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| Abigail J. Knee
Cirriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Biological Oceanography
Ph.D. expected 2007
Current GPA (5.0 scale): 4.2
B.S. Marine Biology summa cum laude May 2002
Honors Program, German Minor, Deans List
Major/Overall GPA (4.0 scale): 3.65 / 3.83
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
SSI Open-Water SCUBA License August 1999
Atlantic Aquasport, Rye, NH
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
With undergraduate training in organismal biology and ecology, I have centered my graduate education around the application of molecular techniques to traditional ecology, evolution and systematics. My pursuit of a Ph.D. in biological oceanography incorporates the multidisciplinary facets of chemical and physical processes governing the survival and perpetuation of life at even the farthest reaches of the oceans. More specifically my short-term interests include deep-sea hydrothermal vent invertebrate speciation patterns and processes, especially the contributions of larvae to transport and community establishment, and biogeographic patterns of populations among vent sites. I am particularly motivated to study the mechanisms by which vent organisms maintain their populations and colonize new sites to perpetuate a species. My research embraces technical skills such as DNA extraction and purification, PCR amplification, cloning, electrophoretic gel shift imaging, gene sequencing, computer and manual alignment, and soon-to-be-incorporated: fluorescent in situ hybridization, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), and probe design.
RECENT PURSUITS:
- Currently working to design species-specific molecular probes targeting 9?N hydrothermal vent invertebrates, through the use of diagnostic restriction enzyme digests.
- In progress characterization of the specificity of the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata–bacterial epibiont association among hydrothermal vent sites in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Preliminary results presented on a poster at Ridge 2000 Mid-Atlantic Ridge Workshop, Feb. 29-Mar. 2, 2004.
- Oversaw summer research activity of guest students.
- Added vestimentiferan sequence data to annelid molecular phylogeny.
RECENT CRUISES/FIELD EXPERIENCE:
R/V Atlantis, 9N East Pacific Rise – 6 April – 30 April 2004
Pirates II hydrothermal vent cruise, Chief Sci. R. Lutz, G. Luther, T. Shank, C. Vetriani.
Ridge2000 Integrated Study Site – chemical, physical, macro- and microbiological characterization of a vent ecosystem.
R/V Point Sur, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, CA – 28 March – 4 April 2003 WormNet collecting cruise with K. Halanych.
Collection via dredging, interfacial sled trawl, box core
Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, WA – August 2002.
WormNet collection field work with K. Halanych.
Local inter- and sub-tidal collecting with a few day-boat trips to trawl & dredge.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
RIDGE 2000 (joined, 2004)
HONORS, AWARDS, & ACTIVITIES
NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship (Fall 2004-2005)
Vocalist, Schola Cantorum of Falmouth (Winter 2004-present)
Volunteer, WHSTEP Lawrence Science Project (Winter '04)
Member, St. Paul’s Small Church Community (Fall 2003)
Vocalist, Woods Hole Cantata Consort (Summer 2003, 2004)
Judge, Massachusetts Middle School State Science Fair '03
Member, Tech Catholic Community at MIT (Fall 2002-2003)
WHOI Graduate Research Fellow (Fall 2002-present)
SEASPACE Scholarship (Summer 2002-Spring 2003)
President's Award in Marine Biology, URI Commencement (Spring 2002)
Best Undergraduate Poster, Estuarine Research Federation Conference (Fall 2001)
Undergraduate Participation Support at ERF Conference (Fall 2001)
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Research Training Program (Summer 2001)
Harold A. Riemenschneider Award, in recognition of research accomplishments in biological sciences, RI (Spring 2001)
Barbara Allen Woods Award, German Excellence and Achievement Award (Spring 2001)
Member, Phi Beta Kappa, Honor Society (Spring 2001)
University of Rhode Island Undergraduate Coastal Fellowship Program Biological Sciences, Aquatics & Fisheries (Summer-Fall 2000)
Reading Buddy, Kingston Free Public Library (Summer 2000)
Member, Golden Key, Honour Society (Spring 2000)
Editor, The Great Swamp Gazette Literary Magazine (Summer 1999-Spring 2000)
Liturgy Peer Minister, Newman Club (Summer 1999-Spring 2001)
Member, International Society of Collegiate Scholars (Spring 1999)
Member, Phi Eta Sigma, Freshman Honor Society (Spring 1999)
Notetaker, Office of Student Life and Disability Services Spring (1999-2002)
Member, Newman Club (Fall 1998-Spring 2002)
University of Rhode Island Full Centennial Scholarship Fall (1998-Spring 2002)
Participant, URI First Year Student Leadership Institute (Summer 1998)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
- Knee, A.J., Z.P. McKiness, C.M. Cavanaugh, and T.M. Shank.
“Hydrothermal Vent-Endemic Shrimp Episymbiont Diversity and Distribution on the Mid-Atlantic and Central Indian
Ridges.” 2004. Poster session, Ridge 2000 Mid-Atlantic Ridge Workshop, Providence,
RI.
- Knee, A.J. “Lobster Larval Transport: Are Stable Carbon Isotopes Useful Indicators of Larval
Source?” 2001. Poster session, Estuarine Research Federation Conference, St. Petersburg,
FL.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
Researcher, Senior Honors Project, Biological Sciences, Dr. J. Stanley Cobb 2001
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
- prepared the description of two new scale worm (Family Polynoidae) species for publication with illustrations
- researched phylogenetic systematics and species concepts to develop a better understanding of cladistic practices.
RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 2001
Washington, DC
- conducted a cladistic analysis of the polychaete genus Halosydna under Dr. Kristian Fauchald
- reviewed relevant literature
- practiced morphological polychaete systematics, character scoring, analysis, cladogram interpretation
- developed and presented poster and research paper
- developed budget and project proposals
COASTAL FELLOW
Biological Sciences, Dr. M. Clancy 2000
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
- conducted research on carbon isotopes of lobster larvae with aid of EPA chemist Mark Cantwell
- presented research in Coastal Fellowship poster session
- authored research paper titled “Lobster Larval Transport: Are Stable Carbon Isotopes Useful Indicators of Larval Source?”
COASTAL FELLOW
Aquatics and Fisheries, Dr. D. Bengston 2000
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
- set up and conditioned summer flounder in current tanks to prepare the fish for net-pen aquaculture in Narragansett Bay
CLASS MENTOR
Biological Sciences, Dr. Graham Forrester 2000 University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
- upperclassman mentor to freshman marine biology majors
COURSE RESEARCH
Biological Sciences, Dr. Elijah Swift 2000 University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
- surveyed four Rhode Island salt marshes in order to map transects of flora speciation patterns
- presented work in formal research paper and oral PowerPoint presentation
FIELD COURSE
Biological Sciences, Dr. Robert Bullock 2000
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
- collected, identified to genus and species, and video recorded 118 live marine invertebrates
LAB STAFF
Biological Sciences, Dr. Michael Clancy and Dr. J. Stanley Cobb 1999-2000 University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
- volunteer identifying and counting marine fish and invertebrates
- field and lab paid work surveying Rhode Island salt marshes for their benthic invertebrate populations
PROJECT SMART
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH Summer 1996
Math, Freshwater, and Marine Science Program for High School Sophomores and Juniors
- course and field work in limnology and marine science
- collected, analyzed, and presented crayfish & Great Bay research
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