NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2012

巴布亚新几内亚鸟类区系的病毒群落传播禽流感的候鸟、充当SARS宿主的蝙蝠以及西尼罗河病毒的传播都突出了流行病在当今全球化世界中的重要性。了解促进野生动物疾病传播的过程对保护和人类健康至关重要。使用新的和以前收集的样本从巴布亚新几内亚，病毒的演变和分布将被描述。高通量的宏基因组测序将使用从20个岛屿的数百只鸟类收集的血液样本和泄殖腔拭子进行。由此产生的数据将用于组装病毒基因组和对病毒进行分类。该信息沿着关于岛特征的信息（即，规模，隔离，人为干扰，鸟类群落）将被用来测试有关病毒进化和传播地理学的潜在因素的假设。这项工作将提供关键的见解，在地理，人为影响和宿主物种的变化对病原体的传播和分布的重要性，并为改进疾病出现的模型奠定基础。在进行这项研究时，研究员将开发新的定量，计算和实验室技能，这将提高她开发，领导和开展野生动物疾病生态学多方面，跨学科研究计划的能力。除了进行研究外，研究员还将通过加州科学院（CAS）夏季系统学研究所指导本科生，并通过CAS的博物馆项目培养教授公众科学的技能。该项目还将为湾区的少数民族本科生和巴布亚新几内亚当地人提供学习进行研究的绝佳机会，使研究员能够继续努力实现扩大少数民族和妇女参与科学的目标。

Viral communities of the Papua New Guinea avifauna Migratory birds spreading avian flu, bats serving as SARS reservoirs, and the spread of West Nile virus have highlighted the importance of epidemic disease in today's globalized world. Understanding the processes that facilitate disease spread in wildlife is crucial for conservation and human health. Using new and previously collected samples from Papua New Guinea, the evolution and distribution of viruses will be described. High throughput, metagenomic sequencing will be conducted using blood samples and cloacal swabs collected from hundreds of birds across 20 islands. The resulting data will be used to assemble virus genomes and classify viruses. This information along with information on island characteristics (i.e., size, isolation, human disturbance, avian community) will be used to test hypotheses regarding the factors underlying viral evolution and biogeography.This work will provide critical insights into the importance of variation in geography, human influence, and host species to the spread and distribution of pathogens, and a basis for improving models of disease emergence. In conducting this research, the Fellow will develop new quantitative, computational, and laboratory skills, which will enhance her ability to develop, lead and carry out a multi-faceted, cross-disciplinary research program on wildlife disease ecology. In addition to conducting research, the Fellow will mentor undergraduates through the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) Summer Systematics Institute, and develop skills in teaching the public about science through CAS's museum programs. This project will also provide excellent opportunities for both minority undergraduate students in the Bay Area and Papua New Guinea locals to learn to conduct research, allowing the Fellow to continue to work towards her goal of broadening participation of minorities and women in science.