Timothy J.

Sullivan

Timothy Sullivan 1

Department of Biology,
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Billeaud Hall (room 108), 410 E. St Mary Blvd. Lafayette LA 70504
http://timothyjsullivan.weebly.com/

PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION

Ph.D. Biology The University of Louisiana, Lafayette LA - Est. May 2017) - GPA: 4.0

Ph.D. dissertation: Evaluation of population structure and natural selection for pathogen
adaptation in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (advisor: Dr. J. Neigel)

M.S. Biology University of Toledo, Toledo OH - completed May 2013) - GPA: 3.92

M.S. Thesis: A fine-scale analysis of spatial and temporal population genetic structure in the
yellow perch (Perca flavescens) (advisor: Dr. C. Stepien)

B.A. Biology The College of Wooster, Wooster OH - completed May 2010 - GPA 3.16

Independent Study: Predation and Geography; Influential factor driving morphological evolution
in the mountain mullet Agonostomus monticola of Tobago (advisor: Dr. R. Lehtinen)

APPOINTMENTS

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

2016
Research Assistant - University of Louisiana at Lafayette supported by GoMRI
2013-16 University Fellowship - University of Louisiana at Lafayette

The University of Toledo

2011-13 National Science Foundation GK-12 Teaching Fellowship, University of Toledo
Graduate Teaching Fellows in STEM High School Education
2010-11 Research assistantship - University of Toledo supported by NOAA Seagrant
TEACHING AND MENTOR EXPERIENCE

South Louisiana Community College

2016
Guest Lecturer 3 sections of Introductory Biology
Topic: Molecular techniques and DNA technology

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette

2014-15 Teaching Assistant for Foundation of Biology Lab (Fall) and Genetics Lab (Spring)

The University of Toledo

2011-13 Mentor for undergraduate student Susanne Karsiotis during NSF URM project
- Paper submitted as Stepien et al. 2016 in review
2012-13 NSF Teaching Fellow at Ottawa Hills High School, Toledo Ohio
- Duties involved teaching Anatomy and Physiology, Botany, and Zoology and
mentoring 45 senior level high school science projects
2011-12 NSF Teaching Fellow at Ottawa Hills High School, Toledo Ohio
- Duties involved teaching lectures and lab for 5 introductory biology classes and
mentoring 50 freshman level high school level science projects

GRANTS AND AWARDS

2014-16
2013-16

Timothy Sullivan 2

Rockefeller Wildlife Scholarship ($7500)

Research Grant-University of Louisiana at Lafayette GSO ($960)

PAPERS

1. Sullivan, T.J., Gelpi, C.G., and Neigel, J.E. 2016. Molecular detection of the parasitic
dinoflagellate, Hematodinium perezi, in blue crabs of Louisiana. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms.
120: 83-88.
2. Yednock, B.K., Sullivan, T.J., and Neigel, J.E. 2015. De novo assembly of a transcriptome from
juvenile blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) following exposure to surrogate Macondo crude oil.
BMC Genomics. 16(521):1-15.
3. Sullivan, T.J. and Stepien, C.A. 2015. Temporal population genetic structure of yellow perch Perca
flavescens spawning groups in the lower Great Lakes. Transactions of the American Fisheries
Society 144(1): 211-226.
4. Sullivan, T.J. and Stepien, C.A. 2014. Genetic diversity and divergence of yellow perch (Perca
flavescens) spawning populations across the Huron-Erie Corridor, from Lake Huron through
western Lake Erie. Journal of Great Lakes Research 40 (Supp 2): 101-109.
5. Kocovsky, P.M., Sullivan, T.J., Knight, C.T., Stepien, C.A. 2013. Genetic and morphometric
differences distinguish unique stocks of yellow perch Perca flavescens in central Lake Erie.
Journal of Fish Biology 82: 2015-2030.
6. Stepien, C.A., Grigorovich, I.A., Murphy, D.M., Grey, M.A., Sullivan, T.J., Woolwine, S.,
Kalayci, G. 2013. Evolutionary, biographic, and population genetic
relationships of Driessenid mussels, with revision of component taxa. In Quagga
and Zebra Mussels: Biology, Impacts, and Control, 2nd Edition.
PAPERS (IN-REVIEW)

1. Stepien, C.A., Karsiotis, S.E, Sullivan, T.J., and Klymus, K. 2016 in review. Population genetic
structure and comparative diversity of smallmouth bass: congruent patterns from two genomes.
Journal of Fish Biology.
2. Dias, P.J. et al. 2016 in review. An Introduced Marine Species Specimen Reference Collection and
DNA Barcode Library to support Marine Biosecurity Monitoring in Australia. Management of
Biological Invasion.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1. Sullivan, T.J., Gelpi, C.G., and Neigel, J.E. 2016. Factors impacting the first reported occurrences
of the parasitic dinoflagellate, Hematodinium perezi in blue crabs of Louisiana. University of
Louisiana at Lafayette, Departmental Seminar
2. Sullivan, T.J., and Neigel, J.E. 2015. Fine-scale population genetic structure of yellow perch: A
spatial and temporal analysis of Lake Erie stocks. University of Louisiana at Lafayette,
Departmental Seminar
3. Sullivan, T.J., and Stepien, C.A., 2013. Delineation of fish stocks as an emerging management
issue: examples from walleye, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass. Ohio Fish and Wildlife
Managers Association, Columbus Ohio
4. Sullivan, T.J., and Stepien, C.A., 2013. Delineation of Lake Erie fish populations: examples from
walleye, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass. Ohio State Annual Research Review, Columbus
Ohio
5. Sullivan, T.J., Sepulveda-Villet O.J., and Stepien, C.A. 2012. Genetic diversity, divergence, and

Timothy Sullivan 3

connectivity of yellow perch spawning groups along the Huron-Erie Corridor. Ohio Fish and
Wildlife Management Conference, Columbus Ohio
6. Stepien, C.A., Haponski, A.E., Sullivan, T.J. 2012. Genetic identification of walleye and yellow
perch stocks along the HEC: Preliminary findings pre- and post-habitat augmentation. HEC
steering Committee Meeting, Romulus, MI.
7. Sullivan, T.J., Sepulveda-Villet O.J., and Stepien, C.A. 2012. Population genetic patterns of yellow
perch in the lower Great Lakes. Midwest Graduate Research Symposium, Toledo Ohio
8. Sullivan, T.J., Sepulveda-Villet O.J., and Stepien, C.A. 2012. Genetic variation of yellow perch fish
stocks along a degraded riverine network. 4th international EcoSummit, Columbus Ohio
9. Sullivan, T.J., and Stepien, C.A. 2011. Fine-scale population genetic structure of yellow perch: A
spatial and temporal analysis of Lake Erie stocks. American Fisheries Society, Seattle
Washington
*Finalist for Best Student Presentation
10. Sullivan, T.J., and Stepien, C.A. 2011. Fine scale population genetic structure of Lake Erie yellow
perch Perca flavescens. International Association of Great Lakes Research, Duluth Minnesota
11. Sullivan, T.J., and Stepien, C.A. 2011. Fine scale population genetic structure of Lake Erie yellow
perch Perca flavescens. Midwest Graduate Research Symposium, Toledo Ohio
POSTER PRESENTATIONS

1. Sullivan, T.J., Gelpi, C.G., and Neigel, J.E. 2016. The role of environmental stress in pathogen
dynamics for Louisiana blue crab populations. Ocean Sciences meeting, American Society of
Limnology and Oceanography, New Orleans Louisiana
2. Sullivan, T.J., and Stepien, C.A. 2011. Fine scale population genetic structure of Lake Erie yellow
perch Perca flavescens. Ohio Fish and Wildlife Managers Association, Columbus Ohio
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE

Joseph Neigel, Advisor and Chair, Professor of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Caryl Chlan, Associate Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Scott Duke-Sylvester, Associate Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Glenn Watson, Professor, Associate Dean of the Ray P Authement College of Sciences, University of
Louisiana at Lafayette
David Eggleston, Professor of Marine Science, Department of Marine, Earth & Atmospheric Science,
Director, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University
RELEVANT COURSEWORK

Undergraduate: Vertebrate and Invertebrate Zoology, Cellular Physiology, Tropical Field Biology,
Biostatistics, Conservation Biology, Calculus, Physics, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry
Masters: Advanced Biostatistics, Foundations of Ecology, Phylogenetic Analysis, Genetic Approaches
to Conservation Biology, Methods in Landscape Genetics, Special Topic Teaching Aquatic
Ecology for K-12, Evolutionary and Ecological Adaptation in Aquatic Communities, Population
Genetic Structure, GIS for Environmental Science, Conservation Genomics, Special Topic
Communicating Science to Community Stakeholders, Advanced Lake Erie Fishery Management
Dissertation: Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Molecular and Cellular Engineering Lab, Molecular
Evolution, Statistical Ecology, Marine Ecology, Biochemical Adaptation to the Environment,
Population Genetics, Evolutionary Ecology, Special Projects: Programming in Python
FIELD AND LABORATORY SKILLS

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Field Sampling (Vertebrate and Invertebrate): Seining, Electroshocking, Beam and Otter Trawl, GillNetting, Rod and Reel, Crap Pots, Hoop Nets, Minnow Traps, plankton nets, stationary
settlement collectors for invertebrate post-larvae
Water Quality: Hach, LaMonte and Ward kits, YSI
Laboratory Skills: Tissue and hemolymph DNA extraction, dna quality estimation by nanodrop and
bioanalyzer, PCR, primer design, SYBR green qPCR, TaqMan qPCR, cDNA synthesis, Sander
sequencing, microsatellite fragment analysis, agarose and polyacrylamide electrophoresis, SNP
genotyping, next generation sequencing
Bioinformatic skills: ability to write in Perl, R and Python, de novo assembly of transcriptomes by
Trinity, population genetic programs (Genepop, Structure, Arlequin, Lemark, LFMM etc.),
sequence based programs (MrBayes, PhyML, Mega, etc.)
RESEARCH INTERESTS

Population genetics, Molecular Ecology, Larval Biology, Disease Ecology, Ichthyology, Evolution,
Tropical Biodiversity, Fisheries Ecology and Management
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, American Fisheries Society (Genetic section)
International Association for Great Lakes Research, Ohio Academy of Science
SERVICE AND SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES

Grant Reviewer (NOAA Stallston-Kennedy Program -- 2016)

Asked to review submitted grants focused of fisheries genetics and molecular ecology for
federal funding support
Invited Speaker (Hillsdale College -- 2013)
One hour night lecture on molecular ecology and the application of genetic techniques for
aquatic conservation
Public Community Lecturer (Lake Erie Center 2011)
One hour public lecture/discussion entitled Fine-scale population genetic structure of
yellow perch: A spatial and temporal analysis of Lake Erie stocks
High School Science Fair Project Judge
Lafayette District (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
Lake Erie Center Poster Show (2011 and 2012)
Northwest District 2 Science Day (2012)
Ohio State Science Fair Special Award Judge for Stone Laboratory (2012)