Master’s defense: “Circadian and circatidal rhythms of protein abundance in the intertidal mussel Mytilus californianus”

California Mussel

Banding birds

Kentucky Warbler

EDUCATION

• University of Massachusetts, Amherst    2016 – 2022
  • Ph.D., Organismic and Evolutionary Biology graduate program.
• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo    2013 – 2016
  • M.S. With Distinction, Academic Excellence in Biological Sciences
  • 2016-2017 Outstanding Thesis Award: Circadian and circatidal rhythms of protein abundance in the intertidal mussel Mytilus californianus
• Bowdoin College   2007 – 2011
  • B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies
  • Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica in Spring 2010

ORGANIZATIONS

• Hampshire Bird Club (Board of Directors)
• UMass Bird Club (former VP)
• American Ornithological Society
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

GRANTS, AWARDS, AND FELLOWSHIPS

• Organismic and Evolutionary Biology 2021 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
• Graduate Student Summer Fellowship ($8,600)
• 2016 – 2017 Outstanding Thesis Award from Cal Poly Graduate Education
• Blodget Fund for Ornithological Research ($1,000)
• Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Research Grant ($1,000)
• Wilson Ornithological Society Research Grant ($1,500)
• OEB First-Year Non-Working Fellowship ($9,587)
• Myers Ocean Trust ($2,000)
• NSF Travel Grant ($1,175)
• Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research ($700)
• CSU COAST Graduate Research Award ($3,000)
• Aryan I. Roest Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
• Cal Poly Non-Resident Graduate Tuition Waiver ($9,000)
• James S. Lentz Leadership Award
• Sarah and James Bowdoin Scholar

PUBLICATIONS

• Elowe, C.R, Stager, S., Gerson, A.R. (2024). Sarcolipin relates to fattening, but not sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase uncoupling, in captive migratory Gray Catbirds. J. Exp. Biol. 227.
• Elowe, C. R., Babbitt, C. and Gerson, A. R. (2023). White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) liver and pectoralis flight muscle transcriptomic changes in preparation for migration. Physiological Genomics.
• Elowe, C.R., Groom, D.J.E., Slezacek, J., and Gerson, A.R. (2023). Long-duration wind tunnel flights reveal exponential declines in protein catabolism over time in short- and long-distance migratory warblers. PNAS.
• Gutierrez Ramirez, M., Griego, M. S., DeSimone, J. G., Elowe, C. R. and Gerson, A. R. (2022). Depleted lean body mass after crossing an ecological barrier differentially affects stopover duration and refueling rate among species of long-distance migratory birds. Functional Ecology.
• Seewagen, C.L., Elowe, C.R., Gerson, A.R., Groom, D.J.E., Ma, Y., Yildirim, M., and Guglielmo, C.G. (2022). Short-term mercury exposure disrupts muscular and hepatic lipid metabolism in a migrant songbird: implications for migratory performance. Scientific Reports 12: 11470-11479.
• Elowe, C.R. & Gerson, A.R. (2022). Migratory disposition alters lean mass dynamics and protein metabolism in migratory white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology.
• Elowe, C.R. & Tomanek, L. (2021). Circadian and circatidal rhythms of protein abundance in the California mussel (Mytilus californianus). Molecular Ecology.
• Elowe, C.R., McGullam, S., and Maity, M., Spool, J. (2020). The Murmuration: Crowdsourcing Local Knowledge to Improve Birding Safety and Accessibility. Bird Observer 48, 8.
• DeSimone, J.G., Ramirez, M.G., Elowe, C.R., Griego, M.S., Breuner, C.W., and Gerson, A.R. (2020). Developing a Stopover-CORT hypothesis: Corticosterone predicts body composition and refueling rate in Gray Catbirds during migratory stopover. Hormones and Behavior 124, 104776.

CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS

• Elowe, C.R., Gerson, A.R., and Stager, Maria. (2024). The influence of calcium regulation on migratory and thermoregulatory phenotypes of songbirds. SICB 2024, Seattle, WA. Symposium presentation and organizer: “Recent advances in the mechanistic understanding of avian responses to environmental challenges.”
• Elowe, C.R., Groom, D.J.E., Slezacek, J., and Gerson, A.R. (2022). Marathon masters: closely related short- and long-distance migratory warblers use comparable fuel use strategies. AOS/BC 2022, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Presentation. Best Student Presentation Honorable Mention.
• Elowe, C.R. (2021). Using eBird and The Murmuration for safe and accessible birding. Massachusetts and Rhode Island Land Conservation Conference, virtual. Presentation.
• Elowe, C.R., Groom, D.J.E., Slezacek, J., and Gerson, A.R. (2020). Extreme long-duration wind tunnel flights demonstrate lean mass  – not fat mass – may limit flight duration in migratory Blackpoll Warblers. NAOC 2020, virtual. Lightning Talk.
• Elowe, C.R. and Gerson, A.R. (2020). Flux Capacity: Seasonal changes in body composition and metabolism in migratory White-Throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). SICB 2020, Austin, TX. Presentation.
• Elowe, C.R. and Gerson, A.R. (2019). Seasonal changes in body composition and metabolism in migratory White-Throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). ICCPB 2019, Ottawa, ON, CA. Presentation.
• Elowe, C.R. and Gerson, A.R. (2018). Seasonal changes in body composition and metabolism in migratory White-Throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis). IOC 2018, Vancouver, BC, CA. Poster.
• Voisinet, M.P., Vasquez, M.C., Elowe, C.R., Crocker, D.E., Tomanek, L. (2017). Proteomic response of elephant seal pups, Mirounga angustirostris, to prolonged fasting. SICB 2017, New Orleans, LA. Poster.
• Elowe, C.R. and Tomanek, L. (2016). Circadian and circatidal rhythms of protein abundance in the California mussel (Mytilus californianus). SICB 2016, Portland, OR. Poster.
• Elowe, C.R. and Tomanek, L. (2015). Circadian and circatidal rhythms of protein abundance in the California mussel (Mytilus californianus). Second International Conference on Oxidative Stress in Aquatic Ecosystems, La Paz, B.C.S., MX. Poster.

TEACHING

• Bio 111: General Biology lab (Cal Poly; Winter and Spring 2015)
• Bio 263: Ecology and Evolution lab (Cal Poly; Fall 2015 and Spring 2016)
• Bio 521: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy lab (UMass; Fall 2017, 2 sections)
• Bio 153: Introductory Biology lab (UMass; Spring 2019, 2 sections)
• Bio 287: Ecology (UMass; Fall 2020, Fall 2021)
• Bio 544L: Ornithology (UMass; Spring 2021)
• Bio 550L: Animal Behavior (UMass; Fall 2022)

OTHER STUFF

• Elowe, C.R. “Earth Matters: Whose nature is it? Opening the door to the outdoors.” Daily Hampshire Gazette, 9 July 2021.
• Skype a Scientist
• Elowe, C.R. “Know Your Limb-its.” That’s Life [Science], 5 December 2016.

MEDIA

Journal of Experimental Biology Early Career Researcher Spotlight

The Surprising Science Behind Long-distance Bird Migration, UMass Amherst News

Un départ protéiné pour les oiseaux migrateurs, Québec Science