Caving for bats, Mount Morungole, Acholi District, Uganda William Daniels, National Geographic
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I currently serve as the Associate Curator of Mammals at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, where I am continuing to develop my research program on host-symbiont evolution, ecoimmunology and biodiversity of small mammals. During my former postdoctoral appointment in the Andersen Lab at Scripps Research, I worked closely with WARN-ID and carried out research on viral diversity in bats and other small mammals. Prior to that I served as an Assistant Project Scientist in the Center for Microbiome Innovation and Department of Pediatrics at UCSD School of Medicine, with joint appointments in the labs of Rob Knight and Jack Gilbert. My research explores eco-evolutionary dynamics between microbial symbionts, parasites, pathogens, and wildlife and human hosts. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago (AB '09) in the Biological Sciences, and my graduate studies at Cornell University (Ph.D '16) in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
I believe strongly in the value of scientific collections, and work to promote the curation, growth, and utilization of museum collections around the world. A top priority in my work is engaging local collaborators in sampling for (1) the establishment of baseline measures of vertebrate and symbiont diversity and (2) preservation of specimens for future questions.
I believe strongly in the value of scientific collections, and work to promote the curation, growth, and utilization of museum collections around the world. A top priority in my work is engaging local collaborators in sampling for (1) the establishment of baseline measures of vertebrate and symbiont diversity and (2) preservation of specimens for future questions.
Science & Art
When not playing with data, I like to climb, hunt, catch birds, make stuff, and go on adventures with my serval hybrid, Pangur.
I love the intersection of art and science and this is reflected in many of my hobbies, which range from making natural inks to foraging for wild clay and getting up close and personal with the smaller creatures on this planet. Below are some snapshots of my forays into my more artistic research activities.
I love the intersection of art and science and this is reflected in many of my hobbies, which range from making natural inks to foraging for wild clay and getting up close and personal with the smaller creatures on this planet. Below are some snapshots of my forays into my more artistic research activities.
Oxidation. I am inspired by natural chemical processes, which I leverage in the creation of natural inks and glazes. Oxidation (and reduction) of copper, iron, and other metals has led to some of the most interesting pieces in my growing collection.
 Accipiter cooperii, Cooper's Hawk
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Taxidermy. I am grateful for the guidance, support, and friendship of Tom Gnoske, chief preparator at the Field Museum of Natural History. Tom has taught me many things, including (and certainly not limited to) the art of specimen preparation, field work logistics, and how to make a mean local hooch cocktail. He also gave me the chance to try my hand at taxidermy, which I see as a unique blend of science and art (and a welcome break from computers and pipettes). Check out Bird Collections at the Field Museum of Natural History and Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates |
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A lousy honor. Collecting ectoparasites is not exactly an artistic hobby, and is in fact directly related to my scientific research...but that doesn't mean there isn't an art to it (it even requires a paintbrush!). Thanks to my collaborator, Jason Weckstein, for naming this gorgeous animal after me. Jason studies the coevolution of birds and lice, among other things, and is currently leading a project with John Bates (Field Museum of Natural History) and Alexandre Aleixo (Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi) to study Amazonian bird and parasite diversity. You can read more about their expeditions here. Valim & Weckstein 2012 |
 Cotingacola lutzae, ex. Laniocera hypopyrra (Cinereous Mourner)
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Macrophotography. Having an insect named after you is one way to get hooked on looking more closely at the world. Once I started I found it hard to stop spending time at the microscope and then the camera, primarily for the purpose of digitizing vouchered specimens of bat ectoparasites I have collected. However, once I got a handle on stacked imaging, I couldn't stop applying it to more and more things around me. Although I haven't had the chance to explore this skill as much as I would like (yet), getting up close with these wild little animals is definitely something I would be happy doing all day.
