RESEARCH INTERESTS

I am broadly interested in development and evolution of complex phenotypes. Because relationships among traits such as shared timing of development or common involvement in an organismal function patterns variation generated during development, these relationships can strongly influence the direction and potential of phenotypic evolution. However, despite their importance, we know little about how these relationships and their influence on developmental variation change through evolutionary time or across ecological contexts. My work integrates concepts and methods of development, morphological evolution, geometric morphometrics, and biomechanics to elucidate how developmental mechanisms ultimately generate interspecific diversity in animal form and function.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
BSW 425, PO Box 210088
1041 E. Lowell
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721-0088, US
Tel: (520) 621-4005
FAX: (520) 621-9190
Web: http://www.u.arizona.edu/~abadyaev/people.html
E-mail: rlyoung[at]email.arizona.edu

EDUCATION

• 2002-present University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ – PhD. Student, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Advisor: Alexander V. Badyaev
• 1997-2001 Miami University, Oxford, OH – B.S. Zoology, Cum Laude

HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2006 NSF DDIG grant, Pop. Evol. Processes Panel, National Science Foundation
• 2006 Galileo Circle Scholarship, College of Science, University of Arizona
• 2005 American Society of Mammalogists, Grant-In-Aid
• 2005 University of Arizona, EEB Departmental Small Research Grant
• 2004 Graduate & Professional Student Council Travel Grant
• 2004 University of Arizona, EEB Departmental Small Research Grant
• 2004 Honorable mention: NSF Predoctoral Fellowship
• 2003 American Society of Naturalists Travel Grant
• 2003 University of Arizona, EEB Departmental Small Research Grant
• 2003 Women in Science and Engineering Travel Grant
• 2002 University of Arizona Graduate College Fellowship
• 2002 Honorable mention: NSF Predoctoral Fellowship
• 2001 Sigma Xi Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award; Miami University
• 2001 Phi Beta Kappa; Miami University
• 2000 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship; Miami University
  
  

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• Graduate Research Assistant, University of Arizona: Proximate mechanisms and developmental origins of complexity, 2005-6
• Graduate Research Assistant, University of Arizona: Evolution of maternal effects, 2003
• Field Research Assistant: Social behavior of subterranean rodents, Tnenomys sociables, Argentina, 2001
• Field Research Assistant: Dispersal and inbreeding in Dipodomys spectabilis, Arizona, 2001
• Undergraduate Research Assistant, Miami University: Mammalian population genetics and behavior, 1999-2001

PUBLICATIONS (.pdfs here):

Young, R. L. and A.V. Badyaev. 2007. Evolution of ontogeny: linking epigenetic remodeling and genetic adaptation in skeletal structures. Integrative and Comparative Biology 47: 234-244.

Badyaev, A.V., R.L. Young, G. E. Hill, R. A. Duckworth. 2008. Evolution of sex-biased maternal effects in birds: IV. Intra-ovarian growth dynamics can link sex-determination and sex-specific acquisition of resources.Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21: 449–460.

Young, R. L., T.S. Haselkorn, and A.V. Badyaev. 2007. Functional equivalence of morphologies enables morphological and ecological diversity. Evolution 61: 2480–2492.

Young, R.L., and A.V. Badyaev. 2006. Evolutionary persistence of phenotypic integration: Influence of developmental and functional relationships on evolution of complex trait. Evolution 60: 1291–1299.

In Review and Preparation:

Badyaev, A.V., R. L. Young, K. P. Oh, and C. Addison. Evolution on a local scale: Developmental, functional, and genetic bases of divergence in bill form and associated changes in song structure between adjacent habitats. Evolution: In review.

Young, R.L. and A.V. Badyaev.  Developmental plasticity links local adaptation and diversification in foraging morphology of shrews.

Young, R.L. Developmental mechanisms of plasticity: cellular response to muscle use in a skeletal trait.

Young, R.L., K.P. Oh, and A.V. Badyaev. BMP mediates ecological divergence in bill morphology.

INVITED SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS:

2007 Young, R.L. and A.V. Badyaev. Developmental mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of plasticity: an example with foraging morphology of shrews. International Conference: Phenotypic and Developmental Plasticity, Kerala, India.

2007 Young, R.L. and A.V. Badyaev. Developmental evolution of BMPs: From postnatal epigenetic remodeling to adaptive genetic divergence. Symposium: Ecological dimorphisms in vertebrates: proximate and ultimate causes. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Phoenix, AZ.

2004 Badyaev, A.V. and R.L. Young. Integration and inheritance of adaptive environmental effects: an example with the foraging apparatus of shrews. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Boca Raton, FL

 

CONTRIBUTED SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS:

2008 Young, R.L. Developmental mechanisms of plasticity: cellular response to muscle function in a skeletal trait. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, TX.

2008 Sweeney, M.J., R.L.Young, and A.V. Badyaev. Foraging strategy in soricid shrews: a model for behavioral stress response. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, TX.

2007 Young, R.L. Bite force, muscle loading, mandible shape, and the developmental origins of adaptation. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Paris, France.

2006 Society for the Study of Evolution/American Society of Naturalists Meeting –Young, R.L. & A.V. Badyaev. Functional redundancy enables morphological and ecological versatility

2005 Society for the Study of Evolution/American Society of Naturalists Meeting –Young, R.L. & A.V. Badyaev. Evolution of an environmentally directed trait: Comparative ecomorphology in the shrew mandible

2005 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting – Young, R.L. and A.V. Badyaev. Variation in mandible musculature in relation to interspecific variation in patterns of morphological integration in shrews.

2004 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting – Young, R.L. & A.V. Badyaev. Sex-specific patterns of follicle formation in the house finch.

2004 Society for the Study of Evolution/American Society of Naturalists Meeting - Young R. L. & A. V. Badyaev. Evolution of morphological integration: weak interspecific concordance of developmental and functional integration in the shrew mandible.

2004 International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology - Young, R.L. & A. V. Badyaev. Evolutionary consequences of integration in the shrew mandible

2004 International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology - Badyaev, A.V. & R. L. Young. Integration and Inheritance of Adaptive Environmental Effects: An Example With Foraging Apparatus of Shrew.

2003 ASN/SSE Meeting – Young, R.L. & A.V. Badyaev. What is a Trait?: Complexity and Integration in Sexual Ornamentation.

2001 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference – Young, R.L., D.M. Meikle, & C. Schandorsky. Habitat fragmentation and demographic characteristics of Peromyscus leucopus.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE: Reviewer for (number of manuscripts): Acta Theriologica (1), American Naturalist (1), Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (1), Evolution (3), Evolutionary Ecology (1), Functional Ecology (2), Heredity (1), Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2), Journal of Mammalogy (2); Grant Reviewer: Austrian Science Fund – FWF (1)

Teaching Assistant (number of students):

Ecol 330: Evolution of Animal Form and Function, Fall 2005 (34), 2007 (37); Ecol 335: Evolutionary Biology, Spring 2007 (49); Ecol 485/585: Mammalogy Lab, Fall 2003 (9), 2006 (18); Ecol 320: Genetics, Spring 2003 (156), Fall 2004 (256) Spring 2005 (142); Zool 202: Developmental Biology Lab

Guest Lecturer: Ecol 485/585: Mammalogy, Topic: "Feeding and Digestive Systems", Fall 2006; Ecol 485/585: Mammalogy, Topic: "Community Ecology", Fall 2006 Ecol 330: Evolution of Animal Form and Function, Topic: "Evolution and Behavior of Horses", Fall 2003-2005, 2007; Ecol 330: Evolution of Animal Form and Function, Topic: "Feeding in Mammals", Fall 2003, 2004, 2007

Career Panelist for Expanding Your Horizons Conference, Women in Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, 2007