| shailee_shah_cv_2022.10.04.pdf |
Positions
2022
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Biology, University of Rochester
Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Chen
Education
2016-2022
Columbia University, New York, NY
Ph.D., in the Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Dean’s Fellowship (5 years)
Research Advisor: Dr. Dustin Rubenstein
2010-2014
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
B.A. in Biological Sciences and minor in English Literature, College of Arts & Sciences
Cum laude, Dean’s List, Tata Scholarship
Awards and Grants
2022
Warder Clyde Allee Award for Best Student Paper, Winner, Animal Behavior Society, for ABS conference in San Jose, Costa Rica
W. D. Hamilton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation, Finalist, Society for the Study of Evolution, for Evolution conference in Cleveland, OH
2021
Student Presentation Award, Honorable Mention, North American Ornithological Conference (Online)
2019
Grant-in-Aid of Research ($1000), Sigma Xi Society
Travel Award ($500), Animal Behavior Society, for ABS Annual Conference in Chicago, IL
Van Tyne Research Award ($2500), American Ornithological Society
Chapman Grant ($3000), American Museum of Natural History
Educational Outreach Grant ($895), Animal Behavior Society (with S. Siller)
Small Grant for Outreach ($500), Society for the Study of Evolution (with S. Siller)
Travel Award ($680), American Ornithological Society, for AOS Annual Meeting in Anchorage, AK
2017
Travel Award ($400), American Ornithological Society, for AOS-SCO 2017 Annual Meeting in East Lansing, MI
Preliminary Research Grant ($3,000), Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Columbia University
2013
Savoca and Orrock Research Grant ($1,000), Cornell Lab of Ornithology, research and filming in Darwin, Australia
Redheads Fund, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, fieldwork at Shoals Marine Lab (2012 and 2013)
2012
Rupert-Foote Fund ($1,000), Cornell Lab of Ornithology, communications internship
Bartels Merit Scholarship Award ($2,500), Shoals Marine Lab
2011
Bartels Scholarship in Honor of Dr. Myra Shulman ($2,500), Shoals Marine Lab
2010
Tata Scholarship (4 years tuition and living expenses), Cornell University and Tata Education and Development Trust
Scientific Publications
In review
Shah, S.S & Rubenstein D.R. Intraspecific variation in the social structure of a cooperative breeder arises due to fine-scale environmental conditions governing directional dispersal. Molecular Ecology.
In revision
Shah, S.S & Rubenstein D.R. Group augmentation underlies the evolution of complex sociality in the face of environmental instability. PNAS.
2022
Shah, S.S & Rubenstein D.R. Prenatal environmental conditions underlie alternative reproductive tactics that drive the formation of a mixed-kin cooperative society. Science Advances, 8(8): eabk2220. Link.
2015
Shah, S.S., MacLean, S.A., Greig, E.I. & Bonter, D.N. Risk-based alarm calling in a non-passerine bird. Animal Behaviour, 106: 129-136. Link.
2014
Bonter, D.N., MacLean, S.A., Shah, S.S., & Moglia, M.C. Storm-induced shifts in optimal nesting sites: a potential effect of climate change. Journal of Ornithology, 1-8. Link.
Presentations at Scientific Meetings
2021
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Evolution of complex social structure in a cooperative breeder. American Ornithological Society meeting (Online). Invited presentation in the symposium Juveniles on the move: Advancing our understanding of dispersal ecology and the mechanisms and outcomes of natal dispersal in birds.
2020
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperatively breeding bird with low kin structure
Presentation at North American Ornithological Congress (Online).
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperatively breeding bird with low kin structure
Presentation at Animal Behavior Society's Annual Conference (Online). Alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperatively breeding bird with low kin structure
2019
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative Male Reproductive Tactics in a Plural Cooperative Breeding Bird.
Poster at Animal Behavior Society's Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative Male Reproductive Tactics in a Plural Cooperative Breeding Bird.
Poster at the annual meeting of American Ornithological Society in Anchorage, AK.
2017
Shah, S.S., Greig, E.I., & Webster, M.S. Form follows function: the effect of function on signal evolution in the genus Malurus.
Poster at the annual meeting of American Ornithological Society and Society of Canadian Ornithologists at Michigan State University, MI.
2014
Shah, S.S., Greig, E.I., MacLean, S.A., & Bonter, D.N. Risk-based alarm calling in a non-passerine.
Presentation at the annual meeting of American Ornithologists Union, Cooper Ornithological Society, and Society of Canadian Ornithologists in Estes Park, CO
2013
Shah, S.S., Greig, E.I., MacLean, S.A., & Bonter, D.N. Herring gulls encode urgency in their alarm calls.
Poster at Wilson Ornithological Society's annual meeting at College of William & Mary, VA
Invited Talks and Guest Lectures
2022
Guest lecturer. “Animal Behavior and the Endocrine System” course. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. Columbia University, NY.
Guest lecturer. “Contemporary Perspectives on Careers in Animal Science” course. Department of Animal Science. Cornell University, NY.
2021
Seminar speaker. Department of Biology, University of Rochester, NY.
2020
Guest lecturer. “Global Avian Diversity” course. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, NY.
2019
Panelist. Frontiers in Ornithology – A Symposium for Youth. Delaware Ornithological Society, DE.
Invited speaker. Ornithology Seminar. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, NY.
2018
Guest lecturer. “Ornithology” course. E3B Department, Columbia University, NY.
2015
Invited speaker. Celebrate Urban Birds workshop. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY.
2014
Guest lecturer. “Field Methods in Bird Banding” course. Cornell University, NY
2013
Invited speaker. Young Birders Event. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY.
Guest lecturer. “Field Ornithology” course. Shoals Marine Lab, ME.
Popular Science Publications and Media
In Prep
“Why cooperate?". Children’s book on cooperation in superb starlings. With Stefanie Siller.
2022
“Why do some birds for mixed-kin groups?” Columbia News.
2021
“Finding my ornithological identity”. Blog post for the British Ornithologists’ Union.
2019
“A Day in the Life of a Field Researcher”. Video on All About Birds featuring my Ph.D. work.
2018
“What’s up? Birds!”. Livestream panel discussion on Mpala Live! and Explore.org. With Dr. David Bonter (moderator), Dr. Shana Caro, Stephanie Wheeler, and Danai Papageorgiou.
2016
"A Noble Vision of Gulls". Article in Living Bird magazine. With Dr. David Bonter.
2014
“Studying Red-backed Fairywrens in Australia”. Video on CornellCast (Cornell University) and All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) featuring the work of seven undergraduate researchers. Filmed and produced by me.
Mentorship Experience
2019-2020
Arden Berlinger. Undergraduate Thesis. Direct Benefits of Helping Behavior in a Cooperatively Breeding Bird, the Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus). E3B Department, Columbia University, NY
2019
Paul Kiplangat. Field Assistant. Mpala Research Centre, Kenya.
Teaching Experience and Training
2020
Workshop Participant. “Connect, Share, Learn: Enhancing the E3B TA Experience”. E3B Department. Columbia University, NY.
Workshop Participant. “Introduction to Research Mentorship (For Graduate Students)”. Centre of Teaching and Learning. Columbia University, NY.
Spring 2019
Teaching Assistant for Biology of African Animals and Ecosystems field course taught by Dr. Dustin Rubenstein at Mpala Resarch Centre, Kenya.
Fall 2018
Teaching Assistant for Ornithology course taught by Dr. Susan Elbin and Dr. Felicity Arengo at Columbia University, NY.
Fall 2017
Teaching Assistant for Environmental Biology I course taught by Dr. Shahid Naeem and Dr. Danielle Tufts at Columbia University, NY.
Feb 2017
Teaching Assistant for Biology of African Animals and Ecosystems field course taught by Dr. Dustin Rubenstein in Kenya.
Spring 2014
Teaching Assistant for Field Methods in Bird Banding course taught by Dr. David Bonter at Cornell University, NY.
Summer 2013
Teaching Assistant for Field Ornithology course taught by Dr. David Bonter at Shoals Marine Lab, ME
Work Experience
2015-2016
Communications Specialist, Bird Cams, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
2015
Field assistant to Sahas Barve and Dr. André Dhondt (Cornell University) in India
2014-2015
Assistant Editor (Bird of Prey), Conservation Media, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY
Summer 2012
Research Intern in Field Science at Shoals Marine Lab, ME
Summer 2011
Research assistant for Dr. Emma Greig at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
Peer Review Contributions
2022
Grant reviewer. Animal Behavior Society.
2016-present
Journal peer reviewer. Animal Behaviour (4), Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2), Evolutionary Applications (1), Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution (1), Ornithological Applications (1), PLOS One (1)
Service and Outreach
2020
Ph.D. student representative. E3B Department, Columbia University, NY.
2019-2020
Mentor. Read Ahead. New York, NY
2018-2020
Leadership Team. 500 Women Scientists (NYC Pod)
2017-present
Committee Member. Diversity and Inclusion Committee, American Ornithological Society
2017-present
Leadership, Student Affairs Committee, American Ornithological Society
Sub-committee chair for the Student-Mentor Lunch, co-organizer for other student activities
2016-present
Workshop Leader, Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs, Laikipia, Kenya
2016
Workshop Leader, Girls' Science Day, Columbia University, New York, NY
2015
Speaker, Celebrate Urban Birds workshop, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
2014
Workshop Leader, Expanding Your Horizons Conference, Cornell University, NY
2013, 2014
Volunteer at Migration Celebration, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
2012
Student Advisor, Office of Undergraduate Biology, Cornell University, NY
2011
Orientation Leader, Cornell University, NY
2022
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Biology, University of Rochester
Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Chen
Education
2016-2022
Columbia University, New York, NY
Ph.D., in the Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Dean’s Fellowship (5 years)
Research Advisor: Dr. Dustin Rubenstein
2010-2014
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
B.A. in Biological Sciences and minor in English Literature, College of Arts & Sciences
Cum laude, Dean’s List, Tata Scholarship
Awards and Grants
2022
Warder Clyde Allee Award for Best Student Paper, Winner, Animal Behavior Society, for ABS conference in San Jose, Costa Rica
W. D. Hamilton Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation, Finalist, Society for the Study of Evolution, for Evolution conference in Cleveland, OH
2021
Student Presentation Award, Honorable Mention, North American Ornithological Conference (Online)
2019
Grant-in-Aid of Research ($1000), Sigma Xi Society
Travel Award ($500), Animal Behavior Society, for ABS Annual Conference in Chicago, IL
Van Tyne Research Award ($2500), American Ornithological Society
Chapman Grant ($3000), American Museum of Natural History
Educational Outreach Grant ($895), Animal Behavior Society (with S. Siller)
Small Grant for Outreach ($500), Society for the Study of Evolution (with S. Siller)
Travel Award ($680), American Ornithological Society, for AOS Annual Meeting in Anchorage, AK
2017
Travel Award ($400), American Ornithological Society, for AOS-SCO 2017 Annual Meeting in East Lansing, MI
Preliminary Research Grant ($3,000), Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Columbia University
2013
Savoca and Orrock Research Grant ($1,000), Cornell Lab of Ornithology, research and filming in Darwin, Australia
Redheads Fund, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, fieldwork at Shoals Marine Lab (2012 and 2013)
2012
Rupert-Foote Fund ($1,000), Cornell Lab of Ornithology, communications internship
Bartels Merit Scholarship Award ($2,500), Shoals Marine Lab
2011
Bartels Scholarship in Honor of Dr. Myra Shulman ($2,500), Shoals Marine Lab
2010
Tata Scholarship (4 years tuition and living expenses), Cornell University and Tata Education and Development Trust
Scientific Publications
In review
Shah, S.S & Rubenstein D.R. Intraspecific variation in the social structure of a cooperative breeder arises due to fine-scale environmental conditions governing directional dispersal. Molecular Ecology.
In revision
Shah, S.S & Rubenstein D.R. Group augmentation underlies the evolution of complex sociality in the face of environmental instability. PNAS.
2022
Shah, S.S & Rubenstein D.R. Prenatal environmental conditions underlie alternative reproductive tactics that drive the formation of a mixed-kin cooperative society. Science Advances, 8(8): eabk2220. Link.
2015
Shah, S.S., MacLean, S.A., Greig, E.I. & Bonter, D.N. Risk-based alarm calling in a non-passerine bird. Animal Behaviour, 106: 129-136. Link.
2014
Bonter, D.N., MacLean, S.A., Shah, S.S., & Moglia, M.C. Storm-induced shifts in optimal nesting sites: a potential effect of climate change. Journal of Ornithology, 1-8. Link.
Presentations at Scientific Meetings
2021
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Evolution of complex social structure in a cooperative breeder. American Ornithological Society meeting (Online). Invited presentation in the symposium Juveniles on the move: Advancing our understanding of dispersal ecology and the mechanisms and outcomes of natal dispersal in birds.
2020
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperatively breeding bird with low kin structure
Presentation at North American Ornithological Congress (Online).
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperatively breeding bird with low kin structure
Presentation at Animal Behavior Society's Annual Conference (Online). Alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperatively breeding bird with low kin structure
2019
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative Male Reproductive Tactics in a Plural Cooperative Breeding Bird.
Poster at Animal Behavior Society's Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
Shah, S.S., Rubenstein, D.R. Alternative Male Reproductive Tactics in a Plural Cooperative Breeding Bird.
Poster at the annual meeting of American Ornithological Society in Anchorage, AK.
2017
Shah, S.S., Greig, E.I., & Webster, M.S. Form follows function: the effect of function on signal evolution in the genus Malurus.
Poster at the annual meeting of American Ornithological Society and Society of Canadian Ornithologists at Michigan State University, MI.
2014
Shah, S.S., Greig, E.I., MacLean, S.A., & Bonter, D.N. Risk-based alarm calling in a non-passerine.
Presentation at the annual meeting of American Ornithologists Union, Cooper Ornithological Society, and Society of Canadian Ornithologists in Estes Park, CO
2013
Shah, S.S., Greig, E.I., MacLean, S.A., & Bonter, D.N. Herring gulls encode urgency in their alarm calls.
Poster at Wilson Ornithological Society's annual meeting at College of William & Mary, VA
Invited Talks and Guest Lectures
2022
Guest lecturer. “Animal Behavior and the Endocrine System” course. Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology. Columbia University, NY.
Guest lecturer. “Contemporary Perspectives on Careers in Animal Science” course. Department of Animal Science. Cornell University, NY.
2021
Seminar speaker. Department of Biology, University of Rochester, NY.
2020
Guest lecturer. “Global Avian Diversity” course. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, NY.
2019
Panelist. Frontiers in Ornithology – A Symposium for Youth. Delaware Ornithological Society, DE.
Invited speaker. Ornithology Seminar. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, NY.
2018
Guest lecturer. “Ornithology” course. E3B Department, Columbia University, NY.
2015
Invited speaker. Celebrate Urban Birds workshop. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY.
2014
Guest lecturer. “Field Methods in Bird Banding” course. Cornell University, NY
2013
Invited speaker. Young Birders Event. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY.
Guest lecturer. “Field Ornithology” course. Shoals Marine Lab, ME.
Popular Science Publications and Media
In Prep
“Why cooperate?". Children’s book on cooperation in superb starlings. With Stefanie Siller.
2022
“Why do some birds for mixed-kin groups?” Columbia News.
2021
“Finding my ornithological identity”. Blog post for the British Ornithologists’ Union.
2019
“A Day in the Life of a Field Researcher”. Video on All About Birds featuring my Ph.D. work.
2018
“What’s up? Birds!”. Livestream panel discussion on Mpala Live! and Explore.org. With Dr. David Bonter (moderator), Dr. Shana Caro, Stephanie Wheeler, and Danai Papageorgiou.
2016
"A Noble Vision of Gulls". Article in Living Bird magazine. With Dr. David Bonter.
2014
“Studying Red-backed Fairywrens in Australia”. Video on CornellCast (Cornell University) and All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) featuring the work of seven undergraduate researchers. Filmed and produced by me.
Mentorship Experience
2019-2020
Arden Berlinger. Undergraduate Thesis. Direct Benefits of Helping Behavior in a Cooperatively Breeding Bird, the Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus). E3B Department, Columbia University, NY
2019
Paul Kiplangat. Field Assistant. Mpala Research Centre, Kenya.
Teaching Experience and Training
2020
Workshop Participant. “Connect, Share, Learn: Enhancing the E3B TA Experience”. E3B Department. Columbia University, NY.
Workshop Participant. “Introduction to Research Mentorship (For Graduate Students)”. Centre of Teaching and Learning. Columbia University, NY.
Spring 2019
Teaching Assistant for Biology of African Animals and Ecosystems field course taught by Dr. Dustin Rubenstein at Mpala Resarch Centre, Kenya.
Fall 2018
Teaching Assistant for Ornithology course taught by Dr. Susan Elbin and Dr. Felicity Arengo at Columbia University, NY.
Fall 2017
Teaching Assistant for Environmental Biology I course taught by Dr. Shahid Naeem and Dr. Danielle Tufts at Columbia University, NY.
Feb 2017
Teaching Assistant for Biology of African Animals and Ecosystems field course taught by Dr. Dustin Rubenstein in Kenya.
Spring 2014
Teaching Assistant for Field Methods in Bird Banding course taught by Dr. David Bonter at Cornell University, NY.
Summer 2013
Teaching Assistant for Field Ornithology course taught by Dr. David Bonter at Shoals Marine Lab, ME
Work Experience
2015-2016
Communications Specialist, Bird Cams, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
2015
Field assistant to Sahas Barve and Dr. André Dhondt (Cornell University) in India
2014-2015
Assistant Editor (Bird of Prey), Conservation Media, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY
Summer 2012
Research Intern in Field Science at Shoals Marine Lab, ME
Summer 2011
Research assistant for Dr. Emma Greig at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
Peer Review Contributions
2022
Grant reviewer. Animal Behavior Society.
2016-present
Journal peer reviewer. Animal Behaviour (4), Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2), Evolutionary Applications (1), Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution (1), Ornithological Applications (1), PLOS One (1)
Service and Outreach
2020
Ph.D. student representative. E3B Department, Columbia University, NY.
2019-2020
Mentor. Read Ahead. New York, NY
2018-2020
Leadership Team. 500 Women Scientists (NYC Pod)
2017-present
Committee Member. Diversity and Inclusion Committee, American Ornithological Society
2017-present
Leadership, Student Affairs Committee, American Ornithological Society
Sub-committee chair for the Student-Mentor Lunch, co-organizer for other student activities
2016-present
Workshop Leader, Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs, Laikipia, Kenya
2016
Workshop Leader, Girls' Science Day, Columbia University, New York, NY
2015
Speaker, Celebrate Urban Birds workshop, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
2014
Workshop Leader, Expanding Your Horizons Conference, Cornell University, NY
2013, 2014
Volunteer at Migration Celebration, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, NY
2012
Student Advisor, Office of Undergraduate Biology, Cornell University, NY
2011
Orientation Leader, Cornell University, NY