Heather
R.L. Lerner
Educational
Preparation
Candidate:
Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Ph.D. program,
M.S. EEB, UM;
GPA: 7.812
B.S.
Major: Biology
Concentration:
Environmental Science
GPA: 3.6
Honors: Magna cum
laude
Related
Scientific Experience
10/99-6/01
Wildlife and Wetland Biologist:
Wetlands Research Associates;
·
Performed breeding raptor,
sensitive species, ecosystem assessment and GPS field
surveys
·
Wrote Habitat Conservation
and Restoration Plans based on results of field surveys
6/99-10/99
Naturalist:
·
Prepared presentation of
turbidity effects on fish for RWQCB erosion control
workshops
·
Identified flora and
monitored water quality in tidal wetlands
Professional Research
Interests
I am interested in research on evolution and conservation
genetics. My research questions address (1) the role of historical
environmental changes on present-day species distributions and habitat use (2)
the effects of very recent environmental change (especially population
fragmentation and isolation) on population processes at varying temporal and
spatial scales, and (3) hypotheses about the evolution of morphological and
natural history traits (using molecular-based phylogenies). All of my studies have used specimens
from various
Dissertation
Research Projects
Population Genetics and Phylogeography of the Harpy
Eagle
UM,
·
Use microsatellites and
mitochondrial control region DNA to assess genetic diversity and population
structure across the geographic distribution of harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja), a threatened tropical
forest dwelling predator
·
Incorporate this genetic
information into population viability analyses currently structured on
demographic information to assess the potential effects of the release of
captive-bred individuals on the population structure and genetic
diversity
Molecular Systematics and Taxonomy of the avian family
Accipitridae
UM,
·
Develop a well-supported and
complete molecular phylogeny using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA for all
species, including two extinct species, and individuals of many recognized
subspecies (published in a series of papers focusing on different
subfamilies)
·
Use phylogenetic information
to assess levels of genetic diversity within and among species for conservation
purposes and to outline biogeographic history and variation in rates of
evolution among the accipitrid groups.
·
Identify monophyletic groups
for use in taxonomic revision.
·
Use molecular clock and
fossil calibrations to determine timing of diversification events and rates of
evolution within and across lineages.
Collaborative
Research
A Comparative Analysis of Osteological Traits and a
Molecular Phylogeny of the Accipitridae
With Richard Holdaway,
·
Use 120 osteological
characters in comparison with 3,000 bases of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to
provide insight into the evolutionary history of Accipitrid
taxa
·
My contribution is to create
a data matrix osteological characters collected previously by Holdaway and
analyze that morphological character set in conjunction with molecular data
gathered for my dissertation research
Phylogeography of European
Golden Eagles (
With Brian Bourke and Michelle Clarke,
·
Use microsatellite frequency
and mitochondrial sequence data to evaluate genetic differentiation among and
within three populations of European golden eagles
·
My contributions included
gathering sequence data for the mitochondrial control region and cytochrome b
for 74 individuals to compare with the microsatellite data gathered by Bourke
and using coalescent-based methods (particularly the application IM) to evaluate
demographic parameters within and between geographic groups of
eagles
Genetic diversity of an
invasive bird (Ploceus cucullatus) in
its native and introduced populations
With David Lahti,
·
Use RAPD banding patterns and
mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data to evaluate the hypotheses of a founder
effect or selection on egg color in an introduced island population as compared
to its mainland counterpart
·
My contributions included
gathering sequence data for the mitochondrial nd2 gene and nuclear introns for
40 individuals to compare with the RAPD data gathered by
Scholarships, Research
Grants and Awards
4/95-99
Wisconsin State Scholar (Academic Scholarship for 4 years partial college
tuition)
5/98 Student
Leader Fellowship (summer Internship funding);
5/99
Environmental Research Grant; Pew Charitable Trust, administered by
5/02 Block Grant/Endowed
Fellowship Competition 2002; Dept of EEB, UM
4/03
Predissertation Research Award; International Institute,
UM
4/03
Student Research Fellowship; Latin American and
4/03
Rackham Spring/Summer Research Assistant Grant;
4/03
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention
5/03 Block Grant/Endowed
Fellowship Competition 2003; Dept of EEB,
UM
5/03
Rackham Discretionary Funds 2003;
5/03
Dean Amadon Grant; Raptor Research Foundation
4/03--8/04 Ruth L.
Kirschstein National Research Service Award; National Institute of Health Genome
Science Training Grant; UM
3/04 International
Osprey Foundation 2004 Endowment Grant; Int. Osprey
Foundation
4/04
5/04 Helen Brower Olsen Endowment
Scholarship; Dept of EEB, UM
8/04--8/05 Ruth L.
Kirschstein National Research Service Award; National Institute of Health Genome
Science Training Grant; UM
1/04 Sokol International Summer Research
Fellowship in the Sciences
1/05-12/07 American
Ornithologists’ Union Outstanding Student Scholar
Membership
3/05
4/05 Peter
Okkelberg Award; Dept of EEB, UM
5/05 Block Grant/Endowed
Fellowship Competition 2005; Dept of EEB, UM
8/05--8/06 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award; National Institute of Health Genome Science Training Grant; UM
1/06 Rackham
Discretionary Funds 2006;
10/06 Rackham
One-Term Dissertation Fellowship;
2/07
Presentations
Lerner, H.R.L., Lerner, H R; Lindsay, A R; Johnson, J A; Kiff, L;
Mindell, D P (2006) Is the Harpy Eagle at risk? Population genetics of a long-lived
top-predator based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. October 4-7,
Lerner, H.R.L., Klaver, M.C.
and Mindell, D.P. (2005) Polyphyly of a genus of Neotropical forest hawks
(Accipitridae: Leucopternis) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Society for the Study of Evolution. June 10-15,
Lerner,
H.R.L. and Mindell, D. P. (2004) Molecular Systematics and Evolution in the
Avian family Accipitridae. Society for the Study of
Evolution. June 26-30, Forth Collins, CO.
(Oral
Presentation).
Lerner, H.R.L., Rest, J and
Mindell, D.P. (2002) Preliminary
phylogenetic analyses for Accipitridae based on mitochondrial DNA.
Neotropical Raptor Conference.
October 24027,
Publications
Johnson JA, Lerner HRL, Rasmussen PC, Mindell DP (2006)
Systematics within Gyps vultures: a
clade at risk. BMC Evolutionary Biology 6:65
Lerner, H.R.L. and Mindell,
D. P. (2005) Phylogeny of eagles,
Bunce, M., Szulkin, M.,
Lerner, H.R.L., Barnes, I., Shapir, B., Cooper, A.and Holdaway, R.N. (2005) The
evolutionary history of New Zealand's extinct giant eagle revealed by ancient
DNA. PLoS Biol
3(1):e9
Manuscripts in Review and Preparation (for 2007, nearest
completion listed first)
Lerner, H.R.L., Klaver, M. and Mindell, D. (in review)
Molecular phylogenetics of the buteonine birds of prey (Aves:
Accipitridae).
Lerner, H.R.L., Lindsay, A. and Mindell, D. (in prep)
Panmixia in the Neotropical harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) with mitochondrial and
nuclear loci.
Bourke, B. Lerner, H.R.L., Mindell, D. and Clarke, M.
(in prep) Phylogeography of European Golden Eagles (
Teaching Experience at
the
8/01-4/03
Graduate
Student Instructor (BIO 390):
Dept of EEB, UM,
·
Prepared and taught lectures
and discussion activations for Evolution discussion sections
·
Evaluated student performance
via quizzes, weekly written assignments and term papers
Graduate Student Instructor (BIO 162): Dept of EEB, UM,
·
Prepared and taught lectures
for Intro. to Biology laboratory and discussion activities
·
Evaluated student performance
through preparation and administration of quizzes, grading of standardized exams and
monthly lab reports
8/03-3/06
Science Laboratory
·
Supervised six undergraduate
students in the laboratory (three female and three male) for a period of one to
seven terms each (average three semesters per student)
·
Taught hands-on implementation of
the scientific method (specifically hypothesis development and testing),
laboratory techniques for DNA extraction, pcr amplification and sequencing,
sequence data analysis
·
Advised honors students regarding
thesis design and preparation
7/03
Guest Lecture on Population and Conservation Genetics: Environmental Science class, Universidad de Guayaquil,
·
Described the utility of
mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences and microsatellites in evaluating
population genetic diversity
·
Used examples of native birds (harpy eagles and white
hawks) to illustrate the benefits of genetic analysis for captive-breeding and
release programs
Community and
Departmental Service
12/03-5/04
·
Designed an
exhibit about my research on genetic variation in the harpy eagle which makes
scientific research in the field of evolution accessible to a broad audience and
explains how evolutionary research can be used to inform conservation
efforts. Display is currently on
display in the museum’s rotunda.
·
Wrote one-page synopses of organismal
groups (e.g. Flatworms, Angiosperms, Cnidarians, Amphibians) for an interactive
exhibit exploring the extent of global biodiversity and the relatedness among
diverse organisms. The exhibit
is currently on display in the museum
rotunda.
·
Brief synopses of these
exhibits can be found at
http://www.exhibits.lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum/exhibits/temporary_exhibits/
1/06-4/06
Evolution and the Nature of Science Workshop Assistant, Dept. of EEB, UM,
These workshops for undergraduate science and
non-science majors explore the nature of science to distinguish scientific
questions and inquiry from non-science and present current evolutionary research
through an interactive display. See
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/lsatheme/exploreevolution/curriculum/workshops.htm
·
Assisted in the
development of course activities including preparation of worksheets on a
leaf-cutter ant mutualism
·
Lead group discussions (12-25
students) about evolutionary research focusing on the presentation of
evolutionary topics to both public and scientific audiences.
8/04-8/06
Diversity Community Member,
Dept. of EEB, UM,
·
Developed
written components of an NSF Advance Departmental Transformation Grant funded
for $25,000 in 2006
·
Developed and
implemented a survey about the climate in EEB for graduate students which
achieved a 75% response rate and identified particular areas of concern for
future diversity committee initiatives
Professional Memberships
American Ornithologists’
Languages
Spanish oral and written fluency
French oral and written
competence