Danielle J.

Whittaker
Managing Director
BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action
1441 Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
phone: (517) 884-2561
fax: (517) 353-7248
email: djwhitta@msu.edu
web: http://www.burroughs-whittaker.com/danielle

Education
2006-2010: Postdoctoral training in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Indiana University,
Bloomington, IN. Advisor: Ellen Ketterson.
1998-2005: Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology, City University of New York Graduate
Center, New York, NY. Advisor: John F. Oates; Co-advisor: Juan Carlos
Morales, Columbia University.
1992-1996: B.A. in Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.

Professional Appointments
2010-present: Managing Director, BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action,
Michigan State University.
2010-present: Citizen Science Faculty, Bard College.
2010-present: Adjunct Faculty, Department of Biology, Indiana University.
2010: Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Biology, Indiana University.
2006-2010: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biology, Indiana University.
2006: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Barnard
College.
2005-2006: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Lehman College,
City University of New York.
2005-2006: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Queens College,
City University of New York.
2003-2005: Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, Lehman College, City
University of New York.
2000-2005: Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, Hunter College, City
University of New York.

Danielle J. Whittaker CV, 1

Honors and Awards
Graduate Fellow, New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), 1998-
2005.
Robert E. Gilleece Fellowship, City University of New York, 1998-2005.
Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, 2000.
National Merit Scholar, Emory University, 1992-1996.
Phi Beta Kappa, 1996.

Grants
Indiana Academy of Science, November 2009 $3,000
Hormonal regulation of chemical signals in songbirds.
Indiana University Faculty Research Support Program, June 2008 $74,975
MHC-based mate choice in songbirds: mechanisms, hormonal correlates, and population
patterns. Official PIs: Ellen Ketterson, Milos Novotny, and Helena Soini; project developed
and written by Danielle Whittaker. June 2008.
American Philosophical Society Franklin Research Grant, March 2008 $4,000
MHC, odor, and mate choice in a passerine bird.
Indiana Academy of Science, April 2007 $3,000
MHC and mate choice in an isolated songbird population.
Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, May 2004 $10,580
Using patterns of genetic diversity in Kloss's gibbons to conserve nature and culture in the
Mentawai Islands, Indonesia.
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, January 2004 $12,000
Evolutionary genetics of Kloss’s gibbons: Grant BCS-0335949. PI: J. C. Morales.
Primate Conservation, Inc., December 2002 $3,000
Conservation biology of Kloss’s gibbons.
Primate Conservation, Inc., December 2000 $3,000
Conservation genetics of Kloss’s gibbons: pilot study.
Conservation International, November 2000 $3,720
Conservation genetics of Kloss’s gibbons in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia.

Publications
Forthcoming Articles
Whittaker, D. J., K. M. Richmond, A. K. Miller, R. Kiley, C. Bergeon Burns, J. W.
Atwell, and E. D. Ketterson. In prep. Intraspecific chemical communication in
songbirds: preen oil odor preferences in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). Behavioral
Ecology.

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Atwell, J. W., G. C. Cardoso, D. J. Whittaker, T. D. Price, and E. D. Ketterson.
Submitted. Testosterone mediates rapid adaptation to a novel climatic regime in a
passerine bird. Science.
Whittaker, D. J., A. L. Dapper, M. P. Peterson, J. W. Atwell, and E. D. Ketterson. In
review. MHC diversity in a recently diverged songbird population: evidence for selection
mediated by a novel environment, with notes on the structure of passerine MHC.
Genetica.
Atwell, J. W., K. W. Robertson, S. J. Campbell-Nelson, D. J. Whittaker, G. C. Cardoso,
E. D. Ketterson. In revision. Evidence for rapid evolution of exploratory boldness
behaviour following colonisation of a novel urban environment. Animal Behaviour.

Peer-reviewed Articles
Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, J. W. Atwell, C. Hollars, M. V. Novotny, and E. D.
Ketterson. 2010. Songbird chemosignals: Preen oil volatile compounds vary among
individuals, sexes, and populations. Behavioral Ecology 21: 608-614.
McGlothlin, J. W., D. J. Whittaker, S. E. Schrock, N. M. Gerlach, J. M. Jawor, E. A.
Snajdr, E. D. Ketterson. 2010. Natural selection on testosterone production in a wild
songbird population. The American Naturalist 175: 687-701.
Whittaker, D. J., D. G. Reichard, A. L. Dapper, E. D. Ketterson. 2009. Behavioral
responses of nesting female dark-eyed juncos Junco hyemalis to hetero- and conspecific
passerine preen oils. Journal of Avian Biology 40: 579-583.
Whittaker, D. J., J. C. Morales, D. J. Melnick. 2007. Resolution of the Hylobates
phylogeny: Congruence of mitochondrial D-loop sequences with molecular, behavioral,
and morphological datasets. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45(2): 620-628.
Whittaker, D. J. 2006. Conservation action plan for the Mentawai primates. Primate
Conservation 20: 95-106.
Whittaker, D. J., N. Ting, D. J. Melnick. 2006. Molecular phylogenetic affinities of the
simakobu monkey (Simias concolor). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39: 887-892.
Whittaker, D. J. 2005. New population estimates for the endemic Kloss’s gibbon Hylobates
klossii on the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. Oryx 39(4): 458-461.

Edited Volume
Lappan, S. and D. J. Whittaker, eds. 2009. The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape
Socioecology and Population Biology. New York: Springer.

Book Chapters
Whittaker, D. J. 2009. Phylogeography of Kloss’s gibbon (Hylobates klossii) populations and
implications for conservation planning in the Mentawai Islands. In The Gibbons: New

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 Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and Population Biology, ed. S. Lappan and D. J.
Whittaker. New York: Springer, pp. 73-89.
Whittaker, D. J. and S. Lappan. 2009. The diversity of small apes and the importance of
population-level studies. In The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape Socioecology and
Population Biology, ed. S. Lappan and D. J. Whittaker. New York: Springer, pp. 3-10.
Whittaker, D. J. 2009. Saving the small apes: Conservation assessment of gibbon species at
the 2006 Asian Primate Red List Workshop. In The Gibbons: New Perspectives on Small Ape
Socioecology and Population Biology, ed. S. Lappan and D. J. Whittaker. New York:
Springer, pp. 497-499.
Whittaker, D. J. 2011. Kloss’s gibbon, Hylobates klossii. In All the World’s Primates, ed. Noel
Rowe. Charlestown: Pogonias Press.

Selected Conference Presentations

Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, N. M. Gerlach, A. L. Posto, M. V. Novotny, and E. D.
Ketterson. The role of steroid hormones in chemosignal production in songbirds. (Talk
presented at the Animal Behavior Society annual meeting, Williamsburg, VA, July
2010.)
Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, J. W. Atwell, A. Miller, A. L. Posto, M. V. Novotny, and E.
D. Ketterson. 2010. Songbird chemosignaling: differentiation and detection of volatile
compounds by dark-eyed juncos. (Poster presented at the Association for
Chemoreception Sciences annual meeting, St. Petersburg, FL, April 2010)
Whittaker, D. J., H. A. Soini, J. W. Atwell, M. V. Novotny, and E. D. Ketterson. 2009.
Evidence for chemosignaling in songbirds. (Talk presented at American Ornithologists'
Union annual meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 2009)
Soini, H. A., C. A. Hollars, D. J. Whittaker, J. W. Atwell, E. D. Ketterson, and M. V.
Novotny. 2009. Investigations of chemical communication in birds: comparisons of
preen oil volatile compound compositions in different songbirds by gas chromatography
mass spectrometry. (Poster presented at the International Symposium on Capillary
Chromatography and Electrophoresis, Portland, OR, May 2009)
Whittaker, D. J., D. G. Reichard, and E. D. Ketterson. 2008. Birds smell: behavioral
responses of nesting females to avian odors. (Talk presented at Indiana Academy of
Sciences annual meeting, Evansville, IN, October 2008)
Whittaker, D. J., J. W. Atwell, G. Cardoso, T. Price, and E. D. Ketterson. 2008.
Flexibility in mate choice for MHC: a comparison of two ecologically distinct
populations of Dark-eyed Juncos. (Poster presented at International Society for
Behavioral Ecology meeting, Ithaca, NY, August 2008)
Whittaker, D. J. and H. Dooley. 2008. Kloss’s gibbon biology and conservation. (Talk
presented at International Primatological Society Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland,
August 2008)

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Whittaker, D. J., J. W. Atwell, G. Cardoso, T. Price, and E. D. Ketterson. 2007. Do Dark-
eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) choose mates on the basis of MHC genotype? (Talk
presented at Animal Behavior Society annual meeting, Burlington, VT, July 2007)
Whittaker, D. J. 2007. Evolution of gibbons: resolving the Hylobates phylogeny with
multiple datasets. (Talk presented at Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
annual meeting, Phoenix, AZ, January 2007)
Whittaker, D. J. 2006. A DNA barcode for the gibbons (Family Hylobatidae). (Poster
presented at Molecular Primatology: Progress and Promise, New York, NY, March
2006)
Whittaker, D. J., J. C. Morales, D. J. Melnick. 2004. Phylogeographic structure of Kloss's
gibbon (Hylobates klossii) populations. Folia Primatologica 75(S1): 113. [Abstract] (Talk
presented at International Primatological Society Congress, Torino, Italy, August 2004)
Lappan, S., D. J. Whittaker. 2004. Wild gibbons as members of populations: new
perspectives on small ape socioecology, phylogeography, and conservation. Folia
Primatologica 75(S1): 107. [Abstract] (Symposium organized for IPS Congress, Torino,
Italy, August 2004)

Invited Talks
“Chemical communication and evolution in songbirds.” York College, City University of
New York, New York, NY. 26 April 2010.
“Chemical communication and evolution in songbirds.” University of Northern Colorado,
Greeley, CO. 22 March 2010.
“The junco transcriptome: a genomic approach to songbird evolution, ecology, and
behavior.” Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics Roundtable, Indiana University,
Bloomington, IN. 11 March 2010.
“Chemical communication and evolution in songbirds.” New College of Interdisciplinary
Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ. 1 March 2010.
“Sex, Smells, and Speciation in Songbirds.” Indiana University Kokomo, IN. 24 February
2010.
“Chemical communication in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis): Do birds use pheromones?”
Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington,
IN. 30 November 2009.
“Chemical communication and reproduction in dark-eyed juncos: do birds use
pheromones?” Mountain Lake Biological Station, Pembroke, VA. 2 July 2009.
“Past, present, and future: Using genetics to understand evolution, behavior, and
conservation of species.” Suffolk University, Boston, MA. 29 January 2009.
“Sex in the city: Inbreeding avoidance, MHC and pheromones in a songbird.” Indiana State
University, Terre Haute, IN. 11 November 2008.

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“Creating a conservation action plan from primate data: the Mentawai Islands of
Indonesia.” Queens College Anthropology Society, Flushing, NY. 28 November 2005.
“Male and female reproductive strategies.” Barnard College, New York, NY. 30 September
2005.
“Identifying and conserving the genetic diversity of the Kloss’s gibbon while balancing the
nature of the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia with the culture of its people.” The Charles
A. and Anne Lindbergh Foundation, New York, NY. May 2004.
“Conservation biology of Kloss’s gibbons.” As-Syafi’iyah Islamic University Rafflesia
Biology Students Club, Jakarta, Indonesia. 14 January 2004.
“Conservation biology of Kloss’s gibbons.” Jakarta International School, Jakarta,
Indonesia. 15 January 2004.

Press Coverage
Indiana University press release, March 23, 2010: “Could smell play a role in the origin of
new bird species?” Reprinted elsewhere.
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/13820.html
Science Daily, March 24, 2010: “Could smell play a role in the origin of new bird species?”
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100323111555.htm
LiveScience, April 21, 2010: “Songbirds hold secrets of attracting mates.”
http://www.livescience.com/culture/pheromone-songbird-mating-sl-whittaker-
100421.html
Indiana University press release, May 4, 2010. “Natural selection for moderation in
testosterone surprises scientists.” Reprinted elsewhere.
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/14348.html
Science Daily, May 4, 2010. “Natural selection for moderation in testosterone surprises
scientists.” http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100504102126.htm

Science Journalism
Whittaker, D. J. October 29, 2010: “Digital organisms shed light on mystery of altruism.”
http://www.livescience.com/technology/altruism-evolution-computer-science-bts-
101029.html

Teaching Experience
Undergraduate courses taught:
Citizen Science
Introduction to Human Evolution
Introduction to Human Variation
Contemporary Issues in Biology

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 Human Genetics
Animal Behavior
Primate Behavior and Ecology
Graduate courses taught:
Techniques in Reproductive Diversity (co-instructor: taught sections on field methods,
DNA sequencing, and hormone assays)
Professional Ethics for the Bio-behavioral Sciences (co-instructor)

Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Kaitlin Richmond, Hanover College Academic Internship, 2010.
Meelyn Pandit, Indiana University Intensive Freshman Learning Experience (IFLE)
program, 2009.
Allison Miller, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), 2009.
Rebecca Rice, Indiana University Intensive Freshman Learning Experience (IFLE)
program, 2008.
Elizabeth Schultz, Indiana University Science, Technology, and Research Scholars
(STARS) program, 2006-2008.

Professional Service and Development

Participant in “Science: Becoming the Messenger” workshop, National Science Foundation,
November 2010.
Judge for Women in Science Research Conference, Indiana University, 2008 and 2010.
Responsible Conduct of Research workshop, Fall 2008.
Member of search committee for IU CISAB Core Laboratory manager, Fall 2007.
Judge for South Central Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair, March 2007,
Bloomington, Indiana.
IUCN Red List Assessor at the 2006 Asian Primate Red List Workshop, Phnom Penh,
Cambodia.
Represented NYCEP at 2005 NSF IGERT Project Meeting; presented two posters,
“Conservation biology of Kloss’s gibbons (Hylobates klossii)” and “Phylogenetic position
of the simakobu monkey (Simias concolor).”
"Wild gibbons as members of populations": Symposium organized at the XX Congress of
the International Primatological Society, Torino, Italy, August 2004. (With Susan
Lappan)
Assisted with the organization and logistics of the Society for Conservation Biology annual
meeting held at Columbia University, New York, NY, July 2004.

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Reviewing
Ad hoc reviewer for journals:
American Journal of Primatology
American Naturalist
Animal Cognition
Auk
Biology Letters
Biotropica
BMC Evolutionary Biology
Canadian Journal of Zoology
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
Ethology
Evolutionary Bioinformatics
Ibis
Journal of Avian Biology
Journal of the Royal Society Interface
Molecular Biology and Evolution
Molecular Ecology Resources
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Naturwissenschaften
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Reviewer for grants:
Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science
Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation
National Science Foundation

Membership in Professional Organizations

American Ornithologists' Union
Animal Behavior Society
Indiana Academy of Science
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

Languages
English (Native speaker)
Indonesian (Proficient)
Spanish (Conversational)

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