Kausalya "Kay" Shenoy

Senior Lecturer and Director, Ecological Research and Education Center

I am a scientist and educator with a strong commitment to science education, student success, and the preparation of workforce‑ready graduates. I believe that making scientific knowledge accessible and engaging can create meaningful, lasting impacts within communities. By aligning disciplinary content with inclusive teaching strategies and high‑impact educational practices, I strive to support student learning, intellectual growth, and long-term academic success.

My academic interests center on the intersection of natural ecosystems, human wellbeing, and urban biodiversity, with a particular emphasis on the restoration of native species in urban environments. I have previously examined the effects of environmental contaminants on animal behavior and reproductive biology, informing continued interests in ecotoxicology and environmental health. I maintain an overall commitment for sustainability science and community outreach.

I have strong administrative experience and a commitment to effective communication and streamlined protocols. I bring strengths in networking, multitasking, and management, which enable me to navigate complex projects and foster productive working relationships.

Contact Information

kay.shenoy@uky.edu

113 T.H. Morgan Building

859-257-3244

Education

PhD (Biology), Department of Biology, University of Kentucky; 2012.
MS (Ecology), Salim Ali School of Ecology, Pondicherry University, India; 2002.
BSc (Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics), St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore, India; 2000.

Research Interests

urban ecosystems
nature and human wellbeing
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Biology Education
Plant Ecology
Animal Behavior
Toxicology

Affiliations

Biology Education
Biology
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Courses Taught

BIO 102, Human Ecology
Human Ecology is the study of the interrelationships of man, populations, space, energy, food, mineral resources and other life on earth. This course is not for life science majors. Human Ecology is a broad topic that addresses the relationship between humans and their environment. It encompasses the way the natural environment shaped human evolution, the relationship that humans have with their biotic and abiotic environment, and the impacts that humans have on their environment. In essence, it is the biology of human beings from an ecological perspective.

BIO 103, Basic Ideas of Biology
Introductory biology. Discussion topics are those relevant to both plants and animals-- cell structure and function, molecules important to living things, metabolism, heredity, environment. Not for life science majors.

BIO 111, General Biology Laboratory
Introductory biology laboratory aimed at learning to conduct and make sense of scientific and biological studies. Not for life science majors.

BIO 148, Introductory Biology I
BIO 148 introduces the student to the biological mechanisms operating at the molecular, cellular, and population level that contribute to the origin, maintenance, and evolution of biodiversity including the origins and history of the evolutionary process. Course material is presented within a phylogenetic context, emphasizing the shared history of all living organisms on earth through common ancestry. The first semester of an integrated one-year sequence (BIO 148 and BIO 152) for Biology and life science majors.

BIO 303, Introduction to Evolution
This course covers topics in evolution, concentrating on the Darwinian theories of evolution including descent with modification, natural selection, and sexual selection. Topics will include: patterns of evolution, the genetic source of variation, measuring evolution, adaptation, speciation, human evolution, 'evo-devo', and evolutionary medicine. For Biology and other life science majors.

BIO 325, Introduction to Ecology, laboratory
This course introduces the scientific study of relationship between organisms and their environment. The course is structured around levels of organization from physiological ecology to individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, regions, and the biosphere. For Biology and other life science majors.

BIO 355, Study Abroad in Biology
This course offers students an opportunity to study unique biological communities and phenomena across the world, and to experience living in a foreign culture. Students in this course travel to Ecuador and Galapagos to study tropical ecology, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability. Students are exposed to a range of unique ecosystems and explore ecological and evolutionary relationships between organisms and their environments.

BIO 395, Independent Research in Biology
Students work with me to conduct ecological research related to animal behavior, plant-animal interactions, native biodiversity, and urban rewilding.

BIO 425, Seminar in Biology
This course develops effective analysis, presentation, and discussion skills required of Biology majors by exploring various life science topics of interest to faculty and students. Students in my section explore primary and secondary literature in the areas of environmental health.

Selected Publications

Selected Publications:

Srinivasan MP, Bhatia S and Shenoy K. 2015. Vegetation-environment relationships in a South Asian montane grassland ecosystem: restoration implications. Tropical Ecology, 56: 201-217.
Shenoy K. 2014. Prenatal exposure to low doses of atrazine affects mating behaviors in male guppies. Hormones and Behavior, 66(2):439-48.
Shenoy K. 2012. Environmentally realistic exposure to the herbicide atrazine alters some sexually selected traits in male guppies. PLoS One, 7(2): e30611.
Hart MK, Shenoy K and Crowley PH. 2011. Sexual conflicts along gradients of density and predation risk: insights from an egg-trading fish. Evolutionary Ecology, 25: 1081–1105.
Shenoy K and Crowley PH. 2011. Endocrine disruption of male mating signals: ecological and evolutionary implications. Functional Ecology, 25: 433–448.
Shenoy K, Cunningham BT, Renfroe JW and Crowley PH. 2009. Survival and growth rate of Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) larvae exposed to two common pesticides. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(7): 1469–1474.
Srinivasan MP, Shenoy K and Gleeson SK. 2007. Population structure of Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and its invasion impacts on the resident plant community in the grasslands of Nilgiris, India. Current Science, 93(8):1108–1113.
Shenoy K, Varma S and Devi Prasad KV. 2006. Factors determining habitat choice of the smooth-coated otter, Lutra perspicillata in a south Indian river system. Current Science, 91: 637–643.
Shenoy K and Madhusudan PS. 2006. Small mammal communities in a rapidly developing southern Indian city. Zoos Print Journal, 21: 2152–2159.