Nicole Marie Gerardo

Professional Preparation

Rice University             Ecology and Evolutionary Biology             B.A., 1997, cum laude

University of Texas       Integrative Biology                                   1999 to present

Professional Appointments

University of Texas

  • Research Assistant: for Ulrich Mueller (Fall 2001-Summer2002, Fall 2003)

  • Teaching Assistant: Biostatistics (Spring 2001), Biology for Business and Engineering (Fall 2000), Genetics (Spring 2000), Evolution (Fall 1999), Man and Environment (Spring 1999)

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    Thomas Watson Fellowship

  • Field Biologist, El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna, Belize (January 1998 to May 1998),

  • Field Assistant for Phil DeVries, La Selva Biological Station, Ecuador (August 1997 to January 1998)

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    Rice University

  • Field Research Assistant: for Ronald Sass (Summer 1997, Summer 1996)

  • Teaching Assistant: Animal Behavior (Fall 1995)

  • Lab and Field Research Assistant: for Joan Strassmann (Summer 1995)

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    Significant awards and financial support

  • National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant. 2003-2005.

  • University of Texas Continuing Fellowship. 2003-2004.

  • Graduate Student Summer Support. 2003.

  • Zoology Research Fellowship. 2003

  • CAPES-UT Research Grant (Co-PI). 2003-2006.

  • University of Texas Continuing Fellowship. 2002-2003.

  • Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research. 2002.

  • Zoology Research Fellowship. 2002

  • National Leadership Grant. Sons of Italy Foundation. 2001.

  • Dorothea Bennett Memorial Graduate Fellowship. 2001.

  • Departmental of Zoology Summer Research Fellowship. 2000.

  • Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research. 2000.

  • Outstanding Achievement in Teaching. Graduate Student Association. 2000.

  • College of Natural Science’s Deans Award. 1999 – 2000.

  • Departmental of Zoology Summer Research Fellowship. 1999.

  • Tinker Foundation Field Research Grant. 1999.

  • Watson Fellowship. Research & Conservation of Tropical Lepidoptera. 1997.

  • Keck Foundation for Computational Biology Fellowship. Summer 1995.

    • Publications

    Mueller, U.G. & N.M. Gerardo. 2002. Fungus-farming insects: multiple origins and diverse evolutionary histories, Commentary. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 99:15247-15249.

    Greeney, H.F. & N.M. Gerardo. 2001. Descriptions of the immature stages and oviposition behavior of Pyrrhogyra otolais (Nymphalidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 54(3): 88-90.

    Ford, A.F. & N.M. Gerardo. 2001. The Tzunu’un Forest-Garden Trail Guide. BRASS/El Pilar Program.

    Publications in Preparation

    Gerardo, N.M., C. Currie, S. Price and U.G. Mueller. Cultivar specific parasites in ancient ant agriculture. To be submitted December 2003.

    Mueller, U.G., T. Schultz, N.M. Gerardo and D. Aanen. The evolution of agriculture in invertebrates. Review invited for Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 2005.

    Gerardo, N.M. and C. Currie. Parasite recognition of host signals in the presence of broad patterns of host inhibition in the attine ant-microbe symbiosis.

    Presentations at Scientific Meetings

    Mueller, U.G., C. Currie, T. Schultz and N.M. Gerardo. 2003. “Molecular Ecology in the Attine Ant-Fungus Symbiosis.” Entomological Society of America,Cincinnati, October 2003.

    Gerardo, N.M. “Disease Ecology of Escovopsis, a Co-Evolved Pathogen of Fungus-Growing Ant Symbioses.” Ecological Society of America, Tucson, August 2002.

    Gerardo, N.M. “Disease Ecology of Escovopsis, a Co-Evolved Pathogen of Fungus-Growing Ant Symbioses.” Society for the Study of Evolution, Champagne, August 2002.

    Ford, A.F. and N.M. Gerardo. “Lessons from the Past: Ancient Maya Forest Garden and the Contemporary Maya Forest.” Society for American Archaeologists, Chicago, March 1999.

    Ford, A.F. and N.M. Gerardo. “Lessons from the Past: Ancient Maya Forest Garden and the Contemporary Maya Forest.” American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia, November 1998.

    Synergistic Activities

    Outreach

  • Mathematics and Science Tutor. Communities in Schools Program. Spring 2000.

  • Presenter. Decker Elementary School Science Day. June 2000.

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    Teaching Website Development

  • Evolution, Genetics and Statistics (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Social Behavior in Polistine Wasps (Rice University)

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    ngerardo@mail.utexas.edu                  UT AUSTIN