EDUCATION
2012-2018
University of Texas at Austin
PhD, Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
Advisor: Dr. Shalene Jha
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2005-2006
University of East Anglia, UK
MSc, Applied Ecology and Conservation
Advisor: Dr. Diana Bell
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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
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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.
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TEACHING AND MENTORING
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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)
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SELECT MANUSCRIPTS AND PUBLICATIONS
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T. Tsang, [~50 others including K.M. Ballare], L. Ponisio, and T.C. Bonebrake. (In review) Land-use change reduces alpha and beta diversity of bees. Global Change Biology.
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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
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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
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INVITED TALKS
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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.
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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.
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K.M. Ballare, J. Neff, and S. Jha (2016). Effects of Urban Landscapes on Native Bee Communities. International Congress of Entomology, Orlando, FL.
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SELECT HONORS AND FUNDS AWARDED
2024 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Award to improve wildlife habitat and provide for subsistence benefits in areas of young growth, $350,000 Co-PI's J. Runyon, L. Burkle
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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
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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.
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2017 National Science Foundation, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (DDIG), $20,345.
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