Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2005

Carnaval, Ana Q, Albany CA

Investigators

Abstract

This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2005. The goal of the fellowship is to increase the participation of minority scientists at the postdoctoral level and to prepare them for positions of scientific leadership in US science. To attain this goal, the fellowship provides opportunities for postdoctoral training and research of the highest quality to recent doctoral recipients. It is expected that Fellows supported through these fellowships will play important roles in training of the future workforce. The research and training plan is entitled "Paleoclimate modeling and amphibian phylogeography in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest." By combining climate modeling, DNA, morphological, and call analyses, the research uses frogs to understand diversity and to inform conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Techniques include paleoclimate modeling, phylogeography, and phylogenetics to study how Quaternary climate changes affected Hyla albomarginata, H. faber, H. semilineata and Leptodactylus spixi. The Fellow's training goal is to learn new skills and work collaboratively with researchers in South America, thus furthering her professional expertise for a future career in academia.