Education
2016 - present Columbia University 4.11 GPA
Master of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Master of Arts in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2014 – 2015 Columbia University 3.99 GPA
Post-baccalaureate: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2009 – 2013 Princeton University 3.8 GPA
Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology (High Honors)
Certificates: African Studies, Dance
Master of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Master of Arts in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2014 – 2015 Columbia University 3.99 GPA
Post-baccalaureate: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2009 – 2013 Princeton University 3.8 GPA
Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology (High Honors)
Certificates: African Studies, Dance
Teaching Experience
2019 – present Lead Teaching Fellowship, Columbia University
2019 – present CTL Teaching Development Program, Columbia University
Spring 2019 EEEB3019 Principles of Animal Behavior, Columbia University – Teaching Assistant
Fall 2018 EEEB2001 Environmental Biology I, Columbia University – Teaching Assistant
Spring 2017 EEEB2002 Environmental Biology II, Columbia University – Teaching Assistant, Lab Instructor
2019 – present CTL Teaching Development Program, Columbia University
Spring 2019 EEEB3019 Principles of Animal Behavior, Columbia University – Teaching Assistant
Fall 2018 EEEB2001 Environmental Biology I, Columbia University – Teaching Assistant
Spring 2017 EEEB2002 Environmental Biology II, Columbia University – Teaching Assistant, Lab Instructor
Work Experience
2017 – present Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP), Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, AMNH
Assist in managing, researching, and writing updates for the NCEP module database for conservation learning and teaching resources; contribute to the journal Lessons in Conservation; investigate and curate open access resources
2017 – 2018 Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and their International Ecological Study (S.P.E.C.I.E.S.) – Program Director
Coordinated and collated updates from global projects and teams; created, edited, and managed monthly newsletter Carnivore Connection; hired and managed intern team for social media, fundraising, networking and education; represented and presented for S.P.E.C.I.E.S. at conferences (ex. ZACC, SSCS-NY); managed and updated website through WordPress, including writing & editing entries; connected and maintained relationships with new partners and fundraising collaborators
2015 – 2016 Rubenstein Laboratory, Columbia University – Research Scientist
Using PCR and pyrosequencing, investigated epigenetic mechanisms by which the superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus) adapts to unpredictable environmental conditions; developed genome- and transcriptome-derived microsatellites for SYnalpheus shrimp, a genus with highly duplicated genomes
2014 – 2015 Calisi Laboratory, Barnard College – Research Scientist
Led a behavioral study on the impact of social environment on feral pigeon foraging strategies in an urban environment; developed a scan sampling survey to evaluate feral pigeon densities throughout NYC
2013 – 2014 Mpala Research Centre, Kenya – Princeton in Africa Fellow Outreach Coordinator:
Summer 2012 Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs – Teacher
Designed and implemented lessons plans, experiments and activities at 7 primary schools; assisted in coordinating and organizing Community Conservation Day for over 300 individuals; launched a computer course at Mpala Primary School for 15 students, grades 4-5
Assist in managing, researching, and writing updates for the NCEP module database for conservation learning and teaching resources; contribute to the journal Lessons in Conservation; investigate and curate open access resources
2017 – 2018 Society for the Preservation of Endangered Carnivores and their International Ecological Study (S.P.E.C.I.E.S.) – Program Director
Coordinated and collated updates from global projects and teams; created, edited, and managed monthly newsletter Carnivore Connection; hired and managed intern team for social media, fundraising, networking and education; represented and presented for S.P.E.C.I.E.S. at conferences (ex. ZACC, SSCS-NY); managed and updated website through WordPress, including writing & editing entries; connected and maintained relationships with new partners and fundraising collaborators
2015 – 2016 Rubenstein Laboratory, Columbia University – Research Scientist
Using PCR and pyrosequencing, investigated epigenetic mechanisms by which the superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus) adapts to unpredictable environmental conditions; developed genome- and transcriptome-derived microsatellites for SYnalpheus shrimp, a genus with highly duplicated genomes
2014 – 2015 Calisi Laboratory, Barnard College – Research Scientist
Led a behavioral study on the impact of social environment on feral pigeon foraging strategies in an urban environment; developed a scan sampling survey to evaluate feral pigeon densities throughout NYC
2013 – 2014 Mpala Research Centre, Kenya – Princeton in Africa Fellow Outreach Coordinator:
- Organized “Discovery Day” and other talks to facilitate information sharing between researchers and the local community
- Assisted in production, writing, and photo editing for the Annenberg-funded Mpala Live! Program to connect classrooms around the globe to wildlife and each other
- Coordinated and evaluated after-school conservation and wildlife education programs at 11 rural public Kenyan schools
- Implemented “Mpala Girls Empowerment Project” including lecture series, shadowing opportunities and graduate internships to provide mentorship and conservation education for young women
- Edited and contributed to Mpala Memos newsletter
- Managed the Adopt-an-Elephant Program, composing quarterly updates on elephant behavior
- Maintained relationships with researchers and donors, and compiled donation reports on Salesforce
- Participated in mist-net capture, banding, and bleeding of Von der Decken’s hornbills; and analyzed camera trap data; and conducted weekly analysis of nest behavior
- Completed three wildlife transect surveys across Mpala and Segera ranches
- Assisted in darting and collaring of 6 female lions, and used GIS to map movement
- Volunteered on the African Wild Dog Project, using telemetry to track and monitor behavior
Summer 2012 Northern Kenya Conservation Clubs – Teacher
Designed and implemented lessons plans, experiments and activities at 7 primary schools; assisted in coordinating and organizing Community Conservation Day for over 300 individuals; launched a computer course at Mpala Primary School for 15 students, grades 4-5
Publications
Galante, P.J., K. Hade, S.J. Siller, N. Gazit, and S.K. Macey. 2020. Modeling suitable habitat for a species of conservation concern: an introduction to spatial analysis with QGIS. Lessons in Conservation 10(1):96–119. Available from ncep.amnh.org/linc.
Clark, J.A., S.J. Siller, and S.K. Macey. 2020. Bats in the city? An exploration of acoustic monitoring of bats. Lessons in Conservation 10(1):66–95. Available from ncep.amnh.org/linc.
Siller, S.J., and D.R. Rubenstein. 2019. A tissue comparison of DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (Nr3c1) in European starlings. Integrative and Comparative Biology 15(2): 264-272.
Bravo A, AL Porzecanski, JA Cigliano, S Siller, and E Betley. 2018. Applying critical thinking to an invasive species problem. Lessons in Conservation 8:52–65.
Gaynor KM, JW Solomon, S Siller, L Jessel, JE Duffy, and DR Rubenstein. 2017. Development of genome- and transcriptome-derived microsatellites in related species of snapping shrimps with highly duplicated genomes. Molecular Ecology Resource 6: e160-e173.
Clark, J.A., S.J. Siller, and S.K. Macey. 2020. Bats in the city? An exploration of acoustic monitoring of bats. Lessons in Conservation 10(1):66–95. Available from ncep.amnh.org/linc.
Siller, S.J., and D.R. Rubenstein. 2019. A tissue comparison of DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (Nr3c1) in European starlings. Integrative and Comparative Biology 15(2): 264-272.
Bravo A, AL Porzecanski, JA Cigliano, S Siller, and E Betley. 2018. Applying critical thinking to an invasive species problem. Lessons in Conservation 8:52–65.
Gaynor KM, JW Solomon, S Siller, L Jessel, JE Duffy, and DR Rubenstein. 2017. Development of genome- and transcriptome-derived microsatellites in related species of snapping shrimps with highly duplicated genomes. Molecular Ecology Resource 6: e160-e173.
Presentations and Posters
A tissue comparison of DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (Nr3c1) in European starlings, American Ornithological Society, Anchorage AK, Jun 26-28 2019.
Methylation in the GR Promoter in the Brain and Blood of the European starling, International Ornithological Congress, Vancouver CA, Aug 19-26 2018.
Jaguar Conservation in the Paraguayan Gran Chaco. ZACC, Jacksonville FL. Jan 24, 2018.
Project Neofelis: a New Flagship Species. ZACC, Jacksonville, FL. Jan 24, 2018.
Kuhifadhi Mazingira: Cultivating Conservation Knowledge in Rural Kenyan Schools, Clubs, and Communities. SCCS-NY, American Museum of Natural History, New York NY. Oct. 11-13, 2017.
NYC pretzels versus birdseed: Social environment influences food preference in feral NYC pigeons. Barnard Summer Research Institute, Barnard College, New York NY. Jan. 30, 2015.
Methylation in the GR Promoter in the Brain and Blood of the European starling, International Ornithological Congress, Vancouver CA, Aug 19-26 2018.
Jaguar Conservation in the Paraguayan Gran Chaco. ZACC, Jacksonville FL. Jan 24, 2018.
Project Neofelis: a New Flagship Species. ZACC, Jacksonville, FL. Jan 24, 2018.
Kuhifadhi Mazingira: Cultivating Conservation Knowledge in Rural Kenyan Schools, Clubs, and Communities. SCCS-NY, American Museum of Natural History, New York NY. Oct. 11-13, 2017.
NYC pretzels versus birdseed: Social environment influences food preference in feral NYC pigeons. Barnard Summer Research Institute, Barnard College, New York NY. Jan. 30, 2015.
Grants and Awards
2019 Lead Teaching Fellowship, Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning
2019 Small Grants Program for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of
Evolutionary Biology, Society for the Study of Evolution
2019 ABS Outreach Grant, Animal Behavior Society
2019 Van Tyne Award, American Ornithological Society
2016 Columbia University E3B Pre-Dissertation Research Grant
2016 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, DGE-16-44869
2016 Columbia University Dean’s Fellowship
2019 Small Grants Program for Local and Regional Outreach Promoting the Understanding of
Evolutionary Biology, Society for the Study of Evolution
2019 ABS Outreach Grant, Animal Behavior Society
2019 Van Tyne Award, American Ornithological Society
2016 Columbia University E3B Pre-Dissertation Research Grant
2016 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, DGE-16-44869
2016 Columbia University Dean’s Fellowship
