Dr. Katja Seltmann 

Bio:
Katja Seltmann is the Director of the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Cheadle Center manages 400 acres of restored habitat in coastal central California and maintains a natural history collection of over half a million specimens. Her research blends data science, digitized collections, and media arts to understand insect biodiversity, conservation, and evolution. Katja is currently leading the "Extending Anthophila Research Through Image and Trait Digitization" (Big-Bee) project, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. This multi-year initiative focuses on digitizing bee collections by capturing high-resolution images of bee specimens and creating detailed datasets of their traits. The project involves collaboration with thirteen U.S. institutions and government agencies, aiming to enhance research capabilities and support bee biodiversity conservation efforts.

Abstract:
Functional traits of bees, such as pilosity (hairiness), wing patterns, and dietary preferences, are important for understanding their ecology and evolution. These traits influence pollen collection, pollination efficiency, temperature regulation, and resilience to environmental changes. In this seminar, I will share our work at UC Santa Barbara's Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, where we utilize computer vision and machine learning to analyze high-resolution bee images and large specimen datasets from natural history collections. Our methods offer innovative ways to explore bee biodiversity, including findings that climate and evolutionary history may influence bee hair patterns, that population variations can be detected through wing venation analysis, and that the pollen diet of bees can be predicted based on range size and other factors. Overall, our research provides deeper insights into bee biology and trait evolution and shows potential for improving bee health and conservation monitoring by identifying traits related to resilience and stress.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Katja Seltmann 

Bio:
Katja Seltmann is the Director of the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Cheadle Center manages 400 acres of restored habitat in coastal central California and maintains a natural history collection of over half a million specimens. Her research blends data science, digitized collections, and media arts to understand insect biodiversity, conservation, and evolution. Katja is currently leading the "Extending Anthophila Research Through Image and Trait Digitization" (Big-Bee) project, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. This multi-year initiative focuses on digitizing bee collections by capturing high-resolution images of bee specimens and creating detailed datasets of their traits. The project involves collaboration with thirteen U.S. institutions and government agencies, aiming to enhance research capabilities and support bee biodiversity conservation efforts.

Abstract:
Functional traits of bees, such as pilosity (hairiness), wing patterns, and dietary preferences, are important for understanding their ecology and evolution. These traits influence pollen collection, pollination efficiency, temperature regulation, and resilience to environmental changes. In this seminar, I will share our work at UC Santa Barbara's Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, where we utilize computer vision and machine learning to analyze high-resolution bee images and large specimen datasets from natural history collections. Our methods offer innovative ways to explore bee biodiversity, including findings that climate and evolutionary history may influence bee hair patterns, that population variations can be detected through wing venation analysis, and that the pollen diet of bees can be predicted based on range size and other factors. Overall, our research provides deeper insights into bee biology and trait evolution and shows potential for improving bee health and conservation monitoring by identifying traits related to resilience and stress.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Katja Seltmann 

Bio:
Katja Seltmann is the Director of the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Cheadle Center manages 400 acres of restored habitat in coastal central California and maintains a natural history collection of over half a million specimens. Her research blends data science, digitized collections, and media arts to understand insect biodiversity, conservation, and evolution. Katja is currently leading the "Extending Anthophila Research Through Image and Trait Digitization" (Big-Bee) project, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. This multi-year initiative focuses on digitizing bee collections by capturing high-resolution images of bee specimens and creating detailed datasets of their traits. The project involves collaboration with thirteen U.S. institutions and government agencies, aiming to enhance research capabilities and support bee biodiversity conservation efforts.

Abstract:
Functional traits of bees, such as pilosity (hairiness), wing patterns, and dietary preferences, are important for understanding their ecology and evolution. These traits influence pollen collection, pollination efficiency, temperature regulation, and resilience to environmental changes. In this seminar, I will share our work at UC Santa Barbara's Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, where we utilize computer vision and machine learning to analyze high-resolution bee images and large specimen datasets from natural history collections. Our methods offer innovative ways to explore bee biodiversity, including findings that climate and evolutionary history may influence bee hair patterns, that population variations can be detected through wing venation analysis, and that the pollen diet of bees can be predicted based on range size and other factors. Overall, our research provides deeper insights into bee biology and trait evolution and shows potential for improving bee health and conservation monitoring by identifying traits related to resilience and stress.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Farrah Madison 

Bio:
Dr. Farrah N. Madison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Madison Avian Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, following an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Hope College and Johns Hopkins University, where she expanded her expertise in neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience. Dr. Madison’s research explores the neurobiological, genetic, and endocrine mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in songbirds, particularly focusing on how the endocrine system responds to social and environmental changes. Her work has provided insight into sex, strain, and morph-specific differences in brain plasticity, stress responses, and social behavior, utilizing avian models such as canaries, zebra finches, and Gouldian finches. By integrating molecular, neural, and behavioral approaches, her research seeks to advance our understanding of how hormones and genetic factors shape communication and social behaviors.

Abstract:
Social behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, and mating, vary widely across species, yet the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms regulating these behaviors are often conserved. While numerous studies have investigated gene-behavior associations, few have established direct functional links between genetic variation and individual behavioral differences. Research in my lab takes a comparative approach by leveraging naturally occurring phenotypic variation in songbirds, such as sex and color morphs, to uncover key differences in neurocircuitry, gene expression, and endocrine function that shape complex social behaviors. By integrating behavioral observations with molecular and neuroendocrine techniques, we aim to identify how specific genetic and hormonal factors influence individual differences in complex social behaviors. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms driving behavioral diversity in avian models and provides broader insights into the conserved genetic pathways underlying social behavior across species.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Farrah Madison 

Bio:
Dr. Farrah N. Madison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Madison Avian Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, following an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Hope College and Johns Hopkins University, where she expanded her expertise in neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience. Dr. Madison’s research explores the neurobiological, genetic, and endocrine mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in songbirds, particularly focusing on how the endocrine system responds to social and environmental changes. Her work has provided insight into sex, strain, and morph-specific differences in brain plasticity, stress responses, and social behavior, utilizing avian models such as canaries, zebra finches, and Gouldian finches. By integrating molecular, neural, and behavioral approaches, her research seeks to advance our understanding of how hormones and genetic factors shape communication and social behaviors.

Abstract:
Social behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, and mating, vary widely across species, yet the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms regulating these behaviors are often conserved. While numerous studies have investigated gene-behavior associations, few have established direct functional links between genetic variation and individual behavioral differences. Research in my lab takes a comparative approach by leveraging naturally occurring phenotypic variation in songbirds, such as sex and color morphs, to uncover key differences in neurocircuitry, gene expression, and endocrine function that shape complex social behaviors. By integrating behavioral observations with molecular and neuroendocrine techniques, we aim to identify how specific genetic and hormonal factors influence individual differences in complex social behaviors. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms driving behavioral diversity in avian models and provides broader insights into the conserved genetic pathways underlying social behavior across species.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Farrah Madison 

Bio:
Dr. Farrah N. Madison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Madison Avian Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, following an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Hope College and Johns Hopkins University, where she expanded her expertise in neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience. Dr. Madison’s research explores the neurobiological, genetic, and endocrine mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in songbirds, particularly focusing on how the endocrine system responds to social and environmental changes. Her work has provided insight into sex, strain, and morph-specific differences in brain plasticity, stress responses, and social behavior, utilizing avian models such as canaries, zebra finches, and Gouldian finches. By integrating molecular, neural, and behavioral approaches, her research seeks to advance our understanding of how hormones and genetic factors shape communication and social behaviors.

Abstract:
Social behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, and mating, vary widely across species, yet the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms regulating these behaviors are often conserved. While numerous studies have investigated gene-behavior associations, few have established direct functional links between genetic variation and individual behavioral differences. Research in my lab takes a comparative approach by leveraging naturally occurring phenotypic variation in songbirds, such as sex and color morphs, to uncover key differences in neurocircuitry, gene expression, and endocrine function that shape complex social behaviors. By integrating behavioral observations with molecular and neuroendocrine techniques, we aim to identify how specific genetic and hormonal factors influence individual differences in complex social behaviors. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms driving behavioral diversity in avian models and provides broader insights into the conserved genetic pathways underlying social behavior across species.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Farrah Madison 

Bio:
Dr. Farrah N. Madison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Madison Avian Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, following an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Hope College and Johns Hopkins University, where she expanded her expertise in neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience. Dr. Madison’s research explores the neurobiological, genetic, and endocrine mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in songbirds, particularly focusing on how the endocrine system responds to social and environmental changes. Her work has provided insight into sex, strain, and morph-specific differences in brain plasticity, stress responses, and social behavior, utilizing avian models such as canaries, zebra finches, and Gouldian finches. By integrating molecular, neural, and behavioral approaches, her research seeks to advance our understanding of how hormones and genetic factors shape communication and social behaviors.

Abstract:
Social behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, and mating, vary widely across species, yet the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms regulating these behaviors are often conserved. While numerous studies have investigated gene-behavior associations, few have established direct functional links between genetic variation and individual behavioral differences. Research in my lab takes a comparative approach by leveraging naturally occurring phenotypic variation in songbirds, such as sex and color morphs, to uncover key differences in neurocircuitry, gene expression, and endocrine function that shape complex social behaviors. By integrating behavioral observations with molecular and neuroendocrine techniques, we aim to identify how specific genetic and hormonal factors influence individual differences in complex social behaviors. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms driving behavioral diversity in avian models and provides broader insights into the conserved genetic pathways underlying social behavior across species.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Farrah Madison 

Bio:
Dr. Farrah N. Madison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Madison Avian Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, following an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Hope College and Johns Hopkins University, where she expanded her expertise in neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience. Dr. Madison’s research explores the neurobiological, genetic, and endocrine mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in songbirds, particularly focusing on how the endocrine system responds to social and environmental changes. Her work has provided insight into sex, strain, and morph-specific differences in brain plasticity, stress responses, and social behavior, utilizing avian models such as canaries, zebra finches, and Gouldian finches. By integrating molecular, neural, and behavioral approaches, her research seeks to advance our understanding of how hormones and genetic factors shape communication and social behaviors.

Abstract:
Social behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, and mating, vary widely across species, yet the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms regulating these behaviors are often conserved. While numerous studies have investigated gene-behavior associations, few have established direct functional links between genetic variation and individual behavioral differences. Research in my lab takes a comparative approach by leveraging naturally occurring phenotypic variation in songbirds, such as sex and color morphs, to uncover key differences in neurocircuitry, gene expression, and endocrine function that shape complex social behaviors. By integrating behavioral observations with molecular and neuroendocrine techniques, we aim to identify how specific genetic and hormonal factors influence individual differences in complex social behaviors. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms driving behavioral diversity in avian models and provides broader insights into the conserved genetic pathways underlying social behavior across species.

Watch the seminar here!

Dr. Farrah Madison 

Bio:
Dr. Farrah N. Madison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Madison Avian Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, following an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Hope College and Johns Hopkins University, where she expanded her expertise in neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience. Dr. Madison’s research explores the neurobiological, genetic, and endocrine mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in songbirds, particularly focusing on how the endocrine system responds to social and environmental changes. Her work has provided insight into sex, strain, and morph-specific differences in brain plasticity, stress responses, and social behavior, utilizing avian models such as canaries, zebra finches, and Gouldian finches. By integrating molecular, neural, and behavioral approaches, her research seeks to advance our understanding of how hormones and genetic factors shape communication and social behaviors.

Abstract:
Social behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, and mating, vary widely across species, yet the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms regulating these behaviors are often conserved. While numerous studies have investigated gene-behavior associations, few have established direct functional links between genetic variation and individual behavioral differences. Research in my lab takes a comparative approach by leveraging naturally occurring phenotypic variation in songbirds, such as sex and color morphs, to uncover key differences in neurocircuitry, gene expression, and endocrine function that shape complex social behaviors. By integrating behavioral observations with molecular and neuroendocrine techniques, we aim to identify how specific genetic and hormonal factors influence individual differences in complex social behaviors. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms driving behavioral diversity in avian models and provides broader insights into the conserved genetic pathways underlying social behavior across species.

Watch the seminar here!

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