DANAE DIAZ ● 130 Science Drive Durham, NC 27708 ● Email: dmd76@duke.

edu

EDUCATION:
• Duke University, Ph.D. expected 2025
• Franklin & Marshall College, B.A. in Biological Foundations of Behavior, May 2018
o Concentration in Animal Behavior- 3.38 cumulative GPA
• School for Field Studies, Rhotia, Tanzania, January - May 2017
o Coursework in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology
HONORS and AWARDS:
• Duke Biology Grants in Aid (2022)
• Society for the Study of Evolution Grant (2022)
• Ford Foundation Fellowship Honorable Mention (2022)
• Animal Behavior Society JEDI Grant (2021)
• Sigma Xi Honors Society Grant-in-Aid of Research (2020)
• NSF-Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mention (2020)
• Posse Foundation Leadership Scholarship (Fall 2014–Spring 2018)
• Franklin & Marshall Dean’s List (Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2017)
• Franklin & Marshall Honors list (Spring 2018)
• Huffnagle Summer Research Travel Award (Summers 2016 & 2017)
• Kayal Summer Research Scholarship (Summer 2016)
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
• Effects of metal contamination on signal reliability in a songbird- Nowicki lab, Duke University
(2022-Present)
o Designed experimental protocol and necessary fieldwork tools including set-up over 40 nest
boxes throughout the Central NC
• Relationship between color and cognitive ability in swamp sparrows- Nowicki lab, Duke
University (2020-2021)
o Designed experimental protocol and completed field season where I captured and banded wild
swamp sparrows.
o Measured cap patch color using an integrating sphere and size using standardized photography
and ImageJ.
o Asses cognitive ability through a battery of cognitive tests.
• Categorical color perception in zebra finches
o Developing novel, video-based methods for testing avian categorical color.
o Assisted with food-reward based assays of avian color perception.
• Limits to rat cooperation- Dr. Lonsdrof, E., Franklin & Marshall College (2018)
o Designed research and IACUC proposal to investigate rats’ abilities to perceive the distress of a
cage mate and analyzed rats’ ability to act empathetically.
• Mountain lake resilience- Drs. Olsen, M. & Fisher, J., Franklin & Marshall College (2017)
o Completed lengthy field days, hiking to mountain lakes and collecting data.
o Analyzed data to determine the effects of climate change on mountain lake resilience.
• Elephant demography- Dr. John Kioko, School for Field Studies, TZ (2017)
o Designed model for collecting and analyzing data on elephant age and sex demography.
o Accomplished 13+ hours of extensive field data collection a day for a month.
• Effects of size on dog aggression- Dr. Lonsforf, E., Franklin & Marshall College (2016)
o Collaboratively developed a research proposal, implemented an appropriate data collection
method, and finalized a research paper.
o Observed dog interactions using focal-scan sampling at Beneful Dream Dog Park
PRESENTATIONS:
• “The Relationship Between Feather Color and Cognitive Ability in the Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza
georgiana)” Poster Presentation- Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) (January
2023)
• “To What Extent Does a Rat Choose to Free a Companion Over a Food Reward When the Conditions
to Freeing that Mate Become Increasingly More Challenging?” Oral Symposium Presentation-
Franklin & Marshall College (May 2018)
• “The Effects of Landscape Characteristics on the Resilience Properties of Mountain Lakes” Oral
Symposium Presentation- Franklin and Marshall College (March 2018)
• “Age and Sex Demographics of the African Elephant Throughout Northern Tanzania” Oral
Symposium Presentation- School for Field Studies (Spring 2017)
• “Investigating Aggression in Small and Big Domestic Dogs, Canis lupus familiaris” Oral Symposium
Presentation- Franklin & Marshall College (December 2016)
• “What is the Mechanism of Adhesion of the Squid Nuchal Joint? Oral Symposium Presentation-
Franklin & Marshall College (August 2016)
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSIVITY WORK:
• Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-racism Committee, Duke University (Aug. 2020 – present)
o Design and lead an anti-racism in Biology department-wide book club.
o Organize Biology seminar series where invitees provide resources for inclusive academic
practices.
• Darwin Day Roadshow, Duke University (February 2021 and 2022)
o Taught interactive lesson plan on evolution that sparked scientific interest and provided academic
autonomy to high school students.
• Race and Bias Conversation Forum, Workshop Leader, Duke University (November 2021)
o Co-create a 90-minute workshop on designing a Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, anti-racism course.
• Action for Justice, Equity, and Diversity Committee, Duke University (Aug. 2020-Present)
o Developed outreach efforts with local high-school biology department including “a day in the life
of a scientist” videos.
o Forming a pre-graduate school program that follows and supports students throughout their
undergraduate career via workshops, mentorship, guest speaker seminars, etc.
• College Advisor, College Advising Corps, Woodrow Wilson High School. Camden, NJ (June 2018-
2020)
o Initiated cohort, maintain detailed quantitative records through a comprehensive student tracking
system, and raised college application rate from 17-87%.
o Provide post-secondary information and develop action plans through group presentations,
instructional handouts, and one-on-one meeting
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
• Teaching Assistant, Genetics and Evolution, Duke University (Spring 2022)
o Independently led lab sessions including material overview and lab instructions.
• Teaching Assistant, Mechanisms of Animal Behavior, Duke University (Fall 2021)
o Guided student discussions during class and provided valuable feedback on assignments.
o Assisted in the development of curriculum and test questions.
• Teaching Assistant, Ecology, Evolution, & Heredity, Franklin & Marshall College (Spring 2018)
o Guided students through laboratory instructions and monitored lab safety.
o Mentored students and taught lessons on conducting research, scientific writing, and biostatistics.
• Teaching Assistant, Physiology & Development, Franklin & Marshall College (Fall 2016)
o Instructed students on research methods, statistics, and writing.
o Conducted lab set-up and monitored lab safety while supporting students through procedures.