Dr. Lauren Cirino, Research Associate in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will present a talk about her work entitled, “Integrating Research, Mentorship, and Teaching to Investigate Reproductive Ecology.”

The abstract is as follows:

Habitats are incredibly diverse and dynamic across space and time. Change can occur quickly, altering the direction or intensity of selection, and potentially changing the tempo of the evolutionary process. Traits that maximize survival and reproduction under local conditions are therefore more likely to persist in a population. I examined how reproductive traits are affected by nutritional changes, social experiences, and damage to the body that animals may experience in a dynamic environment. Further, I will explain my plan for future research in behavioral ecology as well as how I involve student mentees in my research. Since there are many barriers to one-on-one mentorship, I will also describe how to conduct real publishable research using an innovative classroom approach called Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) to broaden research experiences and bridge the gap between the classroom and research.

The presentation will begin at 4:00 PM in Lapham S160, preceded by an informal Q&A from 3:45 – 4:00 PM.