Valentina J.

Alaasam
University of Nevada, Reno NV
Email: valentina@nevada.unr.edu
http://www.jennyouyang.com/people

EDUCATION

University of Nevada, Reno

Ph.D. Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology
Department of Biology, College of Science
GPA: 4.0
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
B.S. Biology, College of Science 2015, summa cum laude
Minor Green Engineering
GPA: 3.92 (top 6% of class)
GRE: Verbal 166 (96%), Quantitative 162 (83%) Writing 4.5 (80%)

RESEARCH
August 2017 – Present
Graduate Student
Jenny Q. Ouyang Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno, NV
Thesis: Artificial light at night and urbanization: behavioral, physiological, and evolutionary consequences
for avian taxa
2013 – 2015
Undergraduate Student
William A. Hopkins Laboratory, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA
Thesis: Stress physiology and paternal care in eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis):
Investigating testosterone, corticosterone, prolactin, age, body condition, and acute stress response in
brooding and non-brooding males.
2013 – 2014
Research Assistant
Wildlife Ecotoxicology & Physiological Ecology Lab, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA
Project Title: Individual and interactive effects of trace dietary and maternal mercury in freshwater
turtles.
2012 - 2015
Research Assistant
Wildlife Ecotoxicology & Physiological Ecology Lab, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA
Project Title: Maternal effects in wood ducks (Aix sponsa): Effects of incubation temperature and clutch
size on stress hormones, personality, and fitness.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
May 2014 - October 2015
• Project Title: Associations Between Land Use and Occurrence, Demographic Rates and Physiology of the
Hellbender (C. alleganiensis) in Virginia.

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 • Duties: Animal handling, PIT tag implantation, blood draws, preparing blood smears, hematocrit reading,
leukocyte identification, hiking through rough terrain carrying heavy loads (50lbs), snorkeling, canoeing,
construction and installation of artificial hellbender shelters.
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Department of Forest Resources
August 2013 – May 2015
• Project Title: Correlating soil and foliar 15N natural abundance signatures to ecosystem N retention.
• Duties: Identification and partitioning of growth cohorts in pine branches, fine mass balance, managing
data sets.
OTHER SKILLS
• Enzyme-linked Immuno assay (ELISA), corticosterone, melatonin
• Oxy Absorbance and d-ROM (oxidative stress) assay
• Bacteria-killing ability (BKA) blood assay
• Leukocyte Identification (avian, amphibian)
• Cranial Dissection (avian, mouse)
• Wilderness First Aid (up-to-date)
• Mist netting, song bird handling and banding
• Small mammal trapping
• GPS & directional compass navigation
• Hiking, backpacking, camping
• R programming/statistics

TEACHING
Teaching Assistantship: Principles of Biological investigation
University of Nevada, Reno NV; January 2018 – Present
Prepare weekly lectures and instruct introductory biology laboratory for 40 undergraduate students per
semester.
Teaching Assistantship: First Year Experience I: Science and Mathematics
University of Nevada, Reno NV; August-December 2017
Mentored 11 undergraduate leaders who interact in small groups with first-year STEM students. Organized
online quizzes and course materials.
Teaching Assistantship: Biology Help Center:
University of Nevada, Reno NV; August-December 2017
Recruited, coordinated and supervised 16 undergraduate tutors in a wide range of undergraduate biology
courses. Managed resources for the biology help center.
Education Chair, The Wildlife Society at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA May 2014-May 2015
Organized and led education events within the community
Mentor/Tutor, Coalition for Refugee Resettlement
Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA August 2014-May 2015
Taught ESL, basic speaking and literacy skills to relocated adults and children
Tutor, Virginia Tech Student Success Center
Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA August 2012-May 2013
Assisted undergraduate students in introductory chemistry and biology courses.

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 AWARDS
• 2019 ($102,000) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
• 2019 ($2,484) Society for the Study of Evolution, Lewontin Early Award,
• 2019 ($2,000) University of Nevada, Reno GSA Research Grant
• 2019 UNR Biology, Diana Hadley-Lynch Scholarship (declined)
• 2019 ($1000) American Ornithological Society Travel Award
• 2018 ($500) Society for Comparative and Integrative Biology, Broadening Participation Award
• 2018 ($500) Graduate Student Association Travel Grant
• 2018 ($3,706) Nevada Women’s Fund Scholarship
• 2018 ($2,000) Ben and Beatrice Edwards, Biology Department Scholarship, UNR
• 2018 ($1,300) First place, Three-minute Thesis, UNR
• 2017 ($5,000) Graduate Dean’s Merit Scholarship, UNR
• 2015 (Honorable Mention) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
• 2014 ($4,000) Fralin Life Science Institute Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Virginia Tech
• 2014 ($2,228) Leonard and Melva Harris Scholarship
• 2014 ($1,095) Joe and Barbara Cowles Scholarship
• 2012 - 2015 ($5,545) Multicultural Academic Opportunities Scholarship, Virginia Tech
• 2011 ($1,900) William O. Ross Scholarship

SERVICE/MEMBERSHIPS
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (2018-Present)
• American Ornithological Society (2019-present)
• Society for the Study of Evolution (2019-present)
• Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society (2014-Present)
• Coalition for Refugee Resettlement (2014-2015)
• Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society (Fall 2011-May 2015)
• Humane Society Volunteer, Blacksburg, VA (Fall 2013-May 2015)
PUBLICATIONS
Alaasam VJ, Zhang Y, Niu Y, Ferguson B, Pieraut S, Ouyang JQ. In Prep. Dysregulation of circadian gene expression
in central and peripheral clocks in birds exposed to artificial light at night.
Behnke TL, Alaasam VJ, Grant AR, Lindauer AL, Ouyang JQ. In Review. Glucocorticoids and habitat: using meta-
analysis to assess a physiological biomarker for conservation. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
Alaasam VJ, Duncan R, Casagrande S, Davies S, Seymoure B, Sidher A, Shen Y, Zhang Y, Ouyang JQ. 2018. Light at
Night Disrupts Nocturnal Rest and Elevates Glucocorticoids at Cool Color Temperatures. Journal of Experimental
Zoology Part A. 2018:1-8.

PRESENTATIONS
Alaasam VJ, Niu Y, Zhang Y, Ouyang JQ. Not So Cool: Impacts of night light at cool color temperatures on behavior,
physiology, and circadian regulation in zebra finches.
Society for Comparative and Integrative Biology Conference, Tampa FL. January 2019. Oral Presentation
American Ornithological Society Conference, Anchorage AK. June 2019. Oral Presentation
OSA Vision Conference, University of Nevada, Reno. September 2018. Poster Presentation.
Alaasam VJ. “Night light = stress and no rest!” Regional Competition, Southwest Showdown 3-Minute Grand Slam.
University of Arizona, Pheonix, AZ, April 2018. Oral Presentation

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Alaasam VJ, Jachowski CMB, Moore IT, Hopkins WA. Morphology and physiology of brooding and non-brooding
male hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). Undergraduate Research Symposium 2014, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia. July 2014 Poster presentation.
Alaasam VJ, Jachowski CMB, Moore IT, Hopkins WA. Research Proposal: Morphology and physiology of brooding
and non-brooding male hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, Blacksburg, Virginia. March 2014. Oral presentation.

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