Professional Experience

2010-present: Managing Director, BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University

2010-present: Citizen Science Faculty, Bard College

2010: Research Scientist, Department of Biology, Indiana University

2006-2010: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biology, Indiana University

2006: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Barnard College

2005-2006: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Lehman College and Queens College, City University of New York

2000-2005: Adjunct Lecturer at Lehman College, Hunter College, and Queens College, City University of New York

Education and Training

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biology, Indiana University. 2006-2010.

Ph.D in Biological Anthropology, City University of New York Graduate Center, 2005

B.A. in Anthropology, Emory University, 1996

Fellowships and Awards

Graduate Fellow, New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), 1998-2005

Robert E. Gilleece Fellowship, City University of New York, 1998-2005

Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, 2000

National Merit Scholar, Emory University, 1992-1996

Phi Beta Kappa, 1996

Grants

Pending
National Science Foundation, Principal Investigator, $341,005 for "Understanding chemosignals in songbirds: from production to reception to consequences for mate choice." Co-PIs: Helena Soini, Milos Novotny, Ellen Ketterson. Pending.

Received
Indiana Academy of Sciences, $3,000 for "Hormonal regulation of chemical signals in songbirds," 2009.

Indiana University Faculty Research Support Program, $74,975 for "MHC-based mate choice in songbirds: mechanisms, hormonal correlates, and population patterns." With PIs Ellen Ketterson, Milos Novotny, and Helena Soini, 2008.

American Philosophical Society Franklin Research Grant, $4,000 for "MHC, odor and mate choice in a passerine bird," 2008.

Indiana Academy of Science, $3,000 for "MHC and mate choice in an isolated songbird population," 2007.

Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, $10,580 for “Using patterns of genetic diversity in Kloss's gibbons to conserve nature and culture in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia,” 2004.

National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (BCS-0335949), $12,000 for “Evolutionary genetics of Kloss’s gibbons,” 2004.

Primate Conservation, Inc., $3,000 for “Conservation biology of Kloss’s gibbons,” 2002.

Primate Conservation Inc., $3,000 for “Conservation genetics of Kloss’s gibbons: pilot study,” 2000.

Conservation International, $3,720 for “Conservation genetics of Kloss’s gibbons in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia,” 2000.

Publications

Peer-reviewed articles

Whittaker, D. J., A. L. Dapper, M. P. Peterson, J. W. Atwell, and E. D. Ketterson. In review. MHC Class II diversity in a recently diverged songbird population: evidence for selection mediated by a novel environment, with notes on the structure of passerine MHC. Immunogenetics.

Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, J. W. Atwell, C. Hollars, M. V. Novotny, and E. D. Ketterson. 2010. Songbird chemosignals: Preen oil volatile compounds vary among individuals, sexes, and populations. Behavioral Ecology 21:608-614. ( DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arq033)

McGlothlin, J. W., D. J. Whittaker, S. E. Schrock, N. M. Gerlach, J. M. Jawor, E. A. Snajdr, and E. D. Ketterson. 2010. Natural selection on testosterone production in a wild songbird population. American Naturalist 175: 687-701. (DOI: 10.1086/652469 )

Whittaker, D. J., D. G. Reichard, A. L. Dapper, and E. D. Ketterson. 2009. Behavioral responses of nesting females to hetero- and conspecific passerine odors. Journal of Avian Biology 40: 579-583. (PDF)

Whittaker, D. J., J. C. Morales, and D. J. Melnick. 2007. Resolution of the Hylobates phylogeny: congruence of mitochondrial D-loop sequences with molecular, behavioral, and morphological datasets. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45: 620-628. (PDF)

Whittaker, D. J. 2006. Conservation action plan for the Mentawai primates. Primate Conservation 20: 95-106. (PDF)

Whittaker, D. J., N. Ting, D. J. Melnick. 2006. Molecular phylogenetic affinities of the simakobu monkey (Simias concolor). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39: 887-892. (PDF)

Whittaker, D. J. 2005. New population estimates for the Kloss’s gibbon (Hylobates klossii). Oryx 39: 458-461. (PDF)

Edited Volume

Lappan, S. and D. J. Whittaker, eds. 2009. The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology. New York: Springer.

Book Chapters

Whittaker, D. J. 2009. Phylogeography of Kloss's gibbon (Hylobates klossii) populations and implications for conservation planning in the Mentawai Islands. In The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology, ed. S. Lappan and D. J. Whittaker. New York: Springer, pp. 73-89. (PDF)

Whittaker, D. J. and S. Lappan. 2009. The diversity of small apes and the importance of population-level studies. In The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology, ed. S. Lappan and D. J. Whittaker. New York: Springer, pp. 3-10. (PDF)

Whittaker, D. J. 2009. Saving the small apes: Conservation assessment of gibbon species at the 2006 Asian Primate Red List Workshop. In The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology, ed. S. Lappan and D. J. Whittaker. New York: Springer, pp. 497-499. (PDF)

Whittaker, D. J. In press. Kloss’s gibbon, Hylobates klossii. In All the World’s Primates, ed. Noel Rowe. Charlestown: Pogonias Press.

Conference Presentations

Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, N. M. Gerlach, A. L. Posto, M. V. Novotny, and E. D. Ketterson. The role of steroid hormones in chemosignal production in songbirds. (Talk presented at the Animal Behavior Society annual meeting, Williamsburg, VA, July 2010.)

Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, J. W. Atwell, A. Miller, A. L. Posto, M. V. Novotny, and E. D. Ketterson. 2010. Songbird chemosignaling: differentiation and detection of volatile compounds by dark-eyed juncos. (Poster presented at Association for Chemoreception Sciences annual meeting, Tampa, FL, April 2010)

Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, J. W. Atwell, M. V. Novotny, and E. D. Ketterson. 2009. Evidence for chemosignaling in songbirds. (Talk presented at American Ornithologists' Union annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 2009)

Soini, H. A., C. A. Hollars, D. J. Whittaker, J. W. Atwell, E. D. Ketterson, and M. V. Novotny. 2009. Investigations of chemical communication in birds: comparisons of preen oil volatile compound compositions in different songbirds by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. (Poster presented at the International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography and Electrophoresis, Portland, OR, May 2009)

Whittaker, D. J., D. Reichard, and E. Ketterson. 2008. Birds smell: behavioral responses of nesting females to avian scents. (Talk presented at Indiana Academy of Science annual meeting, Evansville, IN, October 2008)

Whittaker, D. J., J. W. Atwell, G. Cardoso, T. Price, and E. D. Ketterson. 2008. Flexibility in mate choice for MHC: a comparison of two ecologically distinct populations of Dark-eyed Juncos. (Poster presented at ISBE Congress, Ithaca, NY, August 2008)

Whittaker, D. J., H. Dooley. 2008. Kloss's gibbon biology and conservation. (Talk presented at IPS Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland, August 2008)

Whittaker, D. J., J. W. Atwell, G. Cardoso, T. Price, and E. D. Ketterson. 2007. MHC-based mate choice and inbreeding avoidance in the Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis). (Talk presented at Indiana Academy of Science annual meeting, Indianapolis, IN, October 2007)

Whittaker, D. J., J. W. Atwell, G. Cardoso, T. Price, and E. D. Ketterson. 2007. Do Dark-Eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) choose mates on the basis of MHC genotype? (Talk presented at the Animal Behavior Society meetings, Burlington, VT, July 2007)

Whittaker, D. J. 2007. Evolution of gibbons: resolving the Hylobates phylogeny with multiple datasets. (Talk presented at SICB meetings, Phoenix, AZ, January 2007)

Whittaker, D. J. 2006. A DNA barcode for the gibbons (Family Hylobatidae). (Poster presented at Molecular Primatology: Progress and Promise, New York University, March 2-4 2006)

Whittaker, D. J., J. C. Morales, D. J. Melnick. 2005. Molecular systematics of the lar group of gibbons (Hylobates). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 126(S40): 222. [Abstract] (Talk presented at AAPA meetings, Milwaukee, WI, April 2005)

Ting, N., D. J. Whittaker, D. J. Melnick. 2005. The phylogenetic position of the Simakobu monkey (Simias concolor) based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 126(S40): 206. [Abstract] (Poster presented at AAPA meetings, Milwaukee, WI, April 2005)

Whittaker, D. J., J. C. Morales, D. J. Melnick. 2004. Phylogeographic structure of Kloss's gibbon (Hylobates klossii) populations. Folia Primatologica 75(S1): 113. [Abstract] (Talk presented at IPS Congress, Torino, Italy, August 2004)

Lappan, S., D. J. Whittaker. 2004. Wild gibbons as members of populations: new perspectives on small ape socioecology, phylogeography, and conservation. Folia Primatologica 75(S1): 107. [Abstract] (Symposium organized for IPS Congress, Torino, Italy, August 2004)

Lappan, S., D. J. Whittaker. 2004. Trends in the study of wild gibbon populations: 1940-2004. Folia Primatologica 75(S1): 108. [Abstract] (Talk presented at IPS Congress, Torino, Italy, August 2004)

Whittaker, D. J. 2004. Status of Kloss’s gibbon (Hylobates klossii) populations and habitats. [Abstract] (Poster presented at Society for Conservation Biology meetings, New York, NY, July 2004)

Whittaker, D. J., J. C. Morales, D. J. Melnick. 2003. Conservation biology of Kloss’s gibbons (Hylobates klossii). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 120(S36): 224. [Abstract] (Poster presented at AAPA meetings, Tempe, AZ, April 2003)

Invited Talks

York College, City University of New York, New York, NY. "Chemical communication and evolution in songbirds." 26 April 2010.

University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO. "Chemical communication and evolution in songbirds." 22 March 2010.

Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics Roundtable, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. "The junco transcriptome: a genomic approach to songbird evolution, ecology, and behavior." 11 March 2010.

New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ. "Chemical communication and evolution in songbirds." 1 March 2010.

Indiana University, Kokomo, IN. "Sex, smells, and speciation in songbirds." 24 February 2010.

Mountain Lake Biological Station, Pembroke, VA. “Chemical communication and reproduction in dark-eyed juncos: do birds use pheromones?” 2 July 2009.

Sassafras Audubon Society, Bloomington, IN. "City Junco/Country Junco: Population divergence following a unique colonization event." With Jonathan Atwell. 10 February 2009.

Suffolk University, Boston, MA. "Past, present, and future: Using genetics to understand evolution, behavior, and conservation of species." 29 January 2009.

Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN. "Sex in the city: Inbreeding avoidance, MHC and pheromones in a songbird." 11 November 2008.

Queens College Anthropology Society, Flushing, NY. “Creating a Conservation Action Plan from Primate Data: The Mentawai Islands of Indonesia.” 28 November 2005.

Barnard College, New York, NY. “Male and Female Reproductive Strategies.” 30 September 2005.

MPA course in Conservation Biology, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, New York, NY. “Conservation Biology of Kloss’s Gibbons.”  17 June 2005.

As-Syafi’iyah Islamic University Rafflesia Biology Students Club, Jakarta, Indonesia. “Conservation Biology of Kloss’s Gibbons.” 14 January 2004.

Jakarta International School, Jakarta, Indonesia. “Conservation Biology of Kloss’s Gibbons.” 15 January 2004.

Teaching Experience

Undergraduate courses:
    Citizen Science
    Introduction to Human Evolution
    Introduction to Human Variation
    Contemporary Issues in Biology
    Animal Behavior
    Primate Behavior and Ecology
    Human Genetics

Graduate courses:
    Techniques in Reproductive Diversity (co-instructor)
    Professional Ethics for the Bio-behavioral Sciences (co-instructor)

Professional Service and Development

 
Judge for Women in Science Research Conference, Indiana University, 2010 and 2008.

Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop, Fall 2008

Member of search committee for IU CISAB Core Laboratory Manager, Fall 2007.

Judge for 8th Annual South Central Indiana Regional Science & Engineering Fair, March 2007.

IUCN Red List Assessor at the 2006 Asian Primate Red List Workshop, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
 
Participated in 2005 NSF IGERT Project Meeting as graduate student representative of NYCEP. Presented two posters, “Conservation Biology of Kloss’s Gibbons (Hylobates klossii)” and “Phylogenetic Position of the Simakobu Monkey (Simias concolor).”

"Wild gibbons as members of populations": Symposium organized at the XX Congress of the International Primatological Society, Torino, Italy, August 2004 (With Susan Lappan)

Assisted in organizing and running the Society for Conservation Biology meetings held at Columbia University, July 2004.

Reviewing

Grant reviewer:
    Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation
    Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science
    National Science Foundation

Ad hoc reviewer for journals:
    American Journal of Primatology
    American Naturalist
    Animal Cognition
    Auk
    Biology Letters
    Biotropica
    BMC Evolutionary Biology
    Canadian Journal of Zoology
    Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
    Ethology
    Evolutionary Bioinformatics
    Ibis
    Journal of Avian Biology
    Journal of the Royal Society Interface
    Molecular Ecology Resources
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
    Naturwissenschaften
    Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Languages

English (Native speaker)
Indonesian (Proficient)
Spanish (Conversational)



Last updated: August 26, 2010