Michelle Lawing
Research Interests
Research topics I am interested in include quantitative methods in studying evolution, morphologic evolution, variation in species traits spatially and temporally, and effects of climate and climate change on species distributions and speciation through time. Specifically, I would like to incorporate mathematical, statistical, and computer simulation techniques to study many aspects of evolution, paleobiogeography, and ecology/paleoecology. I am also interested in how the variation of morphological traits (spatially and temporally) can be partitioned into factors relating to environment, phylogenetic constraint, and genetic drift.
Education
| 2008 | Indiana University, currently enrolled in graduate studies |
| Advisor: Dr. P David Polly | |
| 2007 | University of Texas at Arlington, M.S. Biology |
| Advisor: Dr. Daniel Formanowicz Thesis: Effects of sample size on error rates in Monte Carlo methods used in analysis of resource selection. |
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| 2003 | University of Texas at Arlington, B.S. Biology |
Publications
Lawing, A. Michelle and P. David Polly. 2010. Geometric Morphometrics: Recent Applications to the Study of Evolution and Development. Journal of Zoology 280: 1-7.
Meik, Jesse M., A. Michelle Lawing, and André Pires-daSilva. 2010. Body size evolution in insular speckled rattlesnakes (Viperidae: Crotalus mitchellii). PLoS ONE 5:e9524.
Lawing, A. Michelle and P. David Polly. 2010. Modelling effects of Pliestocene climate cycles on species’ distribution: Implications for the near future. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 120A.
Polly, P. David, A. Michelle Lawing, and Jason J. Head. 2010. Comparative evolutionary ecological morphology of locomotion in terrestrial vertebrate carnivores. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30: 146A.
Lawing, A. Michelle, P. David Polly, and Jason J. Head. 2009. Ecomorphology as a predictor of modern and paleoenvironment in snakes. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29: 133A.
Reinke, Beth, Anna-Marie Casserly, Matthew J. Rowe, and A. Michelle Lawing. 2009. Intraspecific variation in the Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29: 170A.
Meik, Jesse M. and A. Michelle Lawing. 2008. Elevation gradients and lizard assemblage structure in the Bonneville Basin, western USA. Journal of Arid Environments 72:1193–120.
Lawing, A. Michelle, Jesse M. Meik and Walter Schargel. 2008. Coding meristic characters for phylogenetic analysis: a comparison of step-matrix gap-weighting and generalized frequency coding. Systematic Biology 57: 167–173.
Lawing, A. Michelle, Jesse M. Meik, and P. David Polly. 2008. Using ecological niche models to explore paleobiogeographic patterns. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28: 104A.
Casola, Claudio, A. Michelle Lawing, Ester Betrán and Cédric Feschotte. 2007. PIF-like transposons are common in Drosophila and have been repeatedly domesticated to generate new host genes. Molecular Biology and Evolution 24: 1872–1888.
Lawing, A. Michelle and Jesse M. Meik. 2006. Geographic Distribution. Plestiodon septentrionalis. Herpetological Review. 37: 241.
Meik, Jesse M. and A. Michelle Lawing. 2006. Geographic Distribution. Chelydra serpentina. Herpetological Review. 37: 104.
Grants, Fellowships, and Awards
- 2011, McCormick Science Grant, College of Arts and Sciences, IU - $2,500
- 2011, International Biogeography Society Travel Grant - $150
- 2011, Department of Geological Sciences Travel Grant, IU - $600
- 2010, Paleontology Society Travel Grant - $1,000
- 2010, Publication Award, IU Dept of Geological Sciences - $400
- 2010, Summer Research Grant-in-aid, IU Dept of Geological Sciences - $1,500
- 2010, Department of Geological Sciences Travel Grant, IU - $600
- 2010, Doctoral Research Grant-in-Aid IU Graduate School - $1,000
- 2010, Office of Women’s Affairs Travel Grant, IU - $333
- 2009 – 2011, NSF, Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology, Research Assistant and Collaborator, Principal Investigator: P. David Polly - $234,973
- 2009, Jackson School of Geosciences Std Member Travel Grant, SVP - $600
- 2009, Department of Geological Sciences Travel Grant, IU - $600
- 2009, Academic Achievement Award, Department of Geological Sciences, IU - $250 and Estwing Geological Hammer,
- 2009, Summer Research Grant-in-aid, IU Dept of Geological Sciences - $1,500
- 2008, Estes Memorial Grant, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) - $1,100
- 2008, College of Arts and Science Travel Award, IU - $300
- 2008, Department of Geological Sciences Travel Grant, IU - $400
- 2008, Summer Research Grant-in-aid, IU Dept of Geological Sciences - $1,800
- 2008, Paleobiology Database Intensive Summer Course UCSB, NESCent
- 2007 – 2008, Galloway/Perry/Horowitz Graduate Fellowship, IU - $18,000
- 2005 & 2006, Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society Research Grant, UTA - $2,000
- 2005 & 2006, Department of Biology Matching Grant, UTA - $1,000
- 2005 & 2006, Dean of Science Matching Grant, UTA - $1,000
- 2005, Phi Sigma Travel Grant, UTA - $100,
- 2004 – 2006, College of Science Recognition of Academic Excellence, UTA
Teaching and Research Assistance
Research Assistant, Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University (2009-current). “Environmental sorting of vertebrae faunas: Is guild-level locomotor and dietary ecomorphology an indicator of paleoenvironment?” Principal Investigator: P. David Polly.
Module Instructor, Paleobiology Database Intensive Summer Course, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia (July 28, 2010 – August 3, 2010). Course: Geometric Morphometrics. Level: Graduate students.
Guest Lecturer, Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University (April 2010). “Ecospace utilization through time.” Course: Paleoecology. Level: Graduate students.
Guest Lecturer, Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University (November 2009). “Paleobiogeography: On current research topics including ecological niche modelling, niche evolution, community structure and the Paleobiology Database.” Course: Geobiology. Level: Senior Undergraduates.
Assistant Instructor, Department of Biology, Indiana University (2009). Course: Biology Laboratory.
Assistant Instructor, Department of Geological Sciences, Indiana University (2008). Course: Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentology.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington (2004-2007). Courses included: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Structure and Function of Organisms, and Zoology.
Field Research Assistant for Jesse Meik, summer 2004–2006, and Kirk Setser, summer 2004. I collected and preserved squamate reptiles throughout various mountainous and desert regions in Mexico and the United States.
Tutor, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington (2005). Course: Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity.
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington (2003). Courses included: Microbiology lab and Entomology lab.
Undergraduate Curatorial Assistant, Collection of Vertebrates, University of Texas at Arlington (Spring 2003). Curator: Paul Ustach
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington (Summer 2003). Advisor: Daniel Formanowicz
