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
Meik, Jesse M. and A. Michelle Lawing. 2008. Elevation gradients and lizard assemblage structure in the Bonneville Basin, western USA. Journal of Arid Environments (in press).
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 (in press).
Casola, Claudio, A. Michelle Lawing, Ester Betr?n and C?dric 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.
Manuscripts in Preparation
Lawing, A. Michelle, Jesse M. Meik, and P. David Polly. Using ecological niche models to explore aspects of the natural history of sister species (Crotalus stephensi and Crotalus mitchellii) within the Mojave Desert.
Lawing, A. Michelle, Jesse M. Meik, and Kirk Setser. Effects of sample size on error rates in Monte Carlo methods used in analysis of resource selection.
Meik, Jesse M., A. Michelle Lawing, and Walter Schargel. Morphological integration in New World Pitvipers: Does scale row evolution lag behind body size evolution?
Grants and Fellowships
- Galloway/Perry/Horowitz Graduate Fellowship 2007/2008, IU
- UTA College of Science Academic Excellence Reception 2004/2005 and 2005/2006
- Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society Research Grant 2005 and 2006, UTA
- Department of Biology Matching Grant 2005 and 2006, UTA
- Dean of Science Matching Grant 2005 and 2006, UTA
- Phi Sigma Travel Grant 2005, UTA
Participation in Scientific Congress:
Attended: The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 6th annual meeting, October 2007. University of Texas at Austin. Austin, TX.
Presentation: Louisiana Herpetological Research Group, November 2006, "Analysis of lizard community structure in the Bonneville Basin of Utah and adjacent Nevada." Louisiana University Marine Consortium. Chauvin, LA.
Presentation: Conservation, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology Student Research Symposium, April 2005, "Trends in Conservation Research." Texas A&M University. College Station, TX.
Attended: Biology of the Rattlesnakes Symposium, January 2005. Loma Linda University. Loma Linda, CA.
Teaching and Research Assistance
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington (2004-2007) courses include: 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 include: 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
