Sophia Kottke

I am a PhD student in the Evolutionary Anthropology program at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, affiliated with both the Institute of Human Origins and the Center for Evolution and Medicine. I am co-advised by Dr. Joan Silk and Dr. India Schneider-Crease. 

My graduate research brings together my interests in molecular biology and primatology. In the Worms Gone Wild Lab, I study gelada monkeys as apart of the Simien Mountains Gelada Research Project. My work focuses on how stress and the social environment can impact gelada monkey disease susceptibility. To do this, I use the project's long-term data, metagenomic data, and bioinformatic tools.

Originally from Austin, Texas, I earned my BS in Biology and Anthropology from Texas State University. During my time at Texas State, I worked with Dr. Jill Pruetz to study the impact of adult female density on feeding associated behaviors within subgroups of a spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) community at the Camaquiri Conservation Initiative in Limón, Costa Rica. Additionally, I worked in the Kang Lab, where I helped to better characterize a small RNA molecule known as a tRNA-derived fragment and its role in systemic acquired resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Worms Gone Wild Lab and find us on socials @wildwormslab | Simien Mountains Gelada Research Project | Connect with me on LinkedIn