, and geometric morphometrics.
  • 2021 – 2022: Ashley Harrop in zebrafish development, evo-devo, anatomy, geometric morphometrics, and collections-based research.
  • 2021 – 2022: Leticja Flamuraj* in zebrafish development, evo-devo, anatomy, geometric morphometrics, and collections-based research.
  • 2021 – 2022: Rashad Batley*† in biostatistics, fish evolution and diversity, anatomy, uCT work, and geometric morphometrics. Thesis title: In Prep.
  • 2021 – 2022: Jackelyn Raymundo Santizo* in craniofacial myology, anatomization, imaging, and geometric morphometric methods. Project Cavefish 😉
  • 2021 – 2022: Niah Holtz*,‡ in geometric morphometric data acquisition and analysis, and hypothesis formation and testing. Project Cavefish 😉
  • 2019 – 2022: Sofia Piggott* in geometric morphometric data acquisition (Stereomorph) and analysis (Geomorph), cichlid and cyprinodontiform anatomy, and linear data modeling and quantification. Specific question: Do Satanoperca exhibit behavioral plasticity when presented with different foraging environments? How do different substrates influence the anatomy and behavior of winnowing?
  • 2021: Michelle Mukasa*in geometric morphometric data acquisition and analysis, research protocol and procedures, and hypothesis formation and testing.
  • 2021: Patrick Friend*in geometric morphometric data acquisition and analysis, clearing and staining, and imaging.
  • 2019 – 2021: Maxwell Olsen*† Thesis title: Habitat fragmentation spurs morphological divergence in an endangered fish species
  • 2019 – 2021: Catherine Lerose*† Thesis title: Ontogenetic Relationships and Evolutionary Insights of an Extreme Morphological Trait  
  • 2019 – 2020: Anna MacManus* in zebrafish and cichlid anatomy, anatomization, and ontogeny, imaging techniques, and linear data modeling and quantification.
  • 2018 – 2019: Eileen Devane* in zebrafish craniofacial anatomy and anatomization & methods for collecting and analyzing geometric morphometric data (Stereomorph/Geomorph).
  • 2018: Austen Berry* in various methods to collect and organize, morphological & genetic data and zebrafish craniofacial anatomy, development, anatomization, & biology.
  • 2018: Leah Delorenzo in various methods to collect, organize, and analyze morphological (Stereomorph/Geomorph) & genetic data in zebrafish.
  • 2017 – 2019: Dylan Jockel‡ in geometric morphometric data acquisition and analysis.
  • 2018: Nathan Olearczyk* on geometric morphometric data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation for independent research.

2015- 2016: 

Mentored six undergraduate students in geometric morphometric data acquisition and management:

  • Storm Dutton 
  • Shaumik Alam .
  • Ashley VanEvery
  • Nima Moradzadeh Esmaeili
  • Vanessa Durocher
  • Miriam Chinkers

2016:

  • Mentored two undergraduate students in statistical analyses and procedures related to their undergraduate theses in plant ecology.

Undergraduate

  • 2013-2014: Mentored new undergraduate students (3) in field collection techniques, water quality tests, data collection, fish identification, and field protocol.

Grants & Funding

  • 2019: Dissertation Research Grant, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Grant title: Adaptations for Extreme Morphologies ($994)
  • 2019: Natural History Collections Grant, UMass Amherst Natural History Collection. Grant Title: Rapid Changes in Cichlid Community following Human Induced Ecological Change in the Amazon ($3,934)
  • 2015: Graduate Student Research Grant, Western Kentucky University ($1,500)
  • 2015: Graduate Student Travel Grant, Western Kentucky University Biology ($400)
  • 2015: Graduate Student Travel Grant, Western Kentucky University ($400)
  • 2015: Edward C Raney Award – American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists ($900)
  • 2012: Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Award (URSA) Research Grant – Murray State University ($500)

Awards

  • 2021: Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Teaching Award
  • 2020: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) BioArt Contest winner. Focus: Anatomy. FASEB 2020 BioArt Winners
  • 2019: Images from Science 3 International Science Art exhibit placement: Dasyatis sabina. Rochester Institute of Technology and John Hopkins University.
  • 2018: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) BioArt Contest winner. Focus: Anatomy. FASEB 2018 BioArt Winners
  • 2016: WKU Research Symposium Session Winner: Best Oral
    Presentation
  • 2016: Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
  • 2015-2016: Graduate Teaching Assistantship
  • 2014-2015: Graduate Teaching Assistantship

Professional Societies

  • Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE): 2019 – present
  • Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB): 2018 – present
  • Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology (SCGDB): 2018 – 2019
  • American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH): 2015-2016; 2018-2019

Service

  • DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) committee member for Organismic and Evolutionary Biology graduate program 2021 – 2022
  • Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Student Leadership Committee 2019 – 2022
  • Wikipedia editor, contributor, and member of WikiProject Fishes– User MChGilbert. 2019 – present
  • Workplace Climate Advisory Committee, UMass Amherst [Department of Biology] 2018 – 2022
  • Art donation to the American Fisheries Society Mississippi State University Sub-Unit silent auction: Funds for Undergraduate Research 2019
  • Art donation to North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) Annual Convention silent auction 2019
  • Art donation to Sigma Xi Silent Auction at Murray State University: Funds for Graduate Research 2019, 2018, 2017
  • Murray State University Zofest participant, volunteer. Community outreach for the Zoological sciences 2017
  • Reviewed papers for: Hydrobiologia, Ichthyology and Herpetology, Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, Evolutionary Biology, PeerJ

Publicity

Science-Art Exhibits and Events

  • 2020: Caquetaia spectabilis. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) BioArt Contest winner. Focus: Anatomy. FASEB 2020 BioArt Winners
  • 2020: Dasyatis sabina. Images from Science 3, Museo Alto Garda, Riva del Garda Italy, 15 May – 8 November
  • 2020: Dasyatis sabina. Images from Science 3, Olson Gallery, Northern Illinois University, 17 August – 30 October.
  • 2020: Dasyatis sabina. Images from Science 3, The New York Hall of Science, 1 April – 31 July.
  • 2020: Dasyatis sabina. Images from Science 3, John Hopkins School of Medicine. 20th Jan – 20 March.
  • 2019: Dasyatis sabina. Images from Science 3, Rochester Institute of Technology. 1st Nov – 24th Nov.
  • 2019: Dasyatis Sabina & Selena vomer. Science After Dark, hosted by That’s Life [Science]. Amherst, Massachusetts.
  • 2019: Neuromast and Vital Bone Staining in Zebrafish. Catherine Lerose and Michelle C Gilbert. Research Art-Science Exhibition. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • 2019: Dasyatis sabina & Selene vomer. Amherst March for Science. Amherst, Massachusetts.
  • 2019: Dasyatis sabina & Selene vomer. Pipettes and Paintbrushes. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • 2018: Danio rerio, negative. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) BioArt Contest winner. Focus: Anatomy. FASEB 2018 BioArt Winners