Michael McQuillan

Michael A. McQuillan

Research Associate

Education

2018

 

2011

Ph.D. Integrative Biology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Advisor: Amber M. Rice, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Ecological Causes and Evolutionary Consequences of Natural Hybridization in Chickadees

B.S. Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Advisor: Amy L. Freestone, Ph.D.
Graduated with Distinction, May 2011 Honors
Thesis: Ecosystem Engineers Shape Biodiversity Patterns by Providing Structural Refuge in Marine Epifaunal Communities

Research Experience

July 2023 – Present

2018–June 2023




May–July 2018




2012–2018




Summer 2015




Summer 2013, 2014




2010–2011




January–May 2010

Research Associate
Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Genetics (Tishkoff Lab), University of Pennsylvania

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania
Project examines the environmental and genetic drivers of adaptive trait variation in ethnically diverse Africans.
Advisor: Sarah A. Tishkoff, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University
Project examined the geographic consistency in the genomic basis of reproductive isolation in hybridizing songbirds.
Advisor: Amber M. Rice, Ph.D.

PhD Student
Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University
Research focused on studying the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms of speciation in hybridizing songbirds.
Advisor: Amber M. Rice, Ph.D.

Research Assistant
Lehigh University Mountaintop Initiative
Project focused on developing an experimental approach to the conservation of the highly endangered Leon Springs Pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus).
Advisors: Murray Itzkowitz, Ph.D. and Michael Kuchka, Ph.D.

Research Assistant
HHMI Biosystems Dynamics Summer Institute at Lehigh University
Research investigated the presence and functional significance of natural variation in lynx1, a gene involved with learning, in songbirds.
Advisors: Amber M. Rice, Ph.D. and Julie Miwa, Ph.D.

Research Assistant
Temple University Undergraduate Research Program
Research explored the effects of ecosystem engineering species on local patterns of biodiversity in intertidal marine invertebrates.
Advisor: Amy L. Freestone, Ph.D.

Research Assistant
Temple University Undergraduate Research Program
Investigated the pathogenic role of dendritic cells in the immune response of mice genetically predisposed to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Advisor: Stefania Gallucci, M.D.

Publications

McQuillan, M.A.*, Harris, D.*, Özur, O.*, Hayeck, T., Monos, D., Lenz, T., & Tishkoff, S.A. 2023. HLA variation in diverse African populations primarily driven by balancing selection rather than local adaptation. In prep. *Authors contributed equally (co-first authors).

McQuillan, M.A., Verhulst, S., Hansen, M.E.B., Beggs, W., Woldemeskel, D., Belay, G., Nyambo, T., Wata Mpoloka, S., Mokone, G.G., Fokunang, C., Njaminshi, A.K., Aviv, A., & Tishkoff, S.A. 2023. Association between telomere length and Falciparum malaria endemicity in sub-Saharan Africans. American Journal of Human Genetics. In Revision.

Harris, D.N., Platt, A., Hansen, M.E.B., Fan, S., McQuillan, M.A., Nyambo, T., Mpoloka, S.W., Mokone, G.G., Belay, G., Fokunang, C., et al. 2023. Diverse African genomes reveal selection on ancient modern human introgressions in Neanderthals. Current Biology 33 (22): 4905-4916.e5.

McQuillan, M.A., Ranciaro, A., Hansen, M.E.B., Fan, S., Beggs, W., Belay, G., Woldemeskel, D., & Tishkoff, S.A. 2022. Signatures of convergent evolution and natural selection at the alcohol dehydrogenase gene region are correlated with agriculture in ethnically diverse Africans. Molecular Biology and Evolution 39(10):msac183. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msac183.

Zhang, C., Verma, A., Feng, Y., Melo, M.C.R., McQuillan, M.A., et al. 2022. Impact of natural selection on global patterns of genetic variation and association with clinical phenotypes at genes involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119:e2123000119.

Feng, Y.*, McQuillan, M.A.*, & Tishkoff, S.A. 2021. Evolutionary genetics of skin pigmentation in African populations. Human Molecular Genetics. 30(R1): R88-R97. *Authors contributed equally (co-first authors).

Paciorek, T., McQuillan, M.A., Al-Shaer, L., Bloch, A., Carroll, Z., Moyer, R., Vaze, J., Leiser, J., Kuchka, M., & Itzkowitz, M. 2020. The influence of operational sex ratio on reproductive success in male sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). Behaviour 158(1): 19-34.

Hunt, S.C., Hansen, M.E.B., Verhulst, S., McQuillan, M.A., Beggs, W., Lai, T., Mokone, G.G., Mpoloka, S.W., Woldemeskel, D., Belay, G., Nyambo, T., Abnet, C.C., Yeager, M., Chanock, S.J., Williams, S.M., Aviv, A., & Tishkoff, S.A. 2020. Genetics and geography of leukocyte telomere length in Sub-Saharan Africans. Human Molecular Genetics 29(18): 3014-3020.

McQuillan, M.A., Zhang, C., Tishkoff, S.A., & Platt, A. 2020. The importance of including ethnically diverse populations in studies of quantitative trait evolution. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development 62: 30-35.

McQuillan, M.A., Roth, T.C., Huynh, A.V., Rice, A.M. (2018) Hybrid chickadees are deficient in learning and memory. Evolution 72(5):1155-1164.

Rice, A.M., McQuillan, M.A. (2018) Maladaptive learning and memory in hybrids as a reproductive isolating barrier. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 285:20180542.

McQuillan, M.A., Huynh, A.V., Taylor, S.A., & Rice, A.M. (2017) Development of 10 novel SNP-RFLP markers for quick genotyping within the black-capped (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina (P. carolinensis) chickadee hybrid zone. Conservation Genetics Resources 9(2):261-264.

Rice, A.M., McQuillan, M.A., Seears, H.A., Warren, J.A. (2016) Population differentiation at a regional scale in spadefoot toads: Contributions of distance and divergent selective environments. Current Zoology 62(2):193–206.

McQuillan, M.A.,  Rice, A.M. (2015) Differential effects of climate and species interactions on range limits at a hybrid zone: Potential direct and indirect impacts of climate change. Ecology and Evolution 5(21):5120-5137.

Research Funding and Fellowships

Translational Research Training Program in Environmental Health Sciences – National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) T32 Training Grant. July 2018, Fellowship provides support for postdoctoral research position in Sarah Tishkoff’s laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania

Marjorie M. Nemes Fellowship, Lehigh University, Fellowship provided stipend support for Fall 2017 semester.

Lehigh University Doctoral Travel Grant for Global Opportunities ($750), Grant funded travel to the annual Animal Behavior Society meeting in 2017, held in Toronto, Canada.

Animal Behavior Society Student Research Grant: George W. Barlow Award ($2000), A test of spatial memory ability as a reproductive isolating barrier. March 2016.

Sigma Xi Grant-In-Aid of Research ($700), A test of spatial memory ability as a reproductive isolating barrier. December 2015.

Gordon C. Thorne Fellowship, Lehigh University, Fellowship provided stipend support for Spring 2016 semester.

Lehigh University Doctoral Travel Grant for Global Opportunities ($1000), Grant funded travel to the Society for the Study of Evolution annual meeting in 2015, held in Guaruja, Brazil.

Tuition and Travel Scholarship ($1725), Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics. Seattle, Washington. July 2013.

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant,  Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, August 2012 – May 2018.
Courses Taught:
• Biology Core I: Cell and Molecular Biology Lab – Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2017, & Spring 2018.
• Biology Core II: Genetics Lab – Fall 2012, Fall 2013 & Fall 2015.
• Evolution – Fall 2014. Lead review sessions, graded exams and guest lectured.
• Biology Core III: Integrative and Comparative Biology – Fall 2014, Spring 2015 & Fall 2015. Lead review sessions, wrote exams, and guest lectured.

Guest Lecturer
• Invited Speaker: Animal Behavior – DeSales University undergraduate class, March 2018. Lecture covered the concept of fundamental and realized ecological niches.
• Invited Speaker: Animal Behavior – DeSales University undergraduate class, March 2016. Lecture covered the role of spatial memory ability in food caching birds, and its potential role in reproductive isolation.
• Core III: Integrative and Comparative Biology – Lehigh University undergraduate class, February 2015. Lecture topic covered the role of natural hybridization in speciation.
• Evolution – Lehigh University undergraduate class, October 2014. Lecture covered adaptation of complex traits and the evolution of gene regulatory networks.

Presentation at National and International Meetings

  • • Genetic and Environmental Drivers of Telomere Length Variation in Ethnically Diverse Africans. American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting. Washington, DC. November 2, 2023. Poster.
  • • Genomic Patterns of Natural Selection and Introgression at the Alcohol Dehydrogenase Gene Region are Associated with Agriculture in Ethnically Diverse Africans. American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting. Online. October 18, 2021. Poster.
  • • Genomic patterns of natural selection and introgression at alcohol dehydrogenase genes in ethnically diverse Africans. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution Annual Meeting. Quebec City, Quebec, June 2020. Abstract accepted for oral presentation, but meeting cancelled due to COVID19.
  • • Environmental and Genetic Drivers of Telomere Length Variation in Ethnically Diverse Africans. American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting. Houston, Texas, October 15, 2019. Poster.
  • • Hybrid Deficiency in Learning and Memory: A Novel Reproductive Isolating Barrier? McQuillan, M.A. & Rice, A.M.
    Society for the Study of Evolution Annual Meeting. Portland, Oregon, June 24, 2017. Poster 
  • • Testing the Potential for Cognitive Ability to Act as a Reproductive Isolating Barrier. McQuillan, M.A., Roth, T.C., & Rice, A.M. Animal Behavior Society Annual Meeting. University of Toronto, Scarborough, June 16, 2017. Oral
  • • Testing the Role of Cognitive Ability as a Reproductive Isolating Barrier. McQuillan, M.A., Roth T.C., & Rice, A.M.
    Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting. New Orleans, Louisiana, January 7, 2016. Poster
  • • Differential Effects of Climate and Species Interactions on Range Limits at a Hybrid Zone. McQuillan M.A and Rice A.M. Society for the Study of Evolution Annual Meeting. Guaruja, Brazil, 2015. Oral
  • • Differential Effects of Climate and Species Interactions on Range Limits at a Hybrid Zone: Potential Direct and Indirect Impacts of Climate Change. McQuillan M.A and Rice A.M. Gordon Research Conference on Speciation. Ventura, California, March 2015. Poster
  • • Climate and Interspecific Interactions Affect Distribution Patterns Differently in Two Hybridizing Songbird Species. McQuillan M.A. and Rice A.M. Society for the Study of Evolution Annual Meeting. Raleigh, North Carolina, 2014. Poster
  • • Molecular Evolution of lynx1, a Gene Involved in Learning. Warren J.A, McQuillan M.A., Anderson K., Fox T., Botello J., Miwa J., Rice A.M. Society for the Study of Evolution Annual Meeting. Raleigh, NC, 2014. Poster

Presentations at Local and Regional Meetings

  • • Testing the Potential for Cognitive Ability to Act as a Reproductive Isolating Barrier. McQuillan, M.A., Roth, T.C., & Rice, A.M. Evolution in Philadelphia Conference (EPiC). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, April 15, 2017. Oral
    *Won 3rd place for best student talk.
  • • Testing the Potential for Cognitive Ability to Act as a Reproductive Isolating Barrier. McQuillan, M.A., Roth, T.C., & Rice, A.M. Lehigh Valley Ecology and Evolution Symposium. DeSales University, April 8, 2017. Oral
    *Won prize for best graduate student talk.
  • • Testing the Role of Cognitive Ability as a Reproductive Isolating Barrier. McQuillan, M.A. Lehigh University Department of Biological Sciences Colloquium Seminar Series. October 13, 2016. Oral
  • • A Test of Spatial Memory as a Reproductive Isolating Barrier. McQuillan M.A., Roth T.C., and Rice A.M. Lehigh Valley Ecology and Evolution Symposium. April 16, 2016. Oral 
    *Won prize for best graduate student talk.
  • • A Test of Spatial Memory as a Reproductive Isolating Barrier. McQuillan M.A., Roth T.C., and Rice A.M. Lehigh Valley Chapter: Sigma Xi. February 26, 2016. Oral
  • • Differential Effects of Climate and Species Interactions on Range Limits at a Hybrid Zone. McQuillan M.A and Rice A.M. Lehigh Valley Ecology and Evolution Symposium. Muhlenberg College, April, 2015. Oral
    *Won runner-up for best graduate student talk.
  • • Using Niche Models to Determine the Effect of Climate on Range Dynamics in Two Songbird Species. Presentation to the Lehigh University Department of Biological Sciences. April 29, 2014. Oral
  • • Natural Variation in Genes Controlling Learning Potential. McQuillan M.A., Anderson K., Miwa J., and Rice A.M. Presentation to the Lehigh University Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, June 27, 2013. Oral 
  • • Habitat Degradation May Drive Hybridization Among Caribbean Damselfish. McQuillan M. A., Itzkowitz M., and Rice A. M. Presentation at the Lehigh Valley Ecology and Evolution Symposium, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, April 20, 2013. Oral
  • • Ecosystem Engineers Shape Biodiversity Patterns by Providing Structural Refuge in Marine Epifaunal Communities. McQuillan M.A. and Freestone, A.L. Temple University Undergraduate Poster Session, July 30, 2010 and the Temple University Undergraduate Research Symposium, September 27, 2010. Poster

Scientific Outreach

Rural PA High School Visit – Visited Biglerville High School to talk with all 9th grade biology classes about evolution and natural selection. Conducted hands-on demonstrations of evolution by natural selection and presented information about conducting field ecology research. November 2014, November 2015, January 2017, and January 2018.

Bird Banding Demonstration for Undergraduate Science Majors – Banded live-caught birds and demonstrated techniques used in ecological research to a university undergraduate ecology class and a conservation biology class. Jacobsburg State Park, October 2016.

Lehigh Valley Greenways Festival at Jacobsburg State Park – Set up and staffed a public display concerning songbird hybridization research ongoing at Jacobsburg State Park. September 2015.

Broughal Middle School BioFair – Presented hands-on demonstrations of research-based scientific concepts to middle school students. Conducted hands-on demonstrations of evolution by natural selection, using Darwin’s Finches as an example. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, March 2014.

Jacobsburg State Park Bird-banding Demo – Demonstrated songbird banding and research concepts concerning natural hybridization to the general public. Jacobsburg State Park, Pennsylvania, March 2014.

Darwin Day Roadshow – Participated in a National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) funded effort to visit underserved high schools in rural Pennsylvania, to present information about Charles Darwin and evolutionary biology. Visited Biglerville High School and York Country Day School and conducted hands-on demonstrations of evolutionary biology concepts. February 2014.

Workshops and Short Courses

Advanced Gene Mapping Course - November 2022. The Rockefeller University, NY.
Python Programming Bootcamp - July 2018. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Genomics and Computational Biology.
Workshop on Functional Ecological Genomics – May 2017. Lacawac Sanctuary Biological Field Station, Lake Ariel, PA.
Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics – July 2013. University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Professional Affiliations

Society for the Study of Evolution, Member 2012—Present.
Sigma Xi, Member 2015—Present.
Animal Behavior Society, Member 2015—Present.

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