Marin Science Seminar Presentation: "From Monkey Flowers to Wild Mice: A Tale of Genes, Adaptation and Extreme Environments" (April 1, 2015) Get the flyer here

Plants and animals from around the world have adapted to an incredible range of natural environments including extreme habitats like hydrothermal vents and arctic tundra. Evolutionary biologists want to know how these organisms adapt to such radically different environments and the genetic basis of this adaptation. In my research I use modern genetic sequencing technology in combination with studies in the wild to explore how native Monkey flowers and mice have adapted to drastically different environments. 

Dr. Ferris was born and raised in St. Louis Missouri. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Chicago in 2007 where she received B.A.s in both Biology and English Literature. She received her PhD in Biology from Duke University studying monkey flowers with Dr. John Willis. She then went on to a post-doctoral scholar position at UC Berkeley with the director of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Dr. Michael Nachman where she is currently. In addition to her love of science she is passionate about 19th century British literature, running and pastry.