Curriculum Vitae
Education
2011 – present
Rice University Houston, TX
Graduate program, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2010
Texas State University-San Marcos San Marcos, TX
M.S., Population and Conservation Biology
1998
Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas
B.A., Biology and Studio Art
Teaching / Employment
2012
Teaching Assistant (Infectious Diseases)
Rice University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2012
Teaching Assistant (Animal Behavior)
Rice University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
2008 – 2010
Instructional Assistant /Laboratory Preparation Assistant (Genetics)
Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Biology
2009
Laboratory Technician, Genetics
Texas Parks and Wildlife, A.E. Wood Laboratory
2008
Research Assistant
Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Biology
2007
Instructional Assistant (Functional Biology)
Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Biology
2007
Administrative Assistant, Texas State University-San Marcos
Office of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
2005 – 2007
Administrative Secretary, Indiana University School of Medicine
Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Health Services Research
Publications and Presentations
2013
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. A role for both ecology and geography as mechanisms of genetic differentiation in specialized butterflies. Evolutionary Ecology (early view: http://link.springer.com.ezproxy.rice.edu/article/10.1007%2Fs10682-012-9626-7).
2011
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. Experimental and population genetic evidence of host race formation in Mitoura butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Oikos 120: 1165 – 1174.
2010
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. Experimental and population genetic evidence of incipient host race formation in Mitoura butterflies. Society for the Study of Evolution, Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon (Oral presentation).
2010
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. Experimental and population genetic evidence of host race formation in the juniper hairstreak butterfly, Mitoura gryneus. Southwestern Association of Naturalists Annual Meeting, Junction, Texas (Oral presentation).
2010
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. Experimental and population genetic evidence of host race formation in the juniper hairstreak butterfly, Mitoura gryneus. 11th Ecological Integration Symposium, College Station, Texas (Oral presentation).
2010
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. Experimental and population genetic evidence of host race formation in the juniper hairstreak butterfly, Mitoura gryneus. Texas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Stephenville, Texas (Oral presentation).
2009
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. The role of host plant fidelity in the evolution of reproductive isolation. Society for the Study of Evolution, Annual Meeting, Moscow, Idaho (Oral presentation).
2009
Downey, Michelle H. and C. C. Nice. The role of host plant fidelity in the evolution of reproductive isolation: A study of Mitoura gryneus in Texas. Texas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Junction, Texas (Oral presentation).
Grants and Awards
2013
Rice Centennial Award to Support Undergraduate Research, $990.00
2012
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Award
$2,000.00
2011
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Scholarship
Tuition stipend and award, $2,000.00
2010
Texas State University-San Marcos
Durrenberger Scholarship for Women in Science, $2,000.00
2010
Texas Academy of Science
Student Research Award, $2,000.00
2010
Texas State University-San Marcos
George Strait-Freeman Fellows Graduate Scholarship, $3,000.00
2009
Texas State University – Department of Biology
W. E. Norris Scholarship, $500.00
2009
Texas Academy of Science
Student Research Award, $380.00
2008-09
The Graduate College – College of Science
Tuition Scholarship, $2,000.00
2008
Southwestern Association of Naturalists
Howard McCarley Student Research Award, $1,000.00
2008
American Museum of Natural History
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant, $1,000.00
Service
2012 – present
Graduate Student Association, Rice University
Graduate Council Member
2012 – present
Council on Diversity and Inclusion, Rice University
Graduate Student Representative
2012 – present
Rice University Women in Science and Engineering
Graduate Student Member
2012 – present
Rice University Women’s Resource Center
Graduate Student Volunteer
2008 – 2010
Tri-Beta Biological Honors Society, Kappa Zeta Chapter
Texas State University-San Marcos (Vice President 2009-10)
2008 – 2010
Biology Graduate Student Organization
Texas State University-San Marcos (Secretary 2008-09; Committee for Invited
Speaker 2009-10)
2007
Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
2006 – 2007
Hoosier Riverwatch, Indianapolis, Indiana
2005
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, Texas
Professional Affiliations
Society for the Study of Evolution
Ecological Society of America
Southwestern Association of Naturalists
Texas Academy of Science