Kelcie Lorena Chiquillo is a PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA. She has received several prestigious awards and fellowships for her research including an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Her research focuses on the phylogeny of skates and the evolution of their reproductive strategies. She has published one paper on this topic and presented her research at several conferences. Chiquillo has extensive experience conducting molecular lab work and field research on marine organisms in California.

1. 1 May 7, 2015,
Curriculum Vitae
Kelcie Lorena Chiquillo
PhD Student
University of California, Los Angeles
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
610 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles CA 90095
Tel: (916) 743-1507
e-mail: Kelcie.L.Chiquillo@ucla.edu
A. Professional Preparation
2014- current Ph.D. University of California Los Angeles, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2008-2014 B.S. San Francisco State University, Marine Biology & Minor in Holistic Health
B. Awards and Fellowships
2015 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship: $170,000
2015 Ford Fellowship- Honorable Mention
2014-2015 UCLA La Kretz Center for Conservation Science Research Grant $500
2014-2019 UC Bridge to Doctorate Fellowship (NSF): $150,000
2014 Save Our Seas Foundation Travel Award: $300
2012-2014 National Health Institute (NIH): Minorities Access to Research Careers (MARC)
Fellowship: $28,000
2013 Louis Stokes Alignment Participation Undergraduate Award (LSAMP): $2,000
2012 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Travel Award: $1,000
2012 National Science Foundation (NSF): Research Experience for Undergraduates
(REU) Award: $5,000
2010 San Francisco State University, Department of Biology Research Award: $350
C. Publications
2013 Chiquillo, K. L., Ebert, D. A., Slager, C. J., & Crow, K. D. (2014). The secret of
the mermaid’s purse: Phylogenetic affinities within the Rajidae and the evolution
of a novel reproductive strategy in skates. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
75, 245-251 doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.012
D. Presentations
Oral
2014 The secret of the mermaid’s purse: Phylogenetic affinities of the family Rajidae
and the evolution of a novel reproductive strategy in skates Chiquillo, K.L,
Ebert, D.A., Slager, C.J., and K.D. Crow, North Pacific Shark Symposium-
Seattle, Washington
2013 The secret of the mermaid’s purse: Phylogenetic affinities of the family Rajidae
and the evolution of a novel reproductive strategy in skates”, Chiquillo, K.L,
Ebert, D.A., Slager, C.J., and K.D. Crow, Western Naturalist Society- Ventura,
California

2. 2 May 7, 2015,
2012 Patterns of herbivory in different age size classes of Opaleye (Girella nigricans)
in relation to algal community structure in Big Fisherman’s Cove- USC Wrigley
Symposium, Santa Catalina Island
Poster
2012 The secret of the mermaid’s purse: phylogenetic affinities and the evolution of a
novel reproductive life history trait in skates of the genus Raja”, Chiquillo, K.,
N. Bravo, D.A. Ebert, and K.D. Crow, American Society of Ichthyology and
Herpetology- Vancouver, British Columbia
E. Professional Research Experience
2011-2014 Research Assistant in FishLab with Dr. Karen Crow
2014 The IUCN Threatened Species List Workshop at Seattle Washington
2012 Direct Research for the Marine Biology Semester at Catalina Island
F. Research Skills/ Techniques
Molecular Techniques
A. Skate Phylogenic Project: DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
for amplification of mitochondrial genes, gel electrophoresis
B. Hox Gene Project: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR SYBER)
C. Leopard Shark Genetic population project: DNA extraction, polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) for amplification of inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) PCR,
capillary machine
Statistical Methodology
A. Distance and Parsimony (PAUP), Likelihood (Garli), Bayesian inference
(MrModelTest and MrBayes).
B. GeneMapper3.7 (ABI)
Field Techniques
A. Beach Seines
B. Underwater fish surveys
C. Underwater sessile invertebrate surveys
D. Underwater algae surveys
E. US Boat and Safety Certification for small vessels (MOCC)
SCUBA
A. NAUI Master Diver
B. American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)
C. 110+ AAUS logged dives
G. Field Work
2014 Research Assistant on Santa Catalina Island, CA (Lythrypnus dalli) on the
evolution of sex change
2011-2013 Collection trip to Santa Catalina Islands, CA for a marine fish (Lythrypnus dalli)
on SCUBA

3. 3 May 7, 2015,
2012 Patterns of herbivory in different age size classes of Opaleye (Girella nigricans) in
relation to algal community structure in Big Fisherman’s Cove- USC Wrigley
Marine Station, Santa Catalina Island
2012 Opaleye (Girella nigricans) production surveys, USC Wrigley Marine Institute for
Environmental Studies, Santa Catalina Island
H. Professional Societies
2014 Society of Advancement for Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
2013 American Elasmobranch Society
2013-2014 Western Naturalist Society
I. Other Relevant Experience
2014 Social Chair for Bridge to Doctorate Fellowship
2014 Outreach committee for SACNAS
2010-12 Aquarium of Bay Volunteer Diver
a. Underwater tank maintenance of exhibits
b.Target feeding: seven- gill sharks, swell sharks, wolf eel, giant sea bass, and the
giant octopus
c.Broadcast feeding
2011 Trail Maintenance Learning Service Project
a. Volunteerism, civic engagement, citizenship, stewardship, and leadership in
community
2009 Holistic Health Internship
2006-08 Associated Student Body (ASB)
a. Community Outreach