CV

Education

• BSc (Hons I) Genetics, University of Otago, New Zealand, 2012
• PhD, University of Innsbruck, Austria (current)

Publications

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization

Sadd, Ben M, et al. (2015). "The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization." Genome Biology. 16(76).

Genomic causes of large intraspecific genome size variation in a species of rotifer

Blommaert J., Heacox-Lea B., Mark-Welch D., Stelzer CP. (in prep). "Genomic causes of large intraspecific genome size variation in a species of rotifer." in prep

Small, but surprisingly repetitive genomes: Transposon expansion and not polyploidy has driven a doubling in genome size in a metazoan species complex

Blommaert J., Riss S., Heacox-Lea B., Mark-Welch D., Stelzer CP. (2019). "Small, but surprisingly repetitive genomes: Transposon expansion and not polyploidy has driven a doubling in genome size in a metazoan species complex ." BMC Genomics

Impacts of supernumerary genomic elements on hatching rate in a rotifer and implications for meiotic drive

Blommaert J., Stelzer CP. (in prep). "Impacts of supernumerary genomic elements on hatching rate in a rotifer and implications for meiotic drive ."

Awards and Scholarships

Conference Travel awards

• 2017 1669 Conference Travel Scholarship
• 2017 University of Innsbruck Needs-based scholarship

Scholarships

• June 2018-June 2019 University of Innsbruck Doktoratsstipendium aus der Nachwuchsförderung
• 2009-2012 Studylink Step up Scholarship
• 2009 University of Otago Dux Scholarship

Skills

• Molecular Biology Lab skills
  • PCR and qPCR
  • Cloning
  • Microinjection
  • In situ hybridisation
  • Karyology
• Animal culture
  • Brachionus plicatilis (rotifers)
  • Nematostella vectensis (sea anemone)
• Bioinformatics
  • Phylogenetics
  • de Novo genome assembly
  • Comparative genomics

Talks

Genome size variation and chromosomal architecture in Brachionus plicatilis spp.

August 30, 2015

Poster at University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Anterior-posterior axis patterning in the rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis

July 26, 2016

Poster at 6th meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Uppsala, Sweden

Genomic causes of large intraspecific genome size variation in a species of rotifer-

April 09, 2017

Talk at 5th meeting of Fresh Blood for FreshWater, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Intraspecific Genome Size Variation: If it’s not transposable elements, what is it?

August 24, 2017

Poster at Martiniplaza, Groningen, Netherlands

Genome size variation in a species of rotifer: is it trasponsons or genome duplication?

October 26, 2017

Talk at SIL Austria - LimnoAlp, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Teaching

CELS191- Cell and Molecular Biology

BIOL112- Animal Biology

Genome Evolution

Work experience

• November 2012-February 2013: Summer Intern
  • Laboratory for Evolution and Development, University of Otago
  • Duties included: Molecular biology and bioinformatics
  • Supervisors: Peter Dearden and Elizabeth Duncan
• November 2011-Februray 2012: Summer Intern
  • AgResearch, Invermay Campus
  • Duties included: Bioinformatics and genomics
  • Supervisor: John McEwan

Service and leadership

• 2012-2013 Social Officer, University of Otago Tramping Club
• 2011-2012 Membership Officer, University of Otago Tramping Club
• 2011-2013 Events Volunteer, University of Otago Students’ Association
• 2008-2011 Volunteer, Spirit of Adventure Trust