Updated 7/13/21

KAYLEIGH O’KEEFFE
Department of Biology • The University of Pennsylvania • Philadelphia PA 19104
kokeeffe@sas.upenn.edu • 516-205-8000 • krokeeffe.wordpress.com • @KOKeeffe12

EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL 2019
Ph. D. in Biology
Dissertation: Within-host microbial interactions and plant parasites:
from pairwise interactions to the microbiome (Advisor: Charles Mitchell)

AMHERST COLLEGE 2012

B.A. in Biology, cum laude
Thesis: Allelic Diversity at the S-RNase gene in Lycium carolinianum
(Advisor: Jill Miller)

APPOINTMENTS
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Dr. Dustin Brisson) 2019-Present
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Graduate Research Fellow (Dr. Charles Mitchell) 2014-2019

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Research Technician (Dr. Andrew Greenberg) 2012-2014

Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, MA

Summer Field Assistant (Dr. Maria Diuk-Wasser) 2012

Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT

PUBLICATIONS (underlining indicates undergraduate under my mentorship)

O’Keeffe, K.R., Simha, A., Mitchell, C.E. Higher-order interactions between parasites and a
systemic grass endophyte affect parasite growth and host mortality. (accepted at
Proceedings of the Royal Society B. preprint: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.25.437101)

O’Keeffe, K.R., Halliday, F.W., Jones, C.D., Carbone, I., Mitchell, C.E., (2021). Parasites,
niche modification, and the host microbiome: A field survey of multiple parasites. Molecular
Ecology, 30: 2404-2416 (https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15892)

Oppler, Z.J., O’Keeffe, K.R., McCoy K.D., Brisson D. (2020) “Evolutionary genetics of
Borrelia.” In Borrelia: Molecular Biology, Host Interaction and Pathogenesis. Eds. D. Scott
Samuels and Justin D. Radolf. Caister Academic Press.
(https://doi.org/10.21775/cimb.042.097).

O’Keeffe, K.R., Oppler, Z.J., Brisson, D. (2020) Evolutionary Ecology of Lyme Borrelia.
Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 85:104570 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104570)

O’Keeffe, K.R. and Jones, C.D. (2019) Challenges and Solutions for Analyzing Dual RNA-
seq Data for Non-Model Host/Pathogen Systems. Methods in Ecology and Evolution,
10:401-414 (http://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13135).
1
 Updated 7/13/21
*Highlighted in the Methods in Ecology and Evolution blog:
https://methodsblog.com/2019/02/20/dual-rna-seq-limited-genomic-resources/

O’Keeffe, K.R. and Bain, R. (2018) ComSciCon-Triangle: Regional Science Communication

Training for Graduate Students. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 19(1)
(http://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1420).

Hansen, W.D., Scholl, J.P., Sorensen, A.E., Fisher, K., Klassen, J., Calle, L., Kandlikar, G.,
Kortessis, N., Kucera, D., Marias, D., Narango, D.L., O’Keeffe, K.R., Planas, A., Recart, W.,
Ridolfi, E., and Shay. M. (2018). How do we ensure the future of our discipline is vibrant?
Student reflections on careers and culture of ecology. Ecosphere, 9(2):e02099
(http://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2099).

O’Keeffe, K.R., Carbone, I., Jones, C.D., Mitchell, C.E. (2017). Plastic Potential: how the
phenotypes and adaptations of pathogens are influenced by microbial interactions within
plants. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 38:78-83
(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2017.04.014). 

Bowman, T.A., O’Keeffe, K.R., D’Aquila, T., Yan, Q.W., Griffin, J.D., Killion, E.A., Mashek,
D.G., Buhman, K.K., and Greenberg, A.S. (2016). Acyl CoA synthetase 5 (ACSL5) Ablation
in Mice Increases Energy Expenditure and Insulin Sensitivity and Delays Fat Absorption.
Molecular Metabolism, 5(3) (http://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2016.01.001)

PUBLICATIONS IN PREP
(drafts available upon request; underlining indicates undergraduate under my mentorship)
O’Keeffe, K.R., Wheeler, B., Mitchell, C.E. A systemic endophyte affects population
dynamics of infectious disease.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS
2021: Gettysburg College (Department of Biology)
2020: Scripps Institution of Oceanography
2020: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
2020: Duke University (Department of Biology)
2019: Bryn Mawr College (Department of Biology)
2018: UNC-Chapel Hill Biology Symposium (one of two invited graduate student speakers)

CONTRIBUTED PRESENTATIONS (underlining indicates student under my mentorship)

O’Keeffe, K., Z. Oppler, M. Prusinski, R. Falco, J. Oliver, J. Haight, P Bryon Backenson,
Dustin Brisson, 2021. Phylogeographic dynamics of the arthropod vector, the blacklegged
tick. Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference, virtual, Montpellier France
(Poster presentation).

Halliday, FW, & K. O’Keeffe, 2019. Drivers of foliar parasite metacommunity structure in
California grasslands. Wild Plant Pathosystems, Schmitten, Germany (Poster presentation).

O’Keeffe, K., and R. Bain, 2019. ComSciCon-Triangle: Regional Science Communication

Training for Graduate Students. Undergraduate Biology Education Research Gordon
Research Conference (Poster presentation).

2
 Updated 7/13/21

O’Keeffe, K., F.W. Halliday, C.D. Jones, I. Carbone, and C.E. Mitchell, 2019. The fungal
microbiome of a grass host under natural infections by diverse parasites. Ecology &
Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference (17th annual), Princeton University (Poster
presentation)

O’Keeffe, K., B.T. Wheeler, and C.E. Mitchell, 2018. A symbiont may decrease the spread
of a parasite through a host population but not within hosts. Ecological Society of America,
New Orleans LA (Oral presentation).

O’Keeffe, K., B.T. Wheeler, and C.E. Mitchell, 2018. A defensive symbiont decreases the
spread of a fungal plant pathogen through a host population but not within hosts. Ecology &
Evolution of Infectious Diseases Conference (16th Annual), University of Glasgow (Poster).

O’Keeffe, K. and C.E. Mitchell, 2017. Effects of endophyte symbiosis and pathogen
intraspecific variation on the growth of a fungal plant pathogen. Ecological Society of
America, Portland OR (Poster presentation).

O’Keeffe, K., C.E. Mitchell, C.D. Jones, 2017. Challenges for analyzing dual RNA-seq data
for non-model host/pathogen systems. Ecology & Evolution of Infectious Diseases
Conference (14th Annual), UC Santa Barbara (Poster presentation).

O’Keeffe, K. 2016. Can we use RNA-seq to Investigate Host/Parasite Interactions? UNC

Department of Biology Lunch Bunch Series, Chapel Hill, NC (Oral Presentation).

O’Keeffe, K., C.E. Mitchell, C.D. Jones 2016. Analyzing Mixed Transcriptomic Samples of
Hosts and Pathogens: A Comparison of Reference-based Mapping Methods. Ecology and
Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference (14 th Annual), Cornell University (Poster)

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Inductee, Frank Porter Graham Graduate Student Honor Society 2019
Finalist, Three-Minute Thesis Competition, UNC-Chapel Hill 2017
Pre-doctoral Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation 2016-2019
Graduate Fellowship, Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine 2016
Mrs. Louise Coker Fellowship and Holland Beers Scholarship, UNC-Chapel Hill 2014, 2016
John Woodruff Simpson Fellowship, Amherst College 2015-2018
Honorable Mention, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship Program 2015
Graduate Merit Assistantship, UNC-Chapel Hill (full fellowship support) 2014-2015

3
 Updated 7/13/21

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Guest Lecturer for Global Change Ecology, UNC Chapel-Hill 2020
Lecture: “Infectious Disease and Global Change” (delivered online)
Instructor for Modern Biological Concepts, Meredith College Fall 2018
Introductory non-majors course; 17 students
Guest Lecturer for Global Change Ecology, UNC Chapel-Hill 2016 & 2017
Lecture: “Infectious Disease and Global Change”
Guest Lecturer for Disease Ecology and Evolution, UNC-Chapel Hill 2016
Lectures: “Pathogens in Multi-Species Host Communities”
“Multi-Parasite Systems”
Guest Lecturer for Ecology and Evolution, UNC-Chapel Hill 2015
Lecture: “Population Growth”
Teaching Assistant for Ecology and Evolution, UNC-Chapel Hill 2015
Teaching Assistant for Evolutionary Biology, Amherst College 2011

MENTORING EXPERIENCE
Emma Torija, Independent Study Student, University of Pennsylvania 2020-Present
Currently: Research technician, University of Alabama-Birmingham
Bonnie Mendelson, Master’s student, University of Pennsylvania 2019-2020
Currently: Research specialist, University of Pennsylvania
Brandon Wheeler, Independent Study Student, UNC-Chapel Hill 2017-2019
Currently: Master’s student, Western Carolina University
Anita Simha, Honors Thesis Student, UNC-Chapel Hill 2016-2017
Graduated with highest honors
Recipient of UNC R.E. Coker Award for excellence in research in organismal biology
and ecology
Currently: NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Duke University

PEER REVIEW OF MANUSCRIPTS

2015-Present: Peer review of 11 manuscripts as of July 13, 2021 (16 total reviews; 2 with Dr.
Charles E Mitchell) in the following journals: AoB Plants, Biotechnology and Genetic
Engineering, BMC Genomics, Functional Ecology, Fungal Biology, Genes, ISME Journal,
New Phytologist, Nucleic Acids Research, Oikos, Plants

SERVICE & OUTREACH

Peer Support Mentor, Penn Postdoc Peer Support Network 2021-Present
Postdoc representative, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee,
Penn Biology 2020-Present
Scientist Presenter, Skype-A-Scientist 2017-Present
*Meet virtually with K-12 students to present on what it is like to be a scientist and
give virtual tours of the lab.
2020: Presented over zoom to 7 elementary and middle school classes in Los
Angeles, Detroit, and Philadelphia
Public Relations Officer, Graduate Women in Science-Philadelphia 2020-2021
Scientist Presenter, NC SciFest SciMatch program 2016-2018
*Visited middle school classes in Durham and Gastonia, NC to present and lead
4
 Updated 7/13/21
activities on how science impacts our lives and what it is like to be a scientist
Graduate Student Advisory Board, UNC Center for Faculty Excellence 2017-2018

Founding committee member, Safe Spaces Committee, UNC Biology 2016-2018

*Addresses issues related to power dynamics within academia
Lesson Plan Designer, Scientific Researcher and Educator Network 2014-2019
*In collaboration with educators, designed middle school lesson plans
based on my research that met teaching standards
Pre-graduate Education Advisor, UNC University Career Services. 2016-2017
Vice President, UNC Biology Graduate Student Association 2016-2017
GED Science Tutor, Durham Adult Literacy Center 2015-2016
Webmaster, UNC Biology Graduate Student Association 2014-2016

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Regional Liason, ComSciCon 2021-Present
Advise organizers of local science communication workshops in the Northeast
Participant, Introduction to science storytelling, The Story Collider 2020
Chair of Organizing Committee, ComSciCon-Triangle 2017 &
2018
Science communication workshop for graduate students, Research Triangle, NC
Organizing Committee, ComSciCon-Triangle 2016
Selected Participant, ComSciCon-National 2016
National science communication workshop for graduate students, Cambridge, MA
Science Writing Intern, Genetics Society of America 2015
Selected Participant, ComSciCon-Triangle 2015

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Participant, Inclusive and Equitable Teaching, University of Pennsylvania 2020
Center for Teaching and Learning
Participant, Effective College Teaching course, UNC-Chapel Hill 2018

POPULAR SCIENCE ARTICLES

“What is it about this soil that protects plants against devastating disease?” Ensia. 21
September 2016. https://ensia.com/articles/soil-protects-plants-devastating-disease/