Alexus Roberts Hugghis, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Bern, Switzerland

• In collaboration with Dean Mark Winey, Executive Associate Dean Ted Powers and fellow GAD Elena Suglia, I am working to identify and eradicate widespread issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Advise and collaborate with CBS leadership to develop and implement policies, programs, and resources to support equity and inclusion among a diverse student body
• Facilitate the the CBS Graduate DEIJ Leader Fellowship and the DEIJ Initiative Grant in support of grassroots DEIJ efforts within the college and the graduate students that lead them
• Primary Instructor of the Systemic Bias in Bioethics seminar course for upper-division undergraduates
• Work to define and achieve the objectives of the CBS Strategic Vision for DEIJ
• Support and facilitate communication and collaboration among DEIJ leaders across CBS at the undergraduate, graduate, faculty and administrative levels

• Advised by Professor Peter Wainwright, I am using functional morphology, biomechanics, ecomorphology and phylogenetic comparative methods to examine how major morphological innovations impact the evolution and function.
• Roberts, A.S., Hodge, J.H., Chakrabarty, P., and Wainwright, P.C. (2021). Anatomical basis of diverse jaw protrusion directionality in ponyfishes (Family Leiognathidae). Journal of Morphology, 282(3), 427–437..
• Roberts-Hugghis, A.S., Burress, E.D., Lam, B., and Wainwright, P.C. (2023). The cichlid pharyngeal jaw novelty enhances evolutionary integration in the feeding apparatus. Evolution, 77 (9), 1917–1929..
• Project development and management including experimental design, data collection, data analysis, and scientific writing and presentation
• Grant writing and successful acquisition of research funds
• Specimen acquisition via museum loans, field collection, and purchase from pet trade

• Primary instructor for two lab sections (~25 students/section) of the Introduction to Biology - Ecology and Evolution (BIS2B) course. Responsibilities & Skills Gained:
• Developed students' understanding of fundamental principles and concepts in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology through interactive lab experiments and assignments
• Provided constructive feedback to students through graded assignments

• Facilitated and oversaw all DISC initiatives in an effort to empower historically marginalized students and create community through professional development and graduate school preparation events including an annual.
• Provided leadership to all student facilitators throughout the design, development, and facilitation of all DISC programming
• Spearheaded all fundraising efforts including grant and proposal writing, dissemination to UC Davis and industry partners, and informational meetings regarding sponsorship
• Primary manager of all programming logistics, including the development, coordination, and facilitation of the 1st and 2nd Annual Diversity in STEM Conferences
• Developed and maintained positive working relationships with UCD entities & STEM industry partners

• Spearheaded the organization and presentation of this virtual series which aims to increase access and transparency of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduate programs in order to increase diversity within these.
• Provided leadership to all graduate student facilitators throughout the design, development, and facilitation of this program in its inaugural year
• Primary manager of all program logistics
• Supported the recruitment and review of student applicants
• Collaboratively pursued funding opportunities to support all program costs
• Established tailored participant support through peer mentorship pairings

• Co-designed and co-led students through a rigorous two-week course where we engaged with complex content from an introductory Ecology and Evolution course. Responsibilities & Skills Gained:
• Developed and structured all curriculum for an online setting
• Worked to advance scientific reasoning, quantitative ability, and writing skills through carefully designed interactive lessons, problem sets, and review sessions
• Emphasized dismantling obstacles to student success by leading daily discussions on campus resources, metacognitive skills, and the psychosocial aspects of learning
• Encouraged scientific identity by hosting a diversity of scientists for daily flash talks

University Of California, Davis

• Facilitated and oversaw all ESTEME initiatives, including outreach and professional development programming, in an effort to increase diversity, inclusion and equity in STEM and entrepreneurship. Responsibilities &.
• Served as primary representative to the Diversity in STEM Coalition
• Facilitated quarterly organization-wide meetings and regular executive team meetings
• Provided guidance and peer mentorship to the Directors of Outreach and Professional Development
• Collaborated with ESTEME's executive leaders to secure funding for all outreach and professional development meetings
• Facilitated the organization's strategic planning and goal setting sessions

University Of California, Davis

• Facilitated and oversaw all ESTEME outreach initiatives in an effort to promote the advancement and success of historically marginalized students in STEM and entreprenuership at the K-12, undergraduate, and graduate.
• Facilitated regularly scheduled outreach meetings
• Coordinated and assisted in the facilitation of all ESTEME outreach events
• Collaborated with ESTEME leaders to determine the direction and goals of the organization

University Of California, Davis

• Collaborated with fellow UC Davis graduate students to establish and run this after-school science program for 4th-8th grade students at Winters Middle School and Holy Rosary Catholic School.Responsibilities & Skills.
• Designed and established this program at two local schools with the aim of exposing young students to various STEM topics and to encourage scientific identity through interaction with a diverse group of student.
• Developed the program curriculum, designed activities and prepared all related materials, and facilitated biweekly visits to Holy Rosary Catholic School
• Recruited and trained graduate and undergraduate student volunteers to assist with program facilitation at each school
• Assisted graduate student leaders with activity development and facilitation
• Maintained a positive working relationship with the faculty and administrative staff at Holy Rosary

• Advised by Professor Reuben Goforth and Megan Gunn (lab manager), I conducted research to determine if temperature tolerance in Gulf Killifishes is related to their geographic distribution as part of my honors thesis.
• Collected specimens using seines and dip nets
• Performed animal husbandry duties in field and wet lab settings
• Constructed complex experimental apparatus
• Scientific writing and presentation

Friday Harbor Laboratories

• Advised by postdoctoral researchers Nicholas Gidmark and Stacy Farina, I performed research to understand the coevolutionary relationship between a jaw-closing muscle complex and the lower jaw in sculpin fishes. As.
• Roberts, A. S., Farina, S. C., Goforth, R. R., & Gidmark, N. J. (2018). Evolutionary correlations between skeletal and muscular morphology in the lower jaw adduction system of sculpins and relatives (Perciformes.
• Collected live specimens with various fishing techniques (e.g., seining, trawling, angling, and dip netting)
• Chemically processed specimens and musculoskeletal structures (e.g., muscle digestion and clearing and staining)
• Dissected musculoskeletal structures from preserved and cleared and stained specimens
• Performed surgery on anesthetized fishes to implant sonomicrometry crystals

• During the summer months from 2009-2014, I worked in various capacities at FWCZ. I gained key skills in public engagement and education as well as animal husbandry. Aquarium Internship in the Great Barrier Reef exhibit.
• Supervised and regulated the standard temperature, chemical and pH conditions of nine saltwater tanks
• Prepared and distributed specific diets to reef fishes, sharks, and jellyfishes
• Performed classical conditioning procedures during shark feedings
• Supervised weekly maintenance dives by monitoring divers and educating guests on dive procedures and aquarium information
• Participated in staff meetings and aided in ongoing aquarium projects

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Population Biology

Activities and Societies: Graduate Advisor to the College of Bio. Sci. Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2022-pres.); Population.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Ecology, Evolution, And Environmental Sciences

Activities and Societies: Boilers Supporting Boilers - Cofounder (2016-17); Science Diversity Office - ScienceScape Camp Counselor (2017).