ADDRESS

Department of Biology

The University of Miami

1301 Memorial Drive

Coral Gables, FL, 33146

(215) 285-7967

 

EDUCATION

University of Miami, PhD. Student, 2009-current Advisor: W. Searcy

Colgate University, B.A., 2005-2009 Advisors: K. Ingram and F. Frey

Notre Dame University, Coursework in general ecology, 2007 Advisor: K. Francl

North Carolina State University, Study abroad in Namibia, 2008

LaSalle College High School, 2001-2005

 

POSITIONS

University Teaching Assistant, University of Miami, 2009-PresentGraduate Student with W. Searcy, 2009-Present

Independent Undergraduate Research with D. McHugh, Colgate University, 2009

Environmental Research Fellow with K. Hopfensperger, Colgate University, 2008

Field Biology Research Fellow with K. Francl, University of Notre Dame, 2007

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Leighton, G.M. “Multiple Interactive Simulations of Public Goods Games Promotes Knowledge of Evolutionary Mechanisms that Maintain Cooperation”. In review at Evolution: Education and Outreach.

 

Leighton, G.M.; *Echeverri, S.; Heinrich, D.; “Stable Isotope Signatures Reveal Group, Age, and Sex Differences in the Diet of Sociable Weavers (Philetairus socius).” In review at Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology.

 

Leighton, G.M., *Echeverri, S.; “Non-Linear Influence of Nest Size on Thermal Buffering of Sociable Weaver Nests and the Maintenance of Cooperative Nest Construction.” In review Avian Biology Research.

 

Leighton, G.M. (2014). “Sex and individual differences in cooperative nest construction of sociable weavers.” Journal of Ornithology, in press.

 

Leighton, G.M. (2014). “The Relative Effectiveness of Signaling Systems: Relying on External Items Reduces Signaling Accuracy while Leks Increase Accuracy.” PLoSONE, 9(3): e91725http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0091725

 

Hopfensperger, K.N., Leighton, G.M., Fahey, T.J. (2011). “Influence of Invasive Earthworms on Above and Below ground Vegetation in a Northern Hardwood Forest”. American Midland Naturalist. 166(1): 53-62.

 

Leighton, G.M., Lee, J. Francl, K. (2009). “Influence of Structural Complexity on Bat Activity at Palustrine Habitats in the Northern Great Lakes Region”. Michigan Academician. 39(3):163-176.

 

*Denotes undergraduate co-author

 

PUBLICATIONS (NOT REFEREED)

Leighton, G.M. “Sociable Weavers: An Opportunity to Test the General Principles of Social Evolution”. Lanioturdus, 46(5): 19-22.

 

GRANTS

University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship, $22,000.00, 2014

Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund from American Museum of Natural History, (Declined), $600.00, 2013 

National Geographic Young Explorer’s Grant, $3640.00, 2013

Kushlan Graduate Research Support Grant, $770.00, 2012

University of Miami College Of Arts and Sciences Doctoral Summer Award, $5,000.00, 2012

National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, $14,918.00, 2012-2014

Max and Peggy Kriloff Travel Award, $200.00, 2011

National Academy of Sciences Travel Grant, $250.00, 2010

GAFAC Travel Grant, $350.00, 2010

William H. Evoy Graduate Research Support Fund, $600.00, 2010

 

AWARDS

Best Talk Runner Up – University of Miami, Department of Biology Graduate Symposium, 2013

Best Poster in the Biological Sciences – Research, Creativity, and Innovation Forum, University of Miami, 2011

 

HONORS

Awarded free membership into American Ornithologists’ Union, University of Miami, 2012

Awarded free membership into Cooper Ornithological Society, University of Miami, 2011

Award for Top Student in Environmental Studies, Class of 2009: Colgate University, 2009

Cum Laude Honors: Colgate University, 2009Beta Beta Beta: Biology Honors Organization, Colgate University, 2007-2009

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Evolution of Cooperation, Kin Selection, Agent-Based Modeling, Population Genomics

 

INVITED SEMINARS

Broward Community College, 2013

 

CONFERENCES AND COLLOQUIA

American Ornithological Union and Cooper Ornithological Society, Chicago, IL (2013)

Animal Behavior Society’s 50th Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO (2013)

Evolution, Snowbird, UT (2013)

Animal Behavior Society and International Ethological Congress, Bloomington, IN (2011)

National Academy of Sciences, “In the Light of Evolution V: Cooperation”, Irvine, CA (2011)

 

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

“Sex Difference in Behavior and Genomic Data Suggest Indirect Benefits Important for the Maintenance of Cooperative Nest Construction in Sociable Weavers” AOU and COS Joint Meeting, 2013

“Sex Difference in Behavior and Genomic Data Suggest Indirect Benefits Important for the Maintenance of Cooperative Nest Construction in Sociable Weavers” Animal Behavior Society, 2013“

Sex Difference in Behavior and Genetic Data Suggest Indirect Benefits Important for the Maintenance of Cooperative Nest Construction in Sociable Weavers” Evolution, 2013

 

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

“Indirect Benefits Likely Important for Cooperative Nest Construction in Sociable Weavers” Animal Behavior Society meeting jointly hosted with the International Ethological Congress, University of Indiana, Bloomington, 2011

“Minimizing exploitation via directed cooperation” Research, Creativity, and Innovation Forum, University of Miami, 2011

“Minimizing exploitation via directed cooperation” University of Miami Graduate Symposium, 2011

“Explaining variable cooperation in communal nest building” University of Miami Graduate Symposium, 2010

“hedgehog expression during development of large-egg larvae in the poecilogonous marine annelid, Streblospio benedicti” Colgate University Biology Research Symposium, 2009

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Population Genomics of Non-model Species Workshop, Cornell University, 2013

Teaching and Research with Agent-Based Modeling, Humboldt State University, 2011

Preparing Future Faculty: Departmental and Teaching Assessment, University of Miami, 2011

Mutual Benefit Negotiations, University of Miami, 2011

Preparing Future Faculty: The Teaching Portfolio, University of Miami, 2011

Effective Writing in Science and Engineering Workshop directed by Judith Swan, University of Miami, 2010

Bird Banding Field Course in Peruvian Amazon sponsored by Fauna Forever, 2010

Preparing for Post-Docs Discussion, University of Miami, 2010

Preparing Future Faculty: Time Management, University of Miami, 2009

SEEDS Scientific Writing Workshop directed by Judith Swan, University of Miami, 2009

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE*

Biology 162 HHMI Laboratory Instructor, University of Miami, 2011

Biology 152 HHMI Laboratory Instructor, University of Miami, 2010

Biology 161 Laboratory Instructor, University of Miami, 2010-2013

Biology 151 Laboratory Instructor, University of Miami, 2009-2013

Guest lecture on biometry – HHMI Laboratory, University of Miami, 2010

Guest lecture on evolution and social behavior – BIL 149, University of Miami, 2012

Guest lecture on public goods and the tragedy of the commons – BIL 241, University of Miami, 2013

 

*A copy of my teaching portfolio is available upon request.

 

STUDENT MENTORING AND SUPPORT

Sebastian Echeverri – Academic advice and letters of recommendation, 2012-2013

Shawn Daniel – Academic advice and medical school application reviews, 2010-2011

Dana Jones – Letter of Recommendation for plant research internship, 2010

 

SERVICE

Biology Graduate Student Association Vice President, 2013-2014

Panel Member on discussion of how to write strong NSF DDIG grants, University of Miami, 2012

Member of the Department of Biology’s Graduate Admissions and Advertisement Committee, 2012-2013

Research, Creativity, and Innovation Forum Judge for Undergraduate Posters, 2011

Biology representative to the GSA, University of Miami, 2010-2011

 

OUTREACH

Interviewed by University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences about my research on sociable weavers, 2012.

Invited writer for Namibian Bird Journal Lanioturdus, 2012-2013

Invited writer for ornithological blog: Boom Chachalaca, 2011-2012

Invited Environmental Writer for GreeningofOil, 2009-2010

Worked with University’s Disability Center to provide class notes to disabled student, 2009

Tutored grade-school students in Hamilton, NY in science, 2008

 

ACTIVITIES

Habitat for Humanity Volunteer, 2011

Member of Environmental Council, Colgate University, 2007-2009

Co-President of Students for Environmental Action, Colgate University 2007-2009

Invited Political Commentator for the Maroon News, Colgate University Newspaper, 2009

 

MEMBERSHIPS

American Ornithologists’ Union, 2012-2013

American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011-2012

Society for the Study of Evolution, 2011-2012

American Society of Naturalists, 2012-2013

Animal Behavior Society, 2011-2013

Cooper Ornithological Society, 2011-2013

Wilson Ornithological Society, 2011-2012