Arthur W. Pightling

PhD Candidate 2003-present, Laboratory of Dr. John M. Logsdon Jr., 300 Old Biology Building, Roy J. Carver Center for Comparative Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City IA 52242-1324 USA, tel: 319-335-1083, fax: 319-335-1069

email: arthur-pightling at uiowa.edu

Current Research:

Current work makes use of the degenerate PCR technique to amplify RecA, MutL, Rad52 and Snf2 (Rad54/Rdh54 and other) homologs in early-branching protist lineages (the Excavates), with the goal to use gene duplication data to elucidate the evolution of meiotic paralagous genes, and to elucidate the tree of eukaryotic life via multigene analyses of the Excavates.

Education and research experience:

Ph.D. Candidate, Biology-Evolution, University of Iowa, August 2003 - present. The evolution of meiotic DNA strand transfer proteins. Thesis advisor: Dr. John M. Logsdon, Jr. Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City IA.

Protistology Workshop, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA, 11/2008.

Applied Phylogenetics Workshop, Bodega Bay CA, 3/2008.

M.S. Candidate, Biology, 8/2001 - 5/2003. Genetic variability of Giardia in the San Joaquin Valley. Thesis advisor: Dr. Paul Crosbie, California State University, Fresno, CA.

Biological Technician, Aquatics Crew, United States Forest Service, Sierra National Forest, May ­ August 2002 and 2003. As a member of the Northern Forest team, studies of the distribution and abundance of the Yosemite Toad, Bufo canoris, were performed with little or no supervision. Tasks included GPS navigation to a site, mapping the site, and identifying, collecting and documenting the subjects.

Independent Study, Spring 2002: Isolation and amplification of Caulerpa taxifolia genes for phylogenetic analysis. Advisor: Dr. Richard Zechman, California State University, Fresno CA.

B.S., Biology-Ecology, California State University, Fresno CA, 2001.

Independent Study, Spring 2001: Identification of Sierra Foothill lichens. Advisor: Dr. Richard Zechman, California State University, Fresno CA.

Awards:

International Society of Evolutionary Protistology Student Travel Award, July 2008, Protist 2008 Conference, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.

International Society of Protistologists Holz-Connor Student Travel Award, July 2008, Protist 2008 Conference, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.

Applied Phylogenetics Workshop Travel Award, March 2008, Bodega Bay CA.

Avis Cone Fellowship, Summer 2005: Phylogenetic Investigation into the Nature of a Rad51 Loss and Dmc1 Duplication in Giardia. Biology Dept., University of Iowa.

Avis Cone Fellowship, Summer 2004: Expanding Sampling for Studies of the Eukaryotic Tree of Life and the Evolution of Meiosis with recA Homologs from Photosynthetic Protists. Biology Dept., University of Iowa.

Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, Honorable Mention. August 2002, California State University, Fresno.

Faculty Sponsored Student Research Award, August 2002. Genetic variability of Giardia in the San Joaquin Valley. California State University, Fresno.

Publications:

Malik S.-B., Pightling A.W., Stefaniak L.M., Schurko A.M., Logsdon J.M. Jr. 2008. An expanded inventory of conserved meiotic genes provides evidence for sex
in Trichomonas vaginalis. Public Library of Science - One, 3:8:e2879. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002879. [article] [supplemental material] [comments]

Manuscripts in Preparation:

Pightling A.W. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. Evolutionary relationships of eukaryotic Rad51 and Dmc1 homologs. Manuscript in preparation.

Pightling A.W. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. Evolutionary relationships of eukaryotic SNF2 homologs. Manuscript in preparation.

Malik S.-B., Pightling A.W., Logsdon J.M. Jr. Origin and evolution of meiotic genes by duplication. Manuscript in preparation.

Pightling A.W. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. Evolutionary relationships of eukaryotic RecA homologs. Manuscript in preparation.


Presentations:

Pightling A.W., and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2009. Phylogenetic analyses of the RecA homologs Rad51 and Dmc1 reveal inter-homolog strand exchange in the last eukaryotic common ancestor and add resolution to the eukaryotic tree of life. Contributed Poster, Molecular evolution, Annual Meeting of the Soceity for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Iowa City, IA.

Pightling A.W., and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2009. Phylogenetic analyses of the RecA homologs Rad51 and Dmc1 reveal inter-homolog strand exchange in the last eukaryotic common ancestor and add resolution to the eukaryotic tree of life. Poster, Symposium on Evolution of Sex and Recombination: In Theory and in Practice, Iowa City, IA.

Pightling A.W., and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2008. Assembling the tree of eukaryotic life with the recA homologs Rad51 and Dmc1. Platform talk, Protist 2008, Joint Meeting of the International Society of Evolutionary Protistology and International Society of Protistologists, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.

Pightling A.W., and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2008. The evolution of meiosis by gene duplication. 12 minute talk in the Workshop in Applied Phylogenetics, University of California, Davis (Bodega Bay, CA).

Pightling A.W., and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2008. Assembling the tree of eukaryotic life with the recA homologs Rad51 and Dmc1. Poster, Department of Biology "Biodiversity: Annual Biological Sciences Graduate Poster Session", University of Iowa.

Pightling A.W., Sahni N. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2008. Evolutionary relationships among eukaryotic RecA homologs. Poster, 3rd Annual Biology Graduate Program Retreat, Dubuque IA.

Pightling A.W., and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2007. Assembling the tree of eukaryotic life with the recA recombinases Rad51 and Dmc1. Poster, Department of Biology "Biodiversity: Annual Biological Sciences Graduate Poster Session", University of Iowa.

Pightling A.W., Sahni N. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2006. Evolutionary relationships among eukaryotic RecA homologs. Poster, First Annual Biology Graduate Program Retreat, Dubuque IA.

Pightling A.W., and J.M. Logsdon Jr. 2006. Reconstruction of the evolutionary histories of eukaryotic recA recombinases. 45 minute research seminar, Roy J. Carver Center for Comparative Genomics Research Club, University of Iowa.

Teaching Experience:

Evolution. 8-12/2004, 1-5/2006, 8-12/2006, 1-5/2007, 8-12/2007, 1-5/2008, 8-12/2008 and 1-5/2009. University of Iowa; Iowa City, IA.

Ecology. January 2002 - May 2003. California State University, Fresno; Fresno, CA.

General Biology. January 2002 - May 2003. California State University, Fresno; Fresno, CA.

Skills:

Laboratory protocol: DNA extraction, exact match and degenerate PCR, primer design, cloning, DNA sequencing, BioMek liquid-handling robot operation, Applied Biosystems 3730 Sequencer operation, and cell culture of: Giardia intestinalis, Spironucleus vortens, Spironucleus barkhanus, Hexamita inflata, Chilomastix, E.coli.
 
Field protocol: mapping, photography, GPS navigation, specimen identification and collection.
 
Bioinformatics protocol:

Affiliations:

Member of the International society for Evolutionary Protistology, 2008-2010.
Member of the International Society of Protistologists, 2008-2009.

 

Graduate Coursework:

University of Iowa:
- Molecular Phylogenetics
- Population Genetics and Molecular Evolution
- Topics in Molecular Genetics - Cell Cycle Control
- Topics in Genetics - Meiosis: At the nucleus of genetics
- Writing in the Natural Sciences
- Topics in Evolution and Ecology - The evolution of sex
- Topics in Evolution and Ecology - The major transitions in evolution
- Topics in Neurobiology - Microscopy
- Topics in Evolution and Ecology - Evolution: From Darwin to Today

California State University, Fresno:
- Conservation Biology
- Foundations in Ecology
- Biogeography

- Systematic Biology
- Systems Ecology
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology

last modified 9th July 2009.

Copyright © 2009 Arthur W. Pightling.