About Me

Lauren Ash

I am in my final year as a Ph.D. candidate in the Biology department at the University of Vermont. I am interested in how temporal and spatial factors influence the transmission of amphibian disease, specifically Ranavirus. I am working with my advisor Dr. Nicholas Gotelli and with the support of my current and previous labmates: Lindsey Pett, Andrew Nguyen, Amanda Northrop, Alex Burnham, and Emily Beasley.

My Career

Wood Frog Allelic Diversity Project

I am amplifying the MHC gene in experimental Wood Frog tadpoles to determine whether there are genetic differences in susceptible individuals compared to resistant individuals.

Aug 2020 - present
DNA sequencing

Ranavirus and host biodiversity project

I am investigating whether amphibian diversity is related to Ranavirus prevalence. A positive relationship would be an example of the amplification effect, while a negative relationship would be an example of the dilution effect.

Aug 2019 - present
Modeling

The interaction between Ranavirus and helminth parasites in Brazilian anurans

I collected liver tissue from Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and Amazonian anuran species to analyze whether the presence and abundance of Ranavirus is associated with the presence and abundance of anuran macroparasites.

January 2019 - present
Fieldwork and microscopy

Ranavirus tolerance and resistance experiment

I collected 4 Wood Frog egg masses from 10 sites and will experimentally infect 5 tadpoles per egg mass (5 controls) to determine if there are differences in how populations respond to ranavirus

May-June 2018
Experimental infection

Amphibian tissue collection

I collected toe and tail tissue from 29 sites around Vermont (two time points).

July and Aug. 2017
Field work

Amphibian tissue collection

I finished my first field season where I collected toe and tail tissue from 18 sites (7 time points) around Vermont.

May-Aug. 2016
Field work

Started at the University of Vermont

I started my journey to obtain my doctorate degree at the University of Vermont, advised by Dr. Nicholas Gotelli.

Aug. 2015
PhD student

Graduated from University College London

I graduated UCL with a Master of Research in Biodiversity, Evolution, and Conservation, completing two species distribution modeling projects during that time.

Sep. 2014
MRes

Graduated from University of Florida

I graduated from UF with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.

May 2012
B.S.

My Skills

R


GIS


Species Distribution Modeling


qPCR


DNA isolation


Unix


Fieldwork

My Projects

Infectious Diseases

The ranavirus is an amphibian disease causing mass die-offs across the world. It has yet to be documented naturally in Vermont, which is what my research focuses on.

Liatris novae-angliae

Liatris-novae angliae is a rare flower endemic to New England. I have been working on comparing historic and present occurrences using data from the Natural Heritage programs of various states.