Download Curriculum Vitae - Vesbach Lab

Kendra Mitchell
Department of Biology
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
[email protected]
Education
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
in progress Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology
1/03-present
Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield
B.S. Biology with Chemistry minor
8/96-5/00
Experience
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Department of Biology
1/06-present
Graduate Teaching Assistant, BIO 204L Plant and Animal Form and Function
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Department of Biology
8/03-8/05
Graduate Research Assistant, Advisor: Cristina Vesbach
 Research focused on detecting novel bacterial diversity in
thermal environments and correlating the diversity with
geographical and geochemical parameters.
 Standardized molecular and field methods for microbial inventory
to maximize detectable diversity.
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Department of Biology
Laboratory technician, Yellowstone Microbial Inventory
 Examined diversity in Yellowstone microbial samples in
conjunction with a National Park Service project.
8/02-7/03
National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park
6/00-8/04
Research assistant, Spatial Analysis Center
seasonally
 Ran field operations for a park wide thermophile survey and the
Yellowstone Thermal Inventory
 Created a database of all known Yellowstone microbes
Publications
Reysenbach, A.-L., Banta, A.B., Civello, S., Mitchell, K.R., Lalonde, S., Konhauser,
K.O., Rodman, A., Rustenholtz, K. & Takacs-Vesbach, C. (2005) The
Aquificales in Yellowstone National Park. In Geothermal Biology and
Geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park, pp. 129-142. Edited by W.P.
Inskeep & T.R. McDermott. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University Thermal
Biology Institute.
Rodman, A. & Maas, K. (2002) Uncharted territory: Exploring life in Yellowstone
National Park's hot springs. Natural Resource Year in Review, p. 38.
Manuscripts in Prep
Mitchell, K.R., Rodman, A. & Takacs-Vesbach, C. (for submission to Molecular
Ecology) The island biogeography of microbial communities in extreme
environments.
Mitchell, K.R., Jackson-Weaver, O., Stromberg, D., Rael, N., Newell, D., Banta,
A.B., Reysenbach, A.-L., Rodman, A., Shanks III, W.C.P., Morgan, L.,
Nordstrom, D.K., Crossey, L.J. & Takacs-Vesbach, C. (for submission to
Geomicrobiology) Comparison of the geochemistry and microbial communities
associated with four North American thermal springs.
Takacs-Vesbach, C., Mitchell, K.R., Jackson-Weaver, O., Reysenbach, A.-L. (for
submission to PNAS) Calderas delineate biogeographic provinces among Aquificales
populations within Yellowstone thermal springs.
Jackson-Weaver, O., Mitchell, K.R., & Takacs-Vesbach, C. (in prep) Evaluation of
the potential for microbial migration within Yellowstone National Park.
Hall, J.R., Mitchell, K.R., Jackson-Weaver, O., & Takacs-Vesbach, C. (in prep)
Coffee pots paper
Contributed Presentations
Mitchell, K.R., Banta, A.B., Shanks III, W.C.P., Morgan, L., Nordstrom, D.K.,
Rodman, A., Reysenbach, A.-L. & Takacs-Vesbach, C. (2004) Comparison of
preservation and DNA extraction methods for microbial inventories of thermal
environments. In UNM Research Day Albuquerque, NM.
Mitchell, K.R. (16 June 2004) Yellowstone's Microbes. In Science lectures for
Interpretive Rangers and tour guides Old Faithful, YNP, WY.
Mitchell, K.R., Reysenbach, A.-L., Banta, A.B., Shanks, W.C.P., Gemery, P.,
Morgan, L., Nordstrom, D.K., McCleskey, R.B., Rodman, A. & TakacsVesbach, C. (2005) Distribution of Thermophilic Microbial Communities in
Yellowstone National Park: Ecological Convergence or Isolation? In ASLO
General Meeting Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mitchell, K.R. & Takacs-Vesbach, C. (2005) Ecology of thermophilic microbes in
Yellowstone National Park: Small and medium scale spatial distribution. In
Ecological Society of America Montreal, Quebec.