The Kelley Lab

Kerry was awarded the Richard R. and Constance M. Albrecht Scholarship through the WSU Graduate School for the 2021-22 academic school year. Congratulations, Kerry!

Alexandra Fraik recently won the National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology that focuses on the investigation of the rules of life governing interactions between genomes, environment and phenotypes. Her fellowship research will be conducted at University of Idaho with Dr. Paul Hohenlohe investigating the replicability of hybrid genome evolution between naturally and anthropogenically hybridizing trout species. Her project will be highly collaborative, continuing her work with the NOAA NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center with Dr. Krista Nichols and Dr. Marty Kardos and with Dr. Carl Ostberg at USGS. Congratulations, Alex!

On April 19th, Alex successfully defended her dissertation entitled “How does genomic variation underlying locally adapted populations shift following a rapid environmental change?”. Congratulations, Dr. Fraik! Alex is hoping to continue working on Steelhead genetics in a postdoctoral position.

On April 12th, Michael successfully defended his dissertation entitled “Investigating population genetics and seasonal variation of transcription in brown bears (Ursus arctos).” Congratulations, Dr. Saxton! We will miss your positive presence in the lab, and we wish you the best in Alaska!

Congratulations to Alex for receiving this award from WSU’s College of Arts and Sciences!

Congratulations to Joanna for receiving this award from WSU’s College of Arts and Sciences!

Alex Fraik’s new research, recently published in in the journal Genes, has been highlighted by Wild Steelheaders United’s Science Friday. Alex’s work reveals changes in the genetic structure of steelhead and rainbow trout that inhabit the Elwah River in WA when the Elwah and Glines Canyon Dams were present on the river, as well as following their removal in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Her research also shows that man-made barriers to fish migration, like dams, and natural barriers, like waterfalls, have different effects on genetic variation in these fish. Read the full Science Friday article here.

PC: John McMillan/TU

Shawn Trojahn and Alexia Gee finished their Masters Degrees this fall! Congratulations Shawn and Alexia!

Anna McDonald, an undergraduate researcher in the Kelley lab, received an an Undergraduate Research Fellowship for the 2020-2021 academic year. Congratulations, Anna!

Kara Ryan, a first-year Ph.D. student in the Kelley lab, was awarded the Golding Family Graduate Fellowship from WSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. Congratulations, Kara!