About Me
Growing up in northern Illinois (USA), I have always been excited about nature. Since then, I've had the privilege to work with dedicated conservation practitioners to manage threatened species and habitats around the world. Keen to learn more? Find my CV (abridged and full) detailing my conservation education, research, and practice below.
Abridged Curriculum Vitae
Education
2015-2019 - University of Canterbury - PhD in Biology
Dissertation Title: Conservation genomic management of critically endangered New Zealand birds.
2010-2013 - University of North Texas - MSc in Biology
Thesis Title: Determining the evolutionary distinctiveness of the Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken through a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis.
2005-2009 - Murray State University - BSc in Wildlife Biology
Undergraduate Research Title: Morus murrayana (Moraceae): a new mulberry from eastern North America
Conservation Practice & Research
2015-2019 - PhD Research in Conservation Genomics - University of Canterbury
Extractions - Resequencing - GBS - Bioinformatics - Pedigree Management - Microsatellites - Cons. Breeding Pairing Rx
2013-2015 - Habitat Conservation Coordinator - Texas Parks & Wildlife
Resource Planning - Habitat Monitoring - Invasive Plant Management - Revegetation - Wetland Management - GIS
2010-2013 - MSc Research in Conservation Genetics - University of North Texas
Phylogenetics - Coalescent Analyses - Sequencing - Conservation Recommendations
2010 - Ruffed Grouse Monitor - University of Minnesota
Auditory Triangulation - Vegetation Surveys - Bird Banding - Site Monitoring
2009-2010 - Biology Intern - Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge
Radio Telemetry - GIS - Invasive Plant Management - Bird Trapping - Bird Banding
2006-2009 - Entomology Research Assistant - The Morton Arboretum
Beetle and Moth Fecundity - Food Preference Studies - Ash Borer Detection
2009 - Coastal Waterbird Program Staff - Massachusetts Audubon
Avian Nest Monitoring - Data Collection & Management - Bird Trapping
2008 - Northeast Exotic Plant Management Team - Student Conservation Association
Invasive Plant Management - GIS Mapping
2019-2020 - Fixed-term Postdoctoral Researcher - University of Canterbury
Extractions - Resequencing - GBS - Bioinformatics - Pedigree Management - Microsatellites - Cons. Breeding Pairing Rx
2020-2022 - Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Boise State University
Agent-based models - Amplicon Sequencing - Microbiome - Conservation Management
2022-Present - Asst. Professor in Avian Biology - Boise State University
Amplicon Sequencing - Whole Genome Resequencing - Conservation Management
Select Research Talks
A Matchmakers Guide for Critically Endangered New Zealand Birds
2019 - Invited Talk - The Smithsonian Institution - Washington DC, USA
Conservation Genomic Management of Critically Endangered New Zealand Birds
2019 - AZA Molecular Scientific Advisory Group - San Diego, USA
Choosing the best individuals for pairing in conservation translocation breeding programmes: a Proof of Concept in a critically endangered New Zealand bird
2018 - 2nd International Wildlife Reintroduction Conference - Chicago, USA
Can genomes from distantly related species be used as a reference to inform conservation management?
2018 - Society for Conservation Biology Oceania - Wellington, New Zealand
Estimating relatedness in captive breeding for translocation programmes to enhance species recovery
2017 - International Congress for Conservation Biology Oceania - Cartagena, Colombia
Exploring the Evolutionary Distinctiveness of the Attwater's Prairie-chicken using multi-locus coalescent analyses
2012 - North American Ornithological Conference - Vancouver, Canada
Integrating multiple data types for personalized management of at-risk herbivores: case studies in North America and Iceland
2021 - Talk - International Congress for Conservation Biology - Virtual
Pathways to trusted and meaningful relationships between conservation geneticists and practitioners
2021 - Symposium & Roundtable Organizer - International Congress for Conservation Biology - Virtual
Creating a genetically explicit individual-based model to understand climate-driven laydate shifts in American Kestrels (Falco sparverius)
2021 - Invited Speaker - Raptor Research Foundation Conference - Virtual
A meta-analysis of genes underlying adaptive capacity of plants towards drought.”
2020 - Invited Speaker - GEM3 Annual Meeting - Virtual
Grants & Scholarships
Funding recipient from the American Kestrel Partnership - 2022
Applicant: SJ Galla - $21,808.00 US
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Endeavour Fund Smart Ideas Grant - 2021
Applicant: TE Steeves (SJ Galla, Key Researcher) - $999,999 NZ
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UC PhD Scholarship and Departmental 6-month Continuation Scholarship - 2015-2019
Applicant: SJ Galla - $99,000 NZ (Stipend + Tuition + Fees)
Brian Mason Technical Trust Research Award - 2015-2018
Applicants: SJ Galla and TE Steeves - $14,061 NZ
UNT Tuition Scholarship - 2010-2013
Applicant: SJ Galla - $65,000 US (Stipend + Tuition + Fees)
UNT Graduate Student Support Travel Grant - 2012
Applicant: SJ Galla - $600 US
Travel Grant for the 2012 Species Tree Workshop at the Ohio State University - 2012
Applicant: SJ Galla - $500 US
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Maria Athey Research Fund through the Kentucky Academy of Science - 2007
Applicants: SJ Galla and DE Saar - $500 US
Select Awards
UC Annual Biological Sciences Conference, Science Communication Award, 2020​
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Society for Conservation Biology Oceania, Best Student Paper, 2019
UC College of Science Three Minute Thesis, First Place, 2018
Australasian Ornithological Conference, Outstanding Student Talk, 2017
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Society for Conservation Biology Oceania, Best Research Talk, 2017
UC Annual Biological Conference, ‘Best in Show’ Research Talk, 2016, 2019
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MapNet, Early Career Researcher Award (1st Place) for Research Talk, 2016
Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Cottom Award (1st Place) in Research Talk, 2014
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UNT Outstanding TA Award, Spring 2013
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Murray State University Wildlife Student of the Year, 2008
Teaching & Mentorship
Mentor & Lecturer, Boise State University, 2022
Co-lead on 2 VIP Courses: "C3: Characterizing Complex Communities" and "Ecology & Evolution of Migratory Birds"
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Mentor, Boise State University, 2020
VIP Genome-2-Phenome Project Mentor (2 Students), SARE Project Mentor (2 students)​
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Fixed-term Lecturer, University of Canterbury, 2018-2019
Lectures in BIOL271 (Evolution) and labs in BIOL112 (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation)
Demonstrator, University of Canterbury, 2016-2018
Labs in BIOL112 (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation) and BIOL113 (Diversity of Life)
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Research Mentor, University of Canterbury, 2017-2019
Honours Student - “You’re the only one for me? An assessment of extra pair parentage in a critically-endangered bird with implications for conservation”
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Research Mentor, University of Canterbury, 2016-2017
Summer Student - "Calculating relatedness using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) with application to captive breeding for translocation programmes”
Teaching Assistant, University of North Texas, 2010-2013
Taught BIOL: 3452 (Genetics Laboratory) - proctored BIOL: 1711 (Principles of Biology) and proctored BIOL1132 (Environmental Science)
Outreach, Advocacy, Dissemination
Co-founder of the Kindness in Science Collective
Contributor: Kindness in Science Sciblogs series - Profiled in Nature Careers feature
School Outreach, 2015-2019
Conservation & Genomics Outreach at Schools (Grades K-12) across Aotearoa New Zealand
Braided River Awareness and Fundraising Auction, 2016
Organiser - Raised Profile for Kakī and $10K NZ for Kakī Conservation
Designer of 2020 Tūtūruatu RocketLab Mission Patch
>6K NZD Raised for Tūtūruatu Conservation
Designer of 2020 American Kestrel Partnership campaign t-shirt
>10K USD Raised for the American Kestrel Partnership