EDUCATION
Ph.D. Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Aug 2018 – Dec 2023
Dissertation: Impacts of Land Use and Climate Change on Mojave Desert Tortoise Habitat Suitability and Landscape Connectivity
University of Nevada, Reno
Major advisor: Dr. Kenneth E. Nussear
GPA: 4.0
M.Sc. Wildlife Ecology Jan 2013 – Aug 2015
Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
Thesis: Using a Habitat Suitability Model and Molecular Analyses to Aid in the Conservation Management of the Texas Tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri
Postgraduate Diploma Environment and Sustainable Development Jun 2011 – Apr 2012
Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi, India
B.S. Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology Jun 2009 – Apr 2011
Stella Maris College, Chennai, India
GPA: 4.0
WORK EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Research Scholar Jan 2024 - Current
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz
Research Assistant Aug 2018 – Dec 2024
Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno
Instructor of Record - Diversity in STEM Aug– Dec 2020
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, University of Nevada, Reno
Program Faculty Jan 2017 – Jul 2018
Department of Biology, Texas State University
Houston Toad Monitoring Consultant Jan 2015 – Jul 2018
Waterlife LLC
Amphibian Technician May 2016 – Oct 2016
US Geological Survey
Point Reyes Field Station, California
Researcher/Program Faculty Sep 2015 – May 2016
Department of Biology, Texas State University
Research Assistant Jan 2013 – Aug 2015
Department of Biology, Texas State University
Graduate Instructional Assistant – Genetics Jan 2014 – Jul 2015
Department of Biology, Texas State University
Graduate Instructional Assistant – Organismal Biology Jan 2013 – Dec 2013
Department of Biology, Texas State University
PUBLICATIONS
Peer Reviewed
- Borthwick, R., A. de Flamingh, M.H.K. Hesselbarth, A. Parandhaman, J. Holland, H.H. Wagner, and H.E. Abdel Moniem. Alternative Quantifications of Landscape Complementarity to Model Gene Flow in Banded Longhorn Beetles [Typocerus v. velutinus (Olivier)]. Evolutionary and Population Genetics Special Edition. Frontiers in Genetics. 11(307): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2020.00307. *author order is alphabetical.
- Parandhaman, A., S. McCracken, and M.R.J. Forstner. Using a Species Distribution Model to Aid in the Conservation of the State Threatened Texas Tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri. Herpetological Review. In Prep.
- Adcock, Z., Parandhaman, A., Keitt W.W., and M.R.J. Forstner. Eurycea tonkawae (Jollyville Plateau Salamander). Response to Spring Drying. Herpetological Review. 51(4): 808-809
- Parandhaman, A., and M.R.J. Forstner. Terrapene ornata ornata and Terrapene ornata luteola intergrade. Diet. Herpetological Review 49(1): 111 - 112
- Parandhaman, A., I. Mali, and M.R.J. Forstner. 2015. Chelydra serpentina. Geographical Distribution. Herpetological Review. 46(4): 564
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
- “Diet influences survival, growth, and microbiome composition in the Mojave Desert Tortoise” Gut Group, University of Nevada, Reno, Dec 5th 2023
- “Modeling edge vs core adaptive potential for the Mojave Desert Tortoise using integrated landscape genomics and habitat suitability assessments” North American Congress for Conservation Biology, July 17th 2022 (Oral Presentation),+ Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists + Desert Tortoise Council Conference
- “Slow and Steady Wins the Race?”. UNR 3 Minute Thesis, Apr 15th 2021 (Patricia Berninsone People’s Choice Award)
- “Determining Current and Future Drivers of Habitat Suitability for the Mojave Desert Tortoise across its Range in the Mojave Desert”. Virtual Desert Tortoise Council Conference, Feb 11th 2021 (3rd place Winner, Student Awards, Oral Presentation) + International Association for Landscape Ecologists + Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
- “Understanding the Role of the Adaptive Edge for the Mojave Desert Tortoise in a Changing Climate”. 9th World Congress of Herpetology, Dunedin, New Zealand, January 5th 2020, and Desert Tortoise Council Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb 21st 2020 (Poster Presentation).
- “Using Ensemble Modeling Algorithms to Determine Habitat Suitability for the Endangered Houston Toad”. The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society Joint Meeting, Reno, Nevada, September 30th 2019, and Graduate Student Association Poster Session Oct 22nd 2019 (Poster Presentation)
- “Using Genetics to Test the Efficacy of Captive Propagation as a Recovery Strategy for the Endangered Houston Toad, Bufo [=Anaxyrus] houstonensis.” The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society Joint Meeting, Reno, Nevada, Oct1st 2019 (Invited Oral Presentation)
- “Using Existing Genetic and Climate Data to Direct Sampling Efforts for the Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, across the Mojave Desert.” Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Snowbird, UT, July 25th 2019 (Oral Presentation)
- Core Samples, Distribution, and Genetic Diversity - What are the Effects of Sampling Bias on our Understanding of a Widespread Species? Association of Pacific Coast Geographers. Reno, NV, October 2018 & Graduate Student Association Poster Presentation, November 2018 (Poster Presentation)
- Testing the Effectiveness of Captive Propagation as a Management Strategy for the Endangered Houston Toad, Bufo (=Anaxyrus) houstonensis. Joint Meeting of Ichythologists and Herpetologists. Austin, TX, July 16th 2017 (Oral Presentation)
- Modeling Habitat Suitability for the State Threatened Texas Tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri, in the Eastern Region of its Range. 41st Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. Sam’s Town Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb 19th 2016 (Poster Presentation) & Joint Meeting of Ichythologists and Herpetologists. Austin, TX, Jul 16th 2017 (Poster Presentation)
- Population Genetics Analyses for Wayward Texas Tortoises, Gopherus berlandieri. 41st Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. Sam’s Town Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 19th 2016 (Poster Presentation)
- Where Am I From? Repatriation Potential for Wayward Texas Tortoises Using A Population Genetics Analyses. Texas Herpetological Society, Fall 2015 Symposium. Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, Nov 7, 2015 (Oral Presentation)
- Maximum Entropy Habitat Suitability Model for Conservation Management of the Texas Tortoise: Defining its status in the Coastal Prairies and eastern range. Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society. American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, TX, Feb 21, 2015 (Oral Presentation)
FUNDING AND SCHOLARSHIPS
- Student Travel Award, North American Congress for Conservation Biology ($100, Jul 2022)
- Cashner Award, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists ($1000, Jul 2021)
- Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship, Graduate Student Association, UNR ($1000, Apr 2021)
- Director’s Award, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, UNR, for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work ($600, Jan 2021)
- David J. Morafka Memorial Research Award, Desert Tortoise Council ($2500, Jan 2021)
- Student Travel Grant, University of Nevada, Reno to participate in Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists ($500, July 2019) and World Congress of Herpetology, New Zealand ($700, Jan 2020)
- Dean’s Merit Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno to incoming graduate students, ($10,000, Aug 2018)
- Student Travel Award, 41st Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium ($500, Feb 2016)
- Student Travel Grant, Texas State University ($500) to participate in Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Corpus Christi, Texas (Feb 2015)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife, State Wildlife Grant ($40,137, received salary, travel, & per diem). Co-authored with PIs S.F. McCracken, M.R.J. Forstner, and D. Rodriguez (Dec 2013)
- Durrenberger Scholarship for Women in Science. College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University ($1,500, Apr 2014)
- Associate Student Government Scholarship, Texas State University ($1,250, Apr 2014)
- Dahlia Villalobos, Undergraduate research, Nussear lab, UNR, Reno, NV August - December 2023
- Alejandra Griswold, Undergraduate research, Nussear lab, UNR, Reno, NV, 2022 – May 2023
- Ishwora Dhungana, PhD Student, Soil microbial ecology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2021 – 2022 (via WoC in EEB mentorship program)
- Ally P Xiong, Master’s Student, Raven predation and ecology on Mojave Desert Tortoises, UNR, 2018 -2020
- Lauren T., Undergraduate Student, Received laboratory training for a population genetics internship in Cambodia, 2015
DEI, OUTREACH, AND SERVICE
- JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee Lead and Faculty Liaison, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, UNR, Apr 2020 – Current
- Volunteer – ScienceFIT Freshmen Academic Bootcamp – Welcome Presentation about Careers in Ecology, UNR, Aug 2022
- Invited Virtual Presentation – “Mojave Desert Tortoise: Diversity, Distributions, Adaptations, and Field Techniques”, Desert Biology Class, University of San Diego, CA, Mar 2022
- BIPOC in Landscape Ecology, Symposium Organizer, International Association for Landscape Ecologists Conference, Reno, NV, Apr 2021
- Diversity Committee Member, Geography Department, UNR, January – Dec 2020
- Invited Virtual Presentation - Women in Ecology Webinar, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, Oct 2020
- Biodiversity/Herpetology talk + Outreach Event, Hug High School, Reno, NV, Sep 2019
- Citizen Science and Public Involvement, UNR, Museum Day May 2019
CERTIFICATIONS
- Wilderness First Aid and CPR Certified
- Desert Tortoise Health Assessment Certification
- Graduate Certificate Course in Fundamentals of Ecology, Harvard Extension School
- Going Places With Spatial Analysis, ESRI Certification
- Introduction to Genomic Technologies, Coursera Certification
- Introduction to Desert Tortoises and Field Techniques, Desert Tortoise Council Certification