Senior Research Associate (July 2009 - Feb 2012):
Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, University of East Anglia, Norwich. UK
Using the unique data set compiled on the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis), Emma is to undertaking a comprehensive longitudinal study of telomere shortening in a wild avian population. The study will address a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology - how to measure and compare the costs that individuals pay when participating in different activities/experiences in their natural setting.
Ph. D. Research Project (October 2005 – Jan 2009):
Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus. UK
“The effects of nutritional and social environment on ovarian dynamics and life history strategy in Nauphoeta cinerea”
Emma researched how females cope with environmental stress via manipulating their resource and social environment and assessing resource accumulation, allocation and reclamation. Most of her work focuses on how ovarian dynamics, especially patterns of ovarian apoptosis (programmed cell death), change with environmental stress and how this is linked with trends in female behaviour and life history.
Undergraduate Research Project (January 2005 – April 2005):
“Sexual Conflict in the timing of sperm release in the Nauphoeta cinerea spermatophore”
In this species the male’s spermatophore blocks further mating via manipulating the females endocrine system. The sperm does not move out of the spermatophore until this has occurred. Emma's project utilized a two pronged approach looking at protein composition and histology to investigate why this may be.
UROP Researcher (August 2003 – August 2004):
