C.V.
Academic Positions
Dec 2013 to Present
Assistant Professor, Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Sciences
Sept 2012 to Nov 2013
Assistant Project Scientist, National Marine Fisheries Service, University of California, Santa Cruz, Evolutionary genomics of Pacific salmonids, J.C. Garza, supervisor
Aug. 2009 to Aug. 2012
Postdoctoral Scholar, Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, Ecological and evolutionary genomics of the coral stress response, S.R. Palumbi, advisor
Education
2003 - 2009 M.Sc. and Ph.D.
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Zoology, Honolulu, HI. Specialization in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology. Dissertation Title: Plastic versus fixed influences on coral response to fluctuating environmental conditions: Sources of coral resilience and stress tolerance in a changing climate. Ph.D. awarded August 2009
1997 - 2000 B.S.
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA. Focus in Ecology/Environmental Science
Publications
Torda G, Donelson JM, Aranda M, Barshis DJ, et al. (2017) Rapid adaptive responses
to climate change in corals. Nature Climate Change. 7, 627-636. Selected for
Journal Cover
McKeon S, Weber M, Alter SE, Seavy N, Crandall E, Barshis DJ, et al. (2016)
Melting barriers to faunal exchange across ocean basins. Global Change Biology.
22, 465-471. Selected for journal cover and featured in the Washington Post
Egekwu N, Sonenshine DE, Garman H, Barshis DJ, Cox N, Bissinger BW, Roe RM
(2016) Comparing synganglion neuropeptides, neuropeptide receptors and
neurotransmitter recepters and their gene expression in response to feeding in
Ixodes scapularis (Ixodidae) versus Ornithodoros turicata (Argasidae). Insect
Molecular Biology. 25, 72-92
McKeon S, Tunberg BG, Johnston CA, Barshis DJ (2015) Ecological drivers and
habitat associations of esturaine bivalves. PeerJ. 3:e1348
Palumbi SR, Barshis DJ, Traylor-Knowles N, Bay RA (2014) Mechanisms of reef
coral resistance to future climate change. Science. 344, 895-898 (pdf)
Barshis DJ, Ladner JT, Oliver TA, Palumbi SR (2014) Lineage specific
transcriptional profiles of Symbiodinium spp. unaltered by heat stress in a coral
host. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 31, 1343-1352 (pdf)
Barshis DJ, Oliver TA, Ladner JT, Seneca FO, Traylor-Knowles N, Palumbi SR
(2013) Genomic basis for coral resilience to climate change. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences. 110, 1387-1392, Selected for journal cover and
the subject of over 30 popular press articles (this one’s the best) (open access pdf)
Ladner JT, Barshis DJ, Palumbi SR (2012) Amino acid sequence evolution in four
Symbiodinium clades: an exploration into the genetic basis of thermal tolerance
in Symbiodinium clade D. BMC Evolutionary Biology 12:217 (open access pdf)
Amend A, Barshis DJ, Oliver TA (2012) Coral-associated marine fungi form novel
lineages and heterogeneous assemblages. The ISME Journal. 6, 1291-1301
DeWit P, Pespeni MH, Ladner JT, Barshis DJ et al. (2012) The simple fool's guide
to population genomics via RNA-Seq: an introduction to high-throughput
sequencing data analysis. Molecular Ecology Resources. 12, 1058-1067 (pdf)
Padilla-Gamino J, Bidigare RR, Barshis DJ, Alamaru A et al. (2012) Are all eggs
created equal? A case study from the Hawaiian reef building coral Montipora
capitata. Coral Reefs. 31, 137-152 (link)
Barshis DJ, Sotka EE, Kelly RP, Sivasundar A, Menge BA, Barth JA, Palumbi SR
(2011) A link between coastal upwelling and temporal genetic variability in the
Acorn Barnacle Balanus glandula. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 439,
139-150 (link)
Barshis DJ, Stillman JH, Gates RD, Toonen RJ, Smith LW, Birkeland C (2010)
Protein expression and genetic structure of the coral Porites lobata in an
environmentally extreme Samoan back reef: does host genotype limit phenotypic
plasticity? Molecular Ecology 19(8), 1705-1720
Brown DP, Basch L, Barshis DJ, Forsman Z, Fenner D, Goldberg J (2009)
American Samoa’s island of giants: Massive Porites colonies at Ta’u Island.
Coral Reefs 28, 735
Forsman Z, Barshis DJ, Hunter C, Toonen RJ (2009) Shape-shifting corals:
Molecular markers show morphology is evolutionarily plastic in Porites. BMC
Evolutionary Biology 9, 45 (open access pdf)
Smith LW, Barshis DJ, Birkeland C (2007) Phenotypic plasticity for skeletal
growth, density and calcification of Porites lobata in response to habitat type.
Coral Reefs 26, 559-567
Other Publications
Barshis DJ (2015) Genomic potential for coral survival of climate change. In: Coral
Reefs in the Anthropocene (C. Birkeland, editor), Springer, Netherlands. 133-146
Willette DA, Allendorf FW, Barber PH, Barshis DJ et al. (2014) So, you want to
use next-generation sequencing in marine systems? Insight from the Pan-Pacific
Advanced Studies Institute. Bulletin of Marine Science. 90(1), 79-122
Pinsky ML, Kroeker KJ, Logan CA, Barshis DJ (2013) Marine conservation
and climate change. In: Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (S. Levin, editor),
Academic Press, San Diego. 32-44
Spalding H, Gupta A, Barshis DJ, Knope M, Tice K, Dirzo R, Wilber C (2010)
Broader impacts from the bottom-up: integrating K-12 education into your grant
applications. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 8(4), 217-218
Grants, Awards, and Fellowships
Underlined = current and pending funding
Feb. 2016 Pending
NSFOCE, Co-PI
Jan. 2016 Pending
NSF LTER, Co-PI
Jan. 2016 Pending
NSF LTER, Co-PI
Jan. 2016 Pending
NSF IOS, Co-PI
Jan. 2016 Pending
NSF IOS, Co-PI
2015-2016 Current
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, PI
Oct. 2013
Interagency Ecological Program, Genomic basis of migration success in Pacific salmonids, Co-PI (Dr. John Carlos Garza-PI)
2010-2011
Schmidt Ocean Institute, Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship (two years salary plus research funds)
2010
Schmidt Ocean Institute, Genetics of Invertebrate Macrofauna in the Sargasso Sea, PI
2008/06/03
University of Hawai‘i, C.H. and M.B. Edmondson Research Fund
2008/04
University of Hawai‘i, Evolution, Ecology and Conservation Biology Student Research Award
2007-2008
GK-12 Education Fellowship, National Science Foundation, Administered by Dr. Kenneth Kaneshiro, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI
2004
University of Hawai‘i, Watson T. Yoshimoto Scholarship
2004
University of Hawai‘i, Arts & Sciences Advisory Council Research Award
Teaching Experience
Fall 2015 Instructor, Old Dominion University, Advanced Bioinformatics Biol 795/895
Spring 2015 Instructor, Old Dominion University, Molecular Ecology Biol 453/553
Fall 2014 Instructor, Old Dominion University, Practical Computing for Biologists Biol 795/895
June 2014 Instructor, Introduction to Genome Data Analysis: Assembly, Annotation, and Application, Old Dominion University and De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
2014, 2012, 2010 Instructor, Stanford University, Ecology of the Hawaiian Islands, Coral Reef Ecology Module, Puako, Hawai‘i
August 2012 Instructor, Genetic Linkages in the Pacific Ocean, Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence, Kewalo Marine Laboratory, Honolulu, Hawai‘i
July 2012 Instructor, Pan-Pacific Advanced Studies Institute, Genomic Applications to Marine Science and Resource Management in SE Asia, Old Dominion University and Silliman University, Dumaguete, Philippines
2011 Assistant Instructor, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Environmental Biomechanics, Physiology, and Genomics of Marine Species, Pacific Grove, California
2010 Instructor, Frontiers Abroad, Earth Systems: Marine Ecology and Coastal Management of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
2007 – 2008 GK-12 NSF Teaching Fellow, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, High School Special Needs Instructor, Elementary School Hands-on Marine Science Teacher, Honolulu, Hawai‘i
2007 Assistant Instructor, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, The Pauley Program 2007 Molecular Biology of Coral Reefs, Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i
2004 Teaching Assistant, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Biology, Biology of Marine Organisms, Awarded Outstanding TA Award, Honolulu, Hawai‘i
2003 Teaching Assistant, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, Honolulu, Hawai‘i
1999-2000 High School Math and Science Tutor, Upward Bound, Key Student Services, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington
1998-1999 G.E.D. Math, Science, Language Tutor, Cedar Creek Correctional Facility, Washington
Research and Professional Experience
2004 – 2007, 2009 Research Assistant, United States Geological Survey/University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Zoology, Ph.D. Dissertation research on the physiological and genetic mechanisms of stress tolerance in the reef-building coral Porites lobata
2002 - 2003 Research Technician, College of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, Rapid biological assessment surveys of outer atoll marine diversity for marine protected area design
2001 Agricultural Research Technician, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Range estimates of invasive agricultural pests in Southwestern Washington
2001 Student Researcher, College of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, Diversity characterization of the Molluscs of the Marshall Islands
2000 Student Researcher, International Canopy Network, The Evergreen State College, Species diversity and stand complexity of newly planted vs. old growth Pacific Northwest Forests
Invited Lectures and Outreach
Sept. 2014
Guest Seminar Speaker, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Marine Sciences Institute
Oct. 2013
Guest Seminar Speaker, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Sept. 2013
Guest Seminar Speaker, Pacific Sciences Center, USGS Santa Cruz
Jan. 2013
Guest Seminar Speaker, Nova Southeastern University
Dec. 2012
Guest Seminar Speaker, Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University
Sept. 2012
Guest Panel Member, First Nations Futures Program, Stanford University
Feb. 2012
Guest Seminar Speaker, Biology Department, Western Washington University
Feb. 2012
Guest Seminar Speaker, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Oct. 2011
Guest Seminar Speaker, Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University
Sept. 2011
Guest Speaker and Advisory Panel Member, “Asia Pacific Youth Science Exchange Forum”, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
Jan. and Aug. 2009-2011
Outreach Education, Olosega Elementary and Middle School, Olosega Island, American Samoa
May 2010
Guest Class Lecturer and Seminar Speaker, “Marine Life Program”, The Evergreen State College
May 2005
Guest Class Lecturer, BIO 403 Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Scientific Presentations
2015
Very local adaptation in coral thermal tolerance limits: evidence from 2.5 countries, 2 oceans, and 2 species. Western Society of Naturalists meeting, Sacramento, CA, Oral Presentation
2014
The application of ecophysiological and genomic investigations of thermal variability to mesophotic coral reefs. Israeli Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Workshop, Interuniversity Institute, Eilat, Israel, Poster Presentation
2013
Corals in hot water: the mechanics of coral climate change resilience. JIMAR/PIFSC Symposium: Climate and Change, Honolulu, HI, Oral Presentation
2013
Genomic signatures of increased stress tolerance in reef corals. Yosemite Symbiosis Workshop, Wawona, CA, Oral presentation
2012
Genomic signatures of increased stress tolerance in reef corals. Annual meeting of the Western Society of Naturalists, Seaside, CA, Oral presentation
2012
Location and Symbiodinium type drive gene expression during heat stress in Acropora hyacinthus. 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns, Australia, Oral presentation
2011
Linking environment, to genotype, to expression phenotype through next-generation transcriptome sequencing of a reef-building coral. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Norman, OK, Oral presentation
2010
Sequencing the dirty coral holobiont: metagenomic profiling of the Acropora hyacinthus community. European International Society for Reef Studies 2010 Symposium, Wageningen, Netherlands, Oral Presentation
2010
Stress resistance and resilience in the coral Acropora hyacinthus: gene expression analysis based on high-throughput sequencing. American Physiological Society Intersociety Meeting, Westminster, CO, Poster
2010
Evolution of climate change resilience in American Samoan corals. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Portland, OR, Oral presentation
2009
Coastal upwelling may drive sweepstakes recruitment in the Acorn Barnacle Balanus glandula. Annual meeting of the Western Society of Naturalists, Monterey, CA, Oral presentation
2008
Corals in hot water: physiological responses of Porites lobata in a diurnally fluctuating environment. 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Oral presentation
2008
Host adaptation to thermal extremes? Evidence from the reef building coral Porites lobata. Annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, TX, Oral presentation
2007
Acclimatization of thermal and oxidative stress responses to environmental fluctuation in the reef building coral Porites lobata. International Conference on the Ecophysiology of Marine Organisms: Coping with change, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Poster
2006
Physiological conditioning by a short-term stress regime: stress biomarker levels in the reef-building coral Porites lobata. ASLO, AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI, Poster
2004
Chemical defense mechanisms in Hawaiian Scleractinia. 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, Okinawa, Japan, Poster
Professional Affiliations
American Physiological Society, International Society for Reef Studies, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Society for the Study of Evolution, Western Society of Naturalists
Professional Service
Reviewer for: BMC Genomics, BMC Evolutionary Biology, Coral Reefs, Ichthyological Research, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Journal of Marine Biology, Journal of Proteome Research, Limnology and Oceanography, Marine Biology, Marine Ecology Progress Series, Marine Environmental Research, Molecular Ecology, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, PLoS ONE, Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences
Certifications and Other Qualifications
American Association of Underwater Scientists (AAUS) Scientific Diver, PADI Certified Rescue SCUBA Diver, APD Inspiration Level 1 Closed-Circuit Rebreather Diver, Fluent in Conversational Spanish
