CV
[Latest version attached to bottom of page]
Evan Palmer-Young
Dept. of Entomology. University of California Riverside. Riverside CA 92521
Tel: 951 827 5746 Email: ecp52@cornell.edu, evanp@ucr.edu.
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/cornell.edu/evan-palmer-young/ Blog: fernaldclub.blogspot.com
Education
PhD. Univ. Massachusetts Amherst, Entomology and Organismic & Evolutionary Biology 02/2018
B.S. Cornell University Biology. Magna cum Laude, 3.94 GPA 05/2009
5 semesters Grinnell College; 3.84 GPA 08/2004-12/2007
Research Experience
NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biology, Univ. California Riverside Entomology 01/2018-
–Temperature dependence of interactions between bumble bees, parasites, and symbiotic microbiota
PhD. student, Univ. Massachusetts Amherst Entomology and Organismic & Evolutionary Biology 09/2011-12/2017
–Tested effects of floral phytochemicals on bee infection and in vitro growth and evolution of a bumble bee parasite (Crithidia bombi)
–Reared laboratory bumble bees & colonies; experimentally manipulated and quantified infection intensity
–Established cell culture system to assess direct, concentration-dependent effects of floral phytochemicals on multiple parasite strains
–Modeled effects of phytochemical combinations on parasite growth to test for synergistic interactions between phytochemicals
–Conducted experimental evolution experiments to test for evolution of parasite resistance to phytochemicals
–Awarded 6 years of fellowship funding and University of Massachusetts, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, and USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship program
–Awarded 4 competitive research grants from University of Massachusetts and Garden Club of America
–Authorship on 7 peer-reviewed publications, including 4 with mentored undergraduates as first author
–3 first-author papers (2 accepted, 1 in revision)
–Statistics courses: Analysis of Environmental Data and Applied Biostatistics with R
–Used R to analyze experimental data from own experiments and that of undergraduate mentees
–Completed Entomology courses in Insect Physiology and Insect Systematics: Collected and classified insects to family level; gained understanding of insect structure and function through lectures, dissections, and presentation
–5-day Introductory Bioinformatics Workshop, Institute for Genome Sciences, Baltimore MD (Sept. 2017)
–Primary mentor for 4 undergraduate Honors students and committee member for 8 Honors students
–Coached mentored undergraduates to 4 peer-reviewed, undergraduate first-author publications
–Mentees include 8 women, 1 transgender, and 3 minority students
–Full time, 40 hours/week for 5 years
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology visiting scientist (Jena, Germany) 09/2009-08/2011
–Tested protective effects of ectopic (E)-ß-farnesene sesquiterpenes on Nicotiana attenuata stress tolerance.
–Screened and characterized wild tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata) genotypes transformed with maize terpene synthases
–Tested whether sesquiterpene production enhanced tolerance to ozone, drought, and UV-B treatments.
–Collected and analyzed plant volatile emissions using gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry
–Quantified plant secondary metabolite content (carotenoids and phenolics) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
–Implemented spectrophotometric assays for ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity to measure plant responses to abiotic stress treatments
–Presented research 2-3 times per year at lab meetings (~30 members) and group retreats
–Published 2 peer-reviewed publications (1 first-author) relating to this work
–Developed proficiency in German by attending twice-weekly classes
–Scored 95% on B1 Zertifikat Deutsch test (intermediate beginner level indicating basic competence in oral and written communication
–Full time, 40 hours/week for 2 years
Cornell University Plantations (Ithaca, NY) Tang Natural Areas Research Intern 05/2009-08/2009
–Surveyed hemlock woolly adelgid infestation; assessed influence of deer browsing on plant communities.
–40 hours/week for 10 weeks
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies (Millbrook, NY) 05/2008-08/2008
National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates
–Conducted investigation of nitrate reduction in Onondaga Lake (Syracuse, NY).
–Presented results at summer symposium and wrote internal Institute publication
–40 hours/week for 10 weeks
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards
Postdoctoral ($207,000 2018-2020)
NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology awarded 20172018
Broadening Participation of Underrepresented Groups
Graduate ($206,000 total):
Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship Seal of Excellence (Honorable Mention) 2017
USDA NIFA Predoctoral Fellow – Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources Initiative ($79,000) 2016
National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant ($20,375) 2015
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program ($96,000) 2011-16
Garden Club of America Centennial Pollinator Fellowship ($4500) 2014
UMass Amherst University Fellowship ($14,000) 2011
UMass Amherst Dissertation Research Grant ($1000) 2014
Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Dept Research Grant (two awards, $1000 each) 2012 & '13
Undergraduate:
Cornell University Dean’s List Fall 2007, Spring and Fall 2008, Spring 2009
Grinnell College Dean’s List Spring and Fall 2006, Fall 2007
Grinnell College Trustee Honor Scholarship ($35,000) 2004-'07
Mamaroneck High School Salutatorian 2004
Rensselaer Medal for achievement in Science, Engineering & Mathematics 2004
Winner of National Merit Scholarship 2004
National Honor Society Inductee 2004
College Board AP Scholar with Distinction 2004
Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Chinese (2003 and ’04), Physics C (2004), and English (2004)
Publications
(16) *Rothchild KW, Adler LS, Irwin RE, Sadd BM, Stevenson PC, Palmer‐Young EC. In press. Effects of short-term exposure to naturally occurring thymol concentrations on transmission of a bumble bee parasite. Ecological Entomology. doi:10.1111/een.12631
(15) Palmer-Young EC, Calhoun AC, Mirzayeva A, Sadd BM. 2018. Effects of the floral phytochemical eugenol on parasite evolution and bumble bee infection and preference. Scientific Reports. 2018;8: 2074. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20369-2
(14) Xu G, Palmer-Young EC, Skyrm K, Daly T, Sylvia M, Averill A, et al. 2017. Triplex real-time PCR for detection of Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim in honey bees. Parasitol Res. 2017; doi:10.1007/s00436-017-5733-2
(13) Palmer-Young EC, Hogeboom A, Kaye AJ, Donnelly D, Andicoechea J, Connon SJ, et al. 2017. Context-dependent medicinal effects of anabasine and infection-dependent toxicity in bumble bees. PLOS ONE. 2017;12: e0183729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0183729
(12) Palmer-Young EC, Tozkar CÖ, Schwarz RS, Chen Y, Irwin RE, Adler LS, et al. 2017. Nectar and Pollen Phytochemicals Stimulate Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Immunity to Viral Infection. J Econ Entomol. 2017;110: 1959–1972. doi:10.1093/jee/tox193
(11) Palmer-Young EC, Thursfield L. 2017. Sugars in pollen extracts increase growth of a bumble bee parasite. PeerJ. 5: e3297. doi: 10.7717/peerj.3297
(10) Palmer-Young EC, Sadd BM, Irwin RE, Adler LS. 2017. Synergistic effects of floral phytochemicals against a bumble bee parasite. Ecology and Evolution. 7 (6), 1836-1849
(9) Palmer-Young EC, Sadd BM, Adler LS (2016). Evolution of resistance to single and combined floral phytochemicals by a bumble bee parasite. J. Evol. Biol. doi: 10.1111/jeb.13002
(8) Palmer-Young EC, Sadd BM, Stevenson PC, Irwin RE, Adler LS. (2016) Bumble bee parasite strains vary in resistance to phytochemicals. Scientific Reports. 6: 37087. doi: 10.1038/srep37087
(7) Tjiurutue M, Palmer-Young EC, Adler L. (2016) Parasite removal, but not herbivory, deters future parasite attachment on tomato. PLOS ONE. 11(8): e0161076. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161076
(6) *Conroy T, Palmer-Young EC, Irwin RE, Adler LS (2016). Food limitation affects parasite load and survival of Bombus impatiens (Hymenoptera: Apidae) infected with Crithidia bombi (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae). Environmental Entomology. nvw099. doi: 10.1093/ee/nvw099
(5) *Thorburn LT, Adler LS, Irwin RE, Palmer-Young EC (2016) Variable effects of nicotine and anabasine on parasitized bumble bees. F1000Research. 4: 880.
(4) *Biller OM, Adler LS, Irwin RE, *McAllister C, Palmer-Young EC (2015) Possible synergistic effects between thymol and nicotine against Crithidia bombi parasitism in bumble bees. PLOS ONE. 10(12): e0144668 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144668
(3) Anthony WE, Palmer-Young EC, Irwin RE, Adler LS (2015) Testing dose-dependent effects of the nectar alkaloid anabasine on trypanosome parasite loads in adult bumble bees. PLOS ONE, 10(11), e0142496.
(2) Palmer-Young EC, Veit D, Gershenzon J, Schuman MC (2015) The sesquiterpenes (E)-ß-farnesene and (E)-α-bergamotene quench ozone but fail to protect the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata from ozone, UVB, and drought stresses. PLOS ONE, 10(6), e0127296.
(1) Schuman MC, Palmer-Young EC, Schmidt A, Gershenzon J, Baldwin IT (2014) Ectopic TPS expression enhances sesquiterpene emission in Nicotiana attenuata without altering defense or development of transgenic plants or neighbors. Plant Physiology 166: 779–797. doi:10.1104/pp.114.247130.
–Internal publication: Palmer-Young EC, Burgin A, Groffman P (2008) Effects of nitrate addition on nitrate cycling in Onondaga Lake sediments. Internally published in Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies NSF REU student archives. http://caryinstitute.org/reprints/Palmer_Young_2008_REU.pdf
–Internal publication: Klooster B & Palmer-Young EC (2004) Water stress marginally increases stomatal density in E. canadensis, but not in A. gerardii. Tillers 5: 35-40 (Grinnell College internal publication)
http://www.grinnell.edu/files/downloads/V5-35-Klooster.pdf
(*: Undergraduate mentee)
Publications in revision:
Palmer-Young EC, Farrell IW, Adler LS, Milano NJ, Egan PA, Junker RR, et al. Inter- and intraspecific variability in nectar and pollen chemistry.
Presentations
University of California Riverside Entomology Department Seminar, Riverside, CA 03/2018
Illinois State University Integrative Biology Department Seminar, Normal, IL 08/2017
UMass Graduate Research Symposium, Amherst, MA 11/2016
USDA NIFA Project Directors’ Meeting (Washington, DC) 08/2016
Ecological Society of America 2016 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) Poster presentation 08/2016
Evolution Conference 2016 (Austin, TX) 06/2016
–Pathogen of most resistance: Floral phytochemicals affect growth & evolution of a bumble bee parasite
Center for Integration of Research, Teaching & Learning symposium 05/2016
–In position to learn: Effects of an interactive class on student posture– knowledge, awareness & comfort
UMass Graduate Research Symposium. Amherst, MA. 11/2012
–Mechanisms of induced resistance of Fragaria vesca (woodland strawberry) to Orgyia vetusta (Western tussock moth). Poster presentation.
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Molecular Ecology group lab meeting 10/2010
–Do plant sesquiterpenes react with ozone to form particles? Jena, Germany
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Biochemistry group lab meeting. Jena, Germany 04/2010
–No protective effect of ectopic production of (E)-ß-farnesene against UV-B light stress in Nicotiana attenuata.
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Molecular Ecology retreat. Bad Tegernsee, Germany. 02/2009
–Can ectopic production of (E)-ß-farnesene ameliorate abiotic stress in Nicotiana attenuata?
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Molecular Ecology group lab meeting. Jena, Germany. 09/2009
–Does terpene production protect transformed Nicotiana attenuata against oxidative stress?
Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies NSF REU student symposium. Millbrook, NY. 08/2008
–Nitrate addition increases denitrification rates of Onondaga Lake sediments in vitro.
Mentoring
–UMass Amherst Honors Coll. Undergrad. Honors Thesis advisor (to 4 students) 02/2014-
–Honors Thesis Committee Member for 8 students
–UMass Amherst Biology Practicum mentor, 6 UMass undergraduate practicum students 09/2012-
–MA Academy of Sciences STEM Ambassadors Program Mentor to undergraduate students 2012-16
–Supervised students of diverse backgrounds in lab work (3h/week)
–National Research Mentoring Network Training 05/2017
–Completed 9-hour training on strategies for successful mentoring
Teaching
–Commonwealth Honors College Undergraduate Honors Thesis seminar co-instructor. 09/2014-12/2014
–Co-taught course on oral presentation, reading scientific literature, and reference management.
–Course met weekly over a 14-week semester
–Approximate commitment: 2-3 h/week
–CIRTL (Center for Integration of Research, Teaching & Learning) Associate status. 10/2015
–Participated in six 90-minute seminars relating to teaching skills, encouraging diversity in learning communities, and using teaching as research
–CIRTL Practitioner—completed and presented Teaching as Research project. 05/2016
–Completed semester-long online course in college teaching pedagogy (3 h/week for 10 weeks, fall 2016)
-Completed semester-long online course on Diversity in the College Classroom (3 h/week for 10 weeks, fall 2017)
Outreach
–UC Riverside Entomology Fair volunteer, Insect Symbiosis table 04/2018
–University of Massachusetts Fernald Entomology Club Webpage & blog manager 12/2013-12/2017
–Designed website (fernaldclub.org)
–Designed blog and wrote 11 blog posts since 2014
–National Center for Science Ed. Scientists in the Classroom program 02/2016-05/2016
–Led activities demonstrating evolution with 6th & 8th graders at Morgan Elementary School (Holyoke, MA)
–2 in-person visits (4 h each)
–Greenfield MA Bee Festival Invited speaker (2 10-minute presentations to public) 05/2014 & 05/2015
–Amherst Middle School “Sound Bites” outreach program. 30’ science workshop with 6th graders 06/2015
–4 Rivers Charter School Great Hope Sustainability Tour. 60’ science workshop with 8th graders. 05/2015
Scientific Service & Memberships
–Ecological Society of America (ESA), Society for Study of Evolution (SSE) Member 2016-
–Ecological Society of America Volunteer audio-visual technician (14 h) 08/2016
–Society for Study of Evolution Evolution Conference presentation recorder (3 h) 06/2016
–Ad hoc reviewer for Ecology, Plant Cell & Environment, Scientific Reports (1 article each); US-Israel Agricultural Research & Development Fund (1 proposal) 2015-
Press Coverage
-Interview in The Chronicle of Higher Education on open science and reproducibility 2017
-AAAS blog coverage on anabasine & bumble bee health 2017
-PeerJ author interviewee: https://peerj.com/blog/post/115284879267/pollen-extracts-increase-the-growth-of-bumble-bee-parasites-author-interview-with-evan-palmer-young/ 2017
-The Column blog: http://www.chromatographyonline.com/measuring-bumblebee-resistance-parasites 2017
-Valley Free Radio 103.3 FM interview by host Chris Fournier for program Unscripted 2016
-Peer Community in Evol. Biol. recommendation of J. Evol. Biol.paper by S. Magalhaes & A. Duncan 2016
Non-academic Work experience
–Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York, NY) Gastroenterology Department Volunteer Winter 2007-08
–Assisted research coordinator with compilation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease patient database.
–Work commitment: 10 h/week for 4 weeks
–Trader Joe’s grocery store (Larchmont, NY) stocker & cashier (30-40 h/week, 20 weeks) 02/2007-06/2008
–The Nature Conservancy in Iowa. Anna Beal Intern. Restored prairie and woodland. 05/2006-08/2006
–Worked 40 h/weeks for 11 weeks at a variety of preserves throughout Iowa
–Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA) Campus Bicycles Asst. mechanic. 08/2005-12/2007
–Maintained fleet of public use bicycles (3-5 h/week for 4 semesters)
–Town of Mamaroneck Conservation Crew member July & Aug, 2002-2005
–Spread woodchips, cleared trails, removed litter, and built and repaired boardwalks in town preserves.
–38 h/week for 7 weeks in each of 4 summers
Scientific skills
–Grant writing
–Experimental design
–Data analysis in R
–Cell culture
–Undergraduate mentoring
–Website and blog creation and maintenance
–Citation management: proficient with Mendeley & Zotero; familiar with EndNote
–Software and operating system installation, backup, and imaging with Windows Backup, Macrium
Language skills
Mandarin Chinese. Fluent and literate. 11 years’ experience (6 years in secondary school, 5 years at University)
German. B1 level (95%) proficiency on Zertifikat Deutsch exam (June 2009)
Spanish: Advanced Beginner, 6 months’ self-study with DuoLingo
Interests: Swimming, bicycling, gardening, hiking
REFERENCES
Quinn McFrederick
Title: Assistant Professor of Entomology
Relationship to applicant: Postdoctoral supervisor
Address: 3401 Watkins Dr
Entomology 162
Riverside CA 92521
Phone Number: 951 827 5817
Email: quinnmc@ucr.edu
Lynn Adler
Title: Professor of Biology
Relationship to applicant: PhD supervisor
Address: 221 Morrill Science Center
611 North Pleasant St
Amherst MA 01003
Phone Number: 413 545 1060
Email: lsadler@ent.umass.edu
Ben Sadd
Title: Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease Ecology
Relationship to applicant: Primary collaborator during PhD work
Address: Felmley Science Annex 337
School of Biological Sciences
Campus Box 4120
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone Number: 309 438 2651
Email: bmsadd@ilstu.edu
Jonathan Gershenzon
Title: Director, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Department of Biochemistry
Relationship to applicant: Post-baccalaureate supervisor
Address: Department of Biochemistry
Hans-Knölle Straβe 8
Jena, Germany 07745
Phone Number: +49 (0)3641 57 1300
Email: gershenzon@ice.mpg.de