NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2020: A mechanistic approach to how the interaction of ecology and evolution determine the response of communities to temperature

这一行动资助了2020财年NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大了生物学领域代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持一项针对该研究员的研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。为了在不断变化的气候中保护生物多样性，重要的是要了解物种在短期和长期内如何应对不断变化的温度。然而，这项任务并不容易，因为温度对个体的影响是多方面的，从分子到生态系统，以及他们与其他物种的相互作用。遗传学、进化生物学、生态学和数学模型方面的最新科学进展使理解生物体如何对温度升高做出反应的综合方法成为可能。正如这项研究采取了一种广泛的方法来解决温度对生物系统的影响一样，有必要采取一种广泛的方法来增加生物学领域的多样性。这位研究员将把这一努力的重点放在增加有色人种女性的参与上，因为她们在科学界的代表性不足。这位研究员将结合实验室实验和数学模型来研究气温上升如何改变个人和世代的表现。此外，这项研究将调查物种相互作用(通过细菌感染)和空间景观类型如何改变适应温度变化的能力。实验系统由两个模式物种组成，一个是经过充分研究的果蝇，另一个是在人类和野生动物中广泛存在的细菌病原体。这位研究员将使用这个实验系统的数据来参数化一个数学模型，该模型描述了温度变化如何改变物种动态和物种灭绝概率。这个模型不仅有助于评估自然物种和感兴趣的群落的脆弱性，还将提供有关温度如何改变人类和野生动物常见病原体的毒力的有用信息。为了支持有色人种女性加强她们的科学认同感，该研究员将开展高中、本科生和研究生的外联活动。这些行动包括开发一个在课堂上使用的模块，允许学生调查温度对生物群落的影响。此外，该研究员将开发一个基于网络的国际女性导师链，将生态与进化领域的科学家从高中大四学生连接到大学教授。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2020, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. To conserve biodiversity in a changing climate, it is important to understand how species respond to changing temperatures in both the short and long term. However, this task is not easy since temperature affects individuals in multiple ways, from molecules to ecosystems and in how they interact with other species. Recent scientific progress in genetics, evolutionary biology, ecology, and mathematical modelling makes possible a comprehensive approach to understanding how organisms respond to temperature increase. Just as this research takes a broad approach to address the effects of temperature on biological systems, it is necessary to take a broad approach to increase diversity in the field of biology. The fellow will focus this effort on increasing the participation of women of color, who are underrepresented in science. The fellow will combine laboratory experiments and mathematical models to investigate how increasing temperature alters individual and generational performance. Furthermore, this research will investigate how species interactions (via bacterial infection), and the type of spatial landscape, alter the ability to adapt to temperature changes. The experimental system is made up of two model species, a well-studied fruit fly and a bacterial pathogen that is widespread in humans and wild animals. The fellow will use data from this experimental system to parameterize a mathematical model of how temperature change alters species dynamics and extinction probability. Not only will this model be useful to aid in vulnerability assessments of natural species and communities of interest, it also will provide useful information about how temperature alters the virulence of a common pathogen of humans and wild animals. To support women of color in strengthening their science identities, the fellow will conduct high school, undergraduate and graduate student outreach. These actions include developing a module for use in the classroom to allow students to investigate the effect of temperature on biological communities. Furthermore, the fellow will develop a web-based international women’s mentoring chain, connecting scientists in Ecology and Evolution from seniors in high school to university professors.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.