© 2009 Mary E. Blair

Curriculum Vitae

 

MARY E. BLAIR 

 

Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave., 10th Fl. Schermerhorn Ext., New York, NY 10027

- meb2127@columbia.edu – office(212) 854-9987 - fax (212) 854-8188

 

Education

 

Current           Ph.D. Candidate, Evolutionary Primatology.  Columbia University, New York,

NY, USA. Dissertation: Habitat modification and gene flow in an endangered New World primate. M.Phil. awarded May 2008. Expected graduation: October 2010

 

2006               M.A., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY.

 

2005               B.A., Biology and Anthropology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA. USA

Research Experience

 

2006-present Habitat modification and gene flow in an endangered New World primate, the Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii). Columbia University and Molecular Primatology Laboratory, New York University

 

2007               New World primate microsatellite marker screening in Saimiri fecal samples. Molecular Primatology Laboratory, New York University, New York, NY

 

2006-2007     Behavioral indicators of female choice in blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya. Columbia University

 

2006               Mapping Saimiri oerstedii troop locations and illegal deforestation sites using GIS (geographic information systems) technology. Fund for Costa Rica, Quepos, Costa Rica

 

2006               Comparative methods of DNA extraction from mammalian feces. Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

 

2005               Behavioral monitoring of free-ranging golden lion tamarins to facilitate their reintroduction into Brazil. The National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

 

2004               Microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial sequencing of non-human primates for species, population, and individual-level barcoding. Integrated Primate Biomaterials and Information Resource (IPBIR), Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ. 

 

2004               Handedness and food preference in captive Central American squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedii). The Primatological Foundation of Costa Rica, San Miguel de Turrucares, Costa Rica.

 

2004               Infant carrying behavior in Rufous-naped tamarins (Saguinus geoffroyi). The Primatological Foundation of Costa Rica, San Miguel de Turrucares, Costa Rica.

 

Teaching Experience

 

2008               Adjunct Lecturer, Physical Anthropology, Lehman College, New York, NY.

 

2008               Teaching Assistant, Graduate Seminar in Conservation Biology, Columbia University

 

2007               Teaching Assistant, Biological Basis of Primate Behavior, Columbia University

 

2006               Teaching Assistant, Biodiversity, Columbia University

 

2005               Computer and Data Analysis Guide, Introductory Biology, Swarthmore College

 

2002-2005     Writing Associate, Introductory Biology, Swarthmore College

 

2004               Teaching Assistant, Animal Behavior, Swarthmore College

 

2004               English Teacher, La Escuela San Miguel, San Miguel de Turrucares, Costa Rica

Grants Recieved

 

2009-2010     National Science Foundation Physical Anthropology Program (Doctorial Dissertation Improvement). Habitat modification and gene flow in an endangered New World primate. $10,271

 

2009-2010     Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation. Habitat modification and gene flow in an endangered New World primate: Implications for conservation management. $10,000

 

2008-2009     International Society of Primatologists. Habitat modification and gene flow in an endangered New World primate. $1500

 

2008-2009     Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences International Traveling Fellowship. Habitat modification and gene flow in an endangered New World primate. 1 yr. graduate stipend, $23,000

 

2008-2009     American Society of Primatologists Conservation Small Grant. The effects of habitat modification on gene flow: Matrix tolerance, dispersal and conservation in the Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii). $1499

 

2005-present NSF IGERT Fellowship. 2 yr. graduate stipend + $5000 research stipend

 

2005-present Faculty Fellowship, Columbia University. 2 yr. graduate stipend

 

2007               Daniel E. Fischer Conservation Grant, Northwest Primate Conservation Society, Eugene, OR. The effect of habitat fragmentation on population genetic structure in the Central American squirrel monkey.  $500

 

2007               Institute of Latin American Studies Pre-Dissertation Research Travel Grant, Columbia University. The effect of habitat fragmentation on population genetic structure in the Central American squirrel monkey. $664

 

2006               Earth Institute Travel Grant, Columbia University. The effect of habitat fragmentation on population genetic structure in the Central American squirrel monkey. $250

 

 

Publications/Presentations

 

Blair, M. and D.J. Melnick. 2008 (August). The effect of habitat fragmentation on population genetic structure in the Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii). 2008 IPS Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland. (Poster presentation).

Blair, M. and M. Cords. 2008. Behavioral indicators of female choice in blue monkeys in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 135 (Suppl. 46): [Abstract]. Poster presented at the 2008 AAPA Annual Meeting, Columbus, OH.

Dacier, A., Morales-Jimenez, A.L., Blair, M. and T.R. Disotell. 2008. Phylogeny of New World monkeys (Primates: Platyrrhini) based on large genomic sequence data. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 135 (Suppl. 46): [Abstract]. Podium presentation at the 2008 AAPA Annual Meeting, Columbus, OH.

Blair, M. 2007 (May). The effect of habitat fragmentation on the population genetic structure of the Central American Squirrel Monkey. 2007 NSF IGERT Project Meeting, Arlington, VA. (Poster presentation).

 

Grobler, P., Jacquier, M., deNys, H., Blair, M., Whitten, P.L., and T.R. Turner. 2006. Primate sanctuaries, taxonomy and survival: a case study from South Africa. Ecological and Environmental Anthropology 2(2): 12-16. Available online at: http://www.uga.edu/eea/02_2006/article07_02_2006.htm
 

Other Professional Activities

 

2007-present Graduate student social committee member, New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology

 

2006-2008     Secretary and departmental representative, Women in Science at Columbia, Columbia University

 

2007-2008     Sponsored member of the board of directors, Fund for Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

 

2006-2008     Departmental representative to the Graduate Student Advisory Council, Columbia University

 

2006-2008     Editorial review board member, Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal, Columbia University

 

Invited Talks

 

Mar 2009       La modificación del hábitat y el flujo genético del mono tití (Habitat modification and gene flow in the Central American Squirrel Monkey), Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus. Presentation to the Technical Scientific Committee (Comité Científico Técnico) of the Central Pacific Conservation Area (ACOPAC), System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), Ministry of Energy and the Environment (MINAET), Santiago de Puriscal, Costa Rica.

 

Aug 2007       La fragmentación del hábitat y la estructura genética del mono tití (Habitat fragmentation and genetic structure in the Central American Squirrel Monkey). Conferencias sobre los monos tití, Association for the Conservation of the Mono Tití, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Honors and Awards

 

2008               Finalist, Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, Columbia University

 

2006               Aesthetically Best Presentation, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Graduate Research Seminar, Columbia University

 

2006               Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program in the Biological Sciences

 

2005               Phi Beta Kappa, Swarthmore College

 

2005               Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program in the Social Sciences

 

2005               Leo M. Leva Memorial Prize Recipient, Swarthmore College Biology Department

 

2001               National Merit Scholar

 

Professional Affiliations

· Member, Sigma Xi (2004-Present)

· Member, New York Academy of Sciences (2006-Present)

· Member, American Association of Physical Anthropologists (2007-Present)

· Member, International Primatological Society (2007-Present)

· Ph.D. Advisory Committee Members:
Don J. Melnick and Marina Cords, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University;
Tony DiFiore and Todd R. Disotell, Dept. of Anthropology, New York University;
Rob DeSalle, Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History.

 

Additional Skills

· Proficiency with ArcView 3 and ArcGIS

· Fluent speaking, writing and reading in Spanish