Brief CV
Education
Doctorate of Philosophy, Conservation Biology, Graduation: August 2010
University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Specialization: Conservation Genetics
Dissertation Title: Use of Environmental Variables to Infer Gene Flow and Population Structure in the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and predict the seroprevalence of an emerging infectious disease.
Bachelor of Science Cum laude, Biology, Graduation: May 2003
Baylor University, Waco, TX
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Louisiana, Department of Biology, 11/2012 – present
Lafayette, LA
Adjunct Faculty
South Louisiana Community College, 2013 – present
Lafayette, LA
Adjunct Faculty
University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 08/2012 – 12/2012
Delgado Community College, Biology Department
Postdoctoral Researcher
Louisiana State University, 05/2010 - 08/2012
Baton Rouge, LA
Research Assistance
University of New Orleans, 08/2009 – 05/2010
New Orleans, LA
Research Assistant
University of New Orleans, 05/2005 - 08/2005
New Orleans, LA
Publications - 1st author
Other Publications
Doctorate of Philosophy, Conservation Biology, Graduation: August 2010
University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Specialization: Conservation Genetics
Dissertation Title: Use of Environmental Variables to Infer Gene Flow and Population Structure in the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and predict the seroprevalence of an emerging infectious disease.
Bachelor of Science Cum laude, Biology, Graduation: May 2003
Baylor University, Waco, TX
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Louisiana, Department of Biology, 11/2012 – present
Lafayette, LA
- Population genomics of deep sea corals from deep water canyons in the Atlantic using RAD sequencing
Adjunct Faculty
South Louisiana Community College, 2013 – present
Lafayette, LA
- Instructor for Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II lecture and lab
- Instructor for General Biology II lecture course
Adjunct Faculty
University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 08/2012 – 12/2012
Delgado Community College, Biology Department
- Instructor of General Biology I for majors and non-majors
Postdoctoral Researcher
Louisiana State University, 05/2010 - 08/2012
Baton Rouge, LA
- Performed RT-PCR on environmental samples to detect the presence of potentially pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains in Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), water, and sediment.
- Used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and toxR sequence data to examine the genetic diversity of V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus isolates.
- Investigated the effects of floodwater diversion on water quality in Lake Pontchartrain. Cultured V. cholerae isolates from flood water and Lake Pontchartrain blue crabs. Examined the genetic diversity of isolates using Rep-PCR and screened for presence of virulence genes in isolates.
- Other duties included training and supervising undergraduates on independent projects, ordering lab supplies and equipment, and preparing manuscripts for publication.
Research Assistance
University of New Orleans, 08/2009 – 05/2010
New Orleans, LA
- Optimized the PCR amplification of novel nuclear genes for the plant order Dipsacales to resolve phylogenetic relationships. Duties consisted of DNA extraction, cloning, PCR, sequencing, primer design, and alignment of sequences with data from Genbank.
Research Assistant
University of New Orleans, 05/2005 - 08/2005
New Orleans, LA
- Initiated a project to create a species-specific diagnostic for central African Cephelophus sp. for the purpose of identifying species and estimating abundance from non-invasive DNA samples (fecal and museum). Duties included DNA extraction, from tissue and non-invasive samples, as well as aligning sequences available in Genbank for cytochrome B and a nuclear intron (tumor suppressor gene) and designing primers for PCR and sequencing.
Publications - 1st author
- R. W. Clostio, A. Martinez, K. LeBlanc, and N. Anthony. (2012) Population genetic structure of a threatened tortoise across the southeastern United States: implications for conservation management. Animal Conservation. 15: 613-625 DOI:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00557.x
- R. W. Clostio, V. Molina, N. Gonzalez-Escalona, C. N. Johnson. Differentiation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus by multilocus sequence typing. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, In Prep.
Other Publications
- C. N. Johnson, J.C. Bowers, K.J. Griffitt, V. Molina, R.W. Clostio, S. Pei, E. Laws, R. Paranjpye, M.S. Strom, A. Chen, N.A. Nasan, A. Huq, N.F. Noriea III, D.J. Grimes, and R.R. Colwell. (2012) Ecology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibro vulnificus in coastal and estuarine waters of Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and Washington (USA) . Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 78: 7247-7257.
- S. Ntie, A. Johnson, P. Mickala, A. Bowkett, B. van Vuuren, M. Colyn, P. Telfer, F. Maisels, O. Hymas, R. Rouyer, R. A. Wallace, K. LeBlanc, N. van Vliet, G. Sonet, E. Verheyen, O. Ryder, E. Jean Wickings, S. A. Lahm and N. Anthony. (2009) A molecular diagnostic for identifying Central African forest ungulates from fecal pellets. Animal Conservation. 13: 80-93.
Recent Presentations and Invited Lectures
- Clostio, R. “Determining asexual versus sexual propagation in the octocoral Paramuricea using RAD sequencing”, Evolution meeting – Oral Presentation, 2014
- Clostio, R. “Landscape genetics of a federally threatened tortoise”, Biology Seminar Series: Southeastern Louisiana State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 2012
- Clostio, R. W., Land C., Schulz, C., Childers, G., and Johnson, C.N. “Occurrence of potential human pathogens in Mississippi flood waters and Lake Pontchartrain blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus)” Basics of the Basin Symposium – Oral Presentation 2010
- Clostio, R. W. “Phylogeography and Population Genetics of the Gopher Tortoise” Gulf Coast Symposium – Oral Presentation, 2009 – 1st place award for presentation*
- Wallace, R. and Eustis, S. “Introducing New Orleans High School Students to Conservation Biology”, Annual Society for Conservation Biology Global Meeting - Local Chapters Workshop, 2008
- Wallace, R. and Anthony, N. “Landscape Genetics of Gopherus polyphemus”, Annual Society for Conservation Biology Global Meeting – Oral Presentation 2008