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 (DEIJ) in the College of Biological Sciences (CBS). Responsibilities & Skills Gained: • 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• Participate in campus-wide DEI activities and maintaining a working relationship with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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 of the fish feeding apparatus. Specifically, I am focused on how oral jaw protrusion and pharyngognathy affect patterns of evolutionary and kinematic patterns of the oral and pharyngeal jaws. Relevant Publication(s): • 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. https:/doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21314 • 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. https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpad109. *Editor's choice articleResponsibilities & Skills Gained: • 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 • Animal husbandry in a wet lab setting• Mentoring/Advising of undergraduate researchers and peer mentoring among lab members

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 conference. Responsibilities & Skills Gained: • 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 fields. Responsibilities & Skills Gained: • 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

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 & Skills Gained: • 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

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 levels.Responsibilities & Skills Gained: • 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

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 Gained: • 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 researchers• 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• Pursued funding to support all supply costs

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 title "Niche partitioning in Gulf Killifish". Additionally, I completed data collection related to my work on the evolution of lower jaw musculoskeletal system in sculpins. Responsibilities & Skills Gained: • 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

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 this research was done as part of a research experience for undergraduates (REU), I also participated in professional development, skill building, and networking sessions. Relevant Publication(s) & Key Findings: • 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: Cottoidei). Zoology, 129, 59–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2018.06.006Responsibilities & Skills Gained: • 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• Prepared jaw-closing muscles from freshly euthanized specimens for force transduction experiments• Performed and assisted with force transduction experiments• Collected and analyzed morphological data• Scientific writing and presentation

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 -- May 2014•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• Maintained cleanliness standards throughout the public exhibitZookeeper Aide in the African Exhibit & Central Kitchen -- June 2011 & 2012• Sustained the living environments for five reticulated giraffes• Monitored the behaviors and activities of the giraffes in the barn and on exhibit to ensure their healthand safety• Prepared and administered meals and vitamin supplements for sea lions, penguins, bird species, and lions• Maintained cleanliness standards throughout the public exhibitsSummer Safari Camp Aide -- June 2009 & 2010• Collaborated with supervisors and volunteers to educate young students about animals and theenvironment through interactive zoo tours