As part of a collaboration with Stanford's Jasper Ridge Field Station and the nearby San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, Dr. Whittall and his class will be applying cutting edge molecular tools (DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing, Next-Gen sequencing & Genome analysis) to answering ecological questions in local bird populations. The lab on campus is located in Alumni Science with students completing about 5-8 hours of either field or in-lab work.
- visiting bird banding stations to help bird banding & collect feather samples (Coyote Creek Field Station and Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Field Station)
- conduct DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses for sex determination in yellow rumped warblers and to identify cryptic species of western flycatchers using genome-enabled sequencing tools and modern bioinformatics (skills commonly employed in Biotech)
- analysis and opportunity to present at local science conferences and coauthor a publication describing our findings