Updated 2/6/22

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
University of Pennsylvania
PennPORT (IRACDA) Postdoctoral Fellow 2021-Forward
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Dr. Dustin Brisson) 2019-Present

Meredith College
Adjunct Biology Professor Fall 2018

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
As Instructor of Record:
Biology 105: Modern Biological Concepts, Meredith College Fall 2018
Introductory non-majors course; 17 students

As Guest Lecturer:
Public Health 542: Parallel Plagues graduate seminar, Penn 2021
Lecture: Lyme Disease in the United States
Biology 204: Biology of Flowering Plants, Gettysburg College 2021
Lecture: Microbial Interactions and Plant Parasites
Biology 464: Global Change Ecology, UNC Chapel-Hill 2016, 2017, 2020
Lecture: “Infectious Disease and Global Change”
Biology 568: Disease Ecology and Evolution, UNC-Chapel Hill 2016
Lectures: “Pathogens in Multi-Species Host Communities”
“Multi-Parasite Systems”
Biology 201: Ecology and Evolution, UNC-Chapel Hill 2015
Lecture: “Population Growth”

As Teaching Assistant:
Biology 201: Ecology and Evolution, UNC-Chapel Hill 2015

TEACHING PUBLICATIONS
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).

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TRAINING IN EDUCATION
Courses:
Preparing for College Teaching in STEM, PennPORT (IRACDA) Program Spring 2022
Instructor: Dr. Cait Kirby
Storytelling in the Classroom, Story Collider 2021
Inclusive and Equitable Teaching, Penn Center for Teaching & Learning 2020
Instructor: Dr. Jamiella Brooks
SPIRE (UNC IRACDA program) Seminar on College Teaching, UNC-Chapel Hill 2017
Instructor: Dr. Ed Neal
Biology College Teaching, UNC-Chapel Hill 2016
Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Coble

Workshops:
Effective College Teaching, UNC-Chapel Hill 2018
Instructors: Dr. Richard Feldman and Dr. Rebecca Brent
Designing Your Course: Active Learning, UNC-Chapel Hill 2018
Instructor: Dr. Viji Sathy

Conferences Attended:
POD (Professional and Organizational Development) Network Conference, virtual 2021
Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research, virtual 2021
Undergraduate Biology Education Research Gordon Research Conference, Bates College 2019
Presented poster titled, “ComSciCon-Triangle: Regional Science
Communication Training for Graduate Students.” Co-author: Reggie Bain.

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS (underlining indicates undergraduate under my mentorship)

O’Keeffe, K., Z. Oppler, M. Prusinski, R. Falco, J. Oliver, J. Haight, L.A. Sporn, P Bryon Backenson,
Dustin Brisson, 2022. Phylogeographic dynamics of the arthropod vector, the blacklegged tick
(Ixodes scapularis) (in review at Parasites and Vectors)

O’Keeffe, K.R., Wheeler, B., Mitchell, C.E. (2021). A microbial mutualist within host individuals
increases parasite transmission between host individuals: Evidence from a field mesocosm
experiment. bioRxiv. 2021.11.28.470289. (https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.28.470289) (in revision at
Frontiers in Microbiology)

O’Keeffe, K.R., Simha, A., Mitchell, C.E. (2021). Indirect interactions among parasites and a
microbial mutualist impact disease progression. Proc. R. Soc. B. 20211313.
(https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.1313)

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)

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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).
*Highlighted in the Methods in Ecology and Evolution blog:
https://methodsblog.com/2019/02/20/dual-rna-seq-limited-genomic-resources/

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)

INVITED PRESENTATIONS
2021: University of Virginia (EEB group)
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., 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).

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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 (14th Annual), Cornell University (Poster)

MENTORING EXPERIENCE
Rhoda Kaddu, PennFERBS fellow, University of Pennsylvania 2021-Present
Emma Torija, Independent Study Student, University of Pennsylvania 2020-2021
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

AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

POD Network Career Development Grant 2021
NIH IRACDA PennPORT Postdoctoral Fellowship 2021
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

TEACHING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS DELIVERED

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Department of Biology
Co-organizer: Inclusive mentorship panel discussion 2021

UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

ComSciCon-Triangle 2016-2018
Co-organizer of science communication workshop for graduate students
Chair of organizing committee (2017 & 2018)

UNC Biology Symposium

Co-organizer of workshop: Using online tools to foster 2016
science communication (developed with Fletcher Halliday)

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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

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
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

PEER REVIEW OF MANUSCRIPTS

2015-Present: Peer review of 13 manuscripts as of February 6, 2022 (18 total reviews; 2 with Dr.
Charles E Mitchell) in the following journals: American Naturalist, AoB Plants, Biotechnology and
Genetic Engineering, BMC Genomics, Functional Ecology, Fungal Biology, Genes, ISME Journal,
New Phytologist, Nucleic Acids Research, Oikos, Plants, PLOS ONE

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/