CONTACT INFORMATION Email: jbutl48@lsu.edu twitter: @jmbutler18
EDUCATION
Current Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University; NSF GRFP 2013 B.S. Biology, Texas A&M University; Magna Cum Laude; Honors Fellows; Research Scholars 2013 B.S. Forensic and Investigative Sciences, Texas A&M University; Magna Cum Laude; Honors Fellows; Research Scholars
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Behavioral neurobiology and sensory biology (Fall 2013 – Present) Advisor: Dr. Karen Maruska, Louisiana State University Project: The impact of human made noises on fish behavior, physiology, and acoustic communication Techniques: immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, fluorescent microscopy, quantitative RT PCR behavioral observations, cell quantification, fish neuroanatomy, basic programing, multivariate statistical analyses Undergraduate Comparative endocrinology (Fall 2011 – Spring 2013) Advisor: Dr. Duncan MacKenzie, Texas A&M University Project: Sodium-iodide symporter expression in red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) tissues Techniques: PCR, RT-PCR, RNA extraction, genomic DNA extraction, Nanodrop, creation of own fish food, hormone supplementation and IP injections, radioimmunoassay, behavioral observations, primer design
Behavioral endocrinology (Summer 2012) Advisor: Dr. Sunny Scobell, Texas A&M University Project: Hormonal control of male pregnancy in gulf pipefish Techniques: field sampling, hormone extractions, behavioral observations
Butler, J.M., Whitlow, S.M., Roberts, D.A., and K.P. Maruska.2018. Neural and behavioural correlates of repeated social defeat. Scientific Reports 8:6818.
Maruska, K.P., J.M. Butler, and K.E. Field. 2018. Alternative Reproductive Phenotypes within Species. In: Encyclopedia of Reproduction, 2nd edition, Volume 6: Comparative Reproduction (Skinner, M.K., Swanson, P., section eds). Elsevier.
Webb, J., K.P. Maruska,J.M Butler, and M. Schwalbe. 2018. The mechanosensory lateral line system of cichlid fishes: anatomy to behavior. In: The Behavior, Ecology and Evolution of Cichlid Fishes: A Contemporary Modern Synthesis. (Abate, ME, Noakes, DLG, eds). Springer Academic.
Butler, J.M., S.M. Whitlow, A.P. Gwan, P. Chakrabarty, and K.P. Maruska. 2017. Swim bladder morphology changes with female reproductive state in the mouth brooding African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni.J Exp Biol. 220: 4463-4470. (highlighted in "Inside JEB" section).
Nikonov, A.N., J.M. Butler, K.E. Field, J. Caprio, and K.P. Maruska. 2017. Reproductive and metabolic state differences in olfactory responses to amino acids in a mouth brooding African cichlid fish. J Exp Biol. 220, 2980-2992.
Maruska, K.P., J.M. Butler, K.E. Field and D.T. Porter. 2017. Localization of GABAergic, Glutamatergic, and Cholingergic Neurons in the Brain of the African Cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni. J Comp Neurol. 525: 610-638.
Butler, J.M. and K.P. Maruska. 2016. Mechanosensory signaling as a potential mode of communication during social interactions in fishes. Invited Commentary, J Exp Biol. 219: 2781-2789.
Butler, J.M., K.E. Field, andK.P. Maruska. 2016. Cobalt chloride treatment used to ablate the lateral line system also impairs the olfactory system in three freshwater fishes. Plos One. 11(7):e0159521.
Butler, J.M. andK.P. Maruska.2016. The mechanosensory lateral line system activates socially-relevant brain regions during territorial interactions. Front Behav Neurosci. 10:93.
Butler, J.M. andK.P. Maruska.2015. The mechanosensory lateral line is used to assess opponents and mediate aggressive behaviors during territorial interactions in an African cichlid fish. J Exp Biol. 218: 3284-3294. (featured as "Editor's Choice" article and highlighted in "inside JEB" section).
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Butler, J.M., S.M. Whitlow, and K.P. Maruska. Endocrine modulation via sex steroid receptor expression in the eye varies with female ovulation status in the social African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting. San Francisco, CA. January 2018 as part of DNNSB Best Student Presentation (honorable mention).
Butler, J.M. and K.P. Maruska. Expression of tachykinin3 in socially-relevant brain regions is regulated by social status in the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting. New Orleans, LA. January 2017.
Butler, J.M. and K.P. Maruska. Mechanosensory signaling is used as a form of communication during aggressive social encounters. International Congress on the Biology of Fishes. San Marcos, TX. June 2016.
Butler, J.M. and K.P. Maruska. The mechanosensory lateral line system activates socially-relevant brain regions during territorial interactions in an African cichlid fish. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting. Portland, OR. January 2016 as part of DNB best student presentation session.
Butler, J.M.Sodium-Iodide Symporter Expression Studies in Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) Tissues. Texas A&M University Student Research Week. College Station, TX. March 2013. Awarded 2nd place.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Butler, J.M., S.M. Whitlow, and K.P. Maruska. Exposure to anthropogenic noise during mouth brooding impacts maternal care behaviors and juvenile development in an African cichlid fish. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting. San Francisco, CA. January 2018.
Butler, J.M. and K.P. Maruska. Social Status and behavioral context regulate expression and activation of tachykinin3a cells in the brain of a social African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology annual meeting. Long Beach, CA. June 2017.
Butler, J.M. and K.P. Maruska. Underwater anthropogenic noise impacts aggressive interactions in a territorial African cichlid fish. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting. New Orleans, LA. January 2017.
Shannon, M.C., Butler, J.M., Roberts, D.A., and K.P. Maruska. Coping strategies change over time during repeated social defeat in an African cichlid fish. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting. New Orleans, LA. January 2017. (*first author=undergraduate student).
Butler, J.M., A.P. Gwan, P. Chakrabarty, and K.P. Maruska. Swim bladder morphology changes with reproductive state and social status in the mouthbrooding African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpatologists annual meeting. New Orleans, LA. July 2016.
Butler, J.M. and K.P. Maruska. Role of the mechanosensory lateral line during aggressive interactions in an African cichlid fish. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting. West Palm Beach, FL. January 2015.
HIGHLIGHTED RESEARCH
"Fighting cichlids size up opposition with lateral line" by Kathryn Knight for Inside JEB(pdf) "Biologists study cichlid's use of their lateral line system in social interactions" by LSU College of Science (link) "A little fish in a big noisy world - Julie Butler tells a winning research story" by LSU College of Science (link) "Divided swim bladder maintains brooding cichlid mum’s balance" by Kathryn Knight for Inside JEB (pdf)
RESEARCH GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2017 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Grant in aid of Research ($1000) 2016 Animal Behavior Society, Student Research Grant ($1000) 2014 Raney Fund Award, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists ($908) 2014 Sigma Xi Grant in aid of Research ($700) 2014 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship ($34,000/year for 3 years + tuition) 2013 LSU Board of Regents Fellowship ($30,000/year for 4 years + tuition)
HONORS AND AWARDS
2018 Best Poster Presentation at LSU BioGrads Symposium 2018 Esprit de Femme Student Leadership Award ($500) 2018 LSU BioGrads Travel Award ($400) 2017 Top 3 in LA Sea Grant's Coastal Connections Competition ($500) 2017 LSU BioGrads Travel Award ($400) 2017 Graduate Student Travel Award, Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology ($500) 2017 Best Poster Presentation at LSU BioGrads Symposium 2017 Finalist in Southern regional 3-minute Thesis Competition (top 8 of 48 competitors, $150) 2017 LSU BioGrads Travel Award ($400) 2016 1st place at LSU's 3-minute Thesis Competition ($1000) 2016 Best Poster Presentation at Isiah Warner Symposium at LSU ($400) 2016 LSU BioGrads Travel Award ($400) 2014 LSU BioGrads Travel Award ($300) 2013 Graduated TAMU with Undergraduate Research Scholars distinction 2013 Graduated TAMU with Honors Fellows distinction 2013 Outstanding Undergraduate Biology Student, Texas A&M University 2013 Gates-Muller Outstanding Student Award finalist, Texas A&M University, 2012-13 Senior Honor Merit, Texas A&M University 2009-13 Various academic and leadership scholarships (totaling > $30,000)
OTHER TRAININGS
Neural Systems & Behavior course at the MBL (2015)
TEACHING AND MENTORING EXPERIENCE
2014-Cur Mentor to 8 undergraduates completing independent research projects 2014-Cur Mentor to 2 HHMI undergraduates completing independent research projects 2013-Cur Mentor to 2 undergraduates completing Honor's Theses Fall 2013 Teaching Assistant, Louisiana State University, Vertebrate Physiology Lab 2010-13 Resident Advisor, Texas A&M University 2010-13 Residence Hall Staff Council, Texas A&M University 2010-13 National Residence Hall Honorary, Texas A&M University
OUTREACH
TEDxLSU - Louisiana State University in 2018 - Spoke about fish communication and the impact of anthropogenic noise on fish at the TEDxLSU event Burt's Blog - creator, author, and cartoonist of the blog - Online public blog about fish biology and research in the Maruska lab STEAM Night - Westdale Heights Academic Magnet Elementary School. Jan. 2016, 2017. - Demonstration on the electrical properties of the nervous system Geaux Science Welcome Session - LSU College of Science. Aug. 2015 - Interacted with undergraduate students and encouraged involvement in research Science Techno Night - Various elementary schools in Brazos County, Texas. Fall 2009, 2010, 2013. - Booth explaining the scientific process and hands-on experience with problem solving
ACADEMIC SERVICE
2016-Cur Women in Science @ LSU President, Louisiana State University 2017-Cur BioGrads President, Louisiana State University 2015-17 Mentor & reviewer for LSU's NSF GRFP workshops 2016-17 BioGrads Webmaster, Louisiana State University 2014-15 BioGrads Secretary, Louisiana State University 2014-15 Graduate Student Recruitment Committee 2015 LSU Scholars Weekend, Microscopy Center tour & volunteer
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Animal Behavior Society Sigma Xi Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Society for Neuroscience
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