EDUCATION
2012-2018
University of Texas at Austin
PhD, Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
Advisor: Dr. Shalene Jha
2005-2006
University of East Anglia, UK
MSc, Applied Ecology and Conservation
Advisor: Dr. Diana Bell
1999-2003
University of Colorado at Boulder
BA, Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology
Advisor: Dr. Andrew Martin
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
2023- present Research Ecologist, United States Forest Service
2018-2023 Post-Doctoral Scholar, University of California, Santa Cruz. Environmental DNA Research, Education, and Outreach
2010-2012 Research Technician, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Texas at Austin, USA.
2008-2010 Research Technician, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, UK.
TEACHING AND MENTORING
2019-2023 Instructor, UCSC, Environmental DNA for Science Investigation and Education (eSIE)
Course: Biodiversity in the Age of Humans
2019-2023 Research Mentor, UCSC, eSIE Undergraduate Internship Program
2012-2018 Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Mentor, Courses: Field Biology, Genetics Lab, Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
SELECT MANUSCRIPTS AND PUBLICATIONS
T. Tsang, [~50 others including K.M. Ballare], L. Ponisio, and T.C. Bonebrake. (Accepted) Land-use change reduces alpha and beta diversity of bees. Global Change Biology.
M. Ulyshen, K.M. Ballare, C.J. Fettig, J.W. Rivers, and J.B. Runyon. (2024) The quality of global forests to pollinating insects varies with stand structure, composition, and age. Current Forestry Reports. 21(34): 135. Invited Submission.
K.M. Ballare, A. Worth, D. Ruiz-Ramos, E. Beraut, C. Fairbairn*, H. Nava*, R.K. Wayne, B. Shapiro, G. Short, and R.S. Meyer. (2024) Environmental DNA reveals invasive crayfish microbial associates and ecosystem-wide biodiversity before and after eradication. Environmental DNA (6), e445
K.M. Ballare and S. Jha. (2020) Genetic structure across urbanizing landscapes reveals resource specialization and philopatry in the eastern carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica. Evolutionary Applications. Invited submission to special issue: Evolution in urban environments. DOI: 10.1111/eva.13078
K.M. Ballare, J. Neff, R. Ruppel, and S. Jha. (2019) Multi-scalar drivers of biodiversity: Local management mediates wild bee community response to regional urbanization. Ecological Applications. 29:e01869.
K.M. Ballare, N. Pope, S. Cusser, A. Castilla, R. Metz, and S. Jha. (2019) Utilizing field collected insects for next-generation sequencing: effects of sampling, storage, and DNA extraction methods. Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5756
SELECT PRESENTATIONS
K.M. Ballare, L. Burkle, J. Runyon (2024). Effects of logging on pollinator diversity, habitat, and plant-pollinator interactions in coniferous forests. Entomological Society of America, Phoenix, AZ
K.M. Ballare, D. Ruiz, R. Henderson, E. Beraut, Y. Xiao, T. Gooderly, R. Wayne, B. Shapiro, & R. Meyer (2021). The case of the missing crayfish: Using environmental DNA for biodiversity monitoring and ecological restoration. UCSC Post-Doc STEAM Symposium, Santa Cruz, CA.
K.M. Ballare and S. Jha (2018). Genetic evidence for complex dispersal patterns across urban landscapes in the Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica). Ecological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.
K.M. Ballare, J. Neff, and S. Jha (2016). Effects of Urban Landscapes on Native Bee Communities. International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, FL.
SELECT HONORS AND FUNDS AWARDED
2024 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Award to improve wildlife habitat and provide for subsistence benefits in areas of young growth, $362,000 Co-PI's J. Runyon, L. Burkle
2020 California Conservation Genomics Project Research Award, $120,000 Co-PI's: B. Shapiro, N. Williams, H. Woodard
2018 Jean Andrews Scientific Outreach Fellowship, $6750
2017 University of Texas Green Fee Grant,
Co-PI’s: S. Jha, D. Briscoe (UT School of Architecture), M.Bright (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center), $25,000.
2017 National Science Foundation, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (DDIG), $20,345.