PHS 398 (Rev. 11/07), Biographical Sketch Format Page s1

Program Director/Principal Investigator: Halbert, Natalie Dierschke

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Provide the following information for the key personnel and other significant contributors in the order listed on Form Page 2. Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FOUR PAGES.

NAME POSITION TITLE Halbert, Natalie Dierschke Research Assistant Professor eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login)

EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, and include postdoctoral training.) DEGREE INSTITUTION AND LOCATION YEAR(s) FIELD OF STUDY (if applicable) Texas A&M University, College Station B.S. 1999 Genetics Texas A&M University, College Station Ph.D. 2003 Genetics Post-doctoral training, Texas A&M University, College Station 2004-2006 genetics & disease epidemiology Post-doctoral training, Texas A&M University, College Station 2006-2007 population genetics

A. Positions and honors

Positions and Employment 2007-present Research Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University 2006-2007 Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, 2004-2006 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Texas A&M University 1999-2003 Graduate Assistant, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, 2001 Teaching Assistant, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University 1999 Teaching Assistant, College of Agriculture, Texas A&M University 1997-1999 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University 1998-1999 Undergraduate Research Fellow, Texas A&M University Honors Program 1998 Study Abroad Program, Department of Zoology, Oxford University

Other Experience and Honors 2002-2008 Member, Texas Genetics Society 2004 Completion of Graduate Teaching Academy, TAMU 2003 TAMU-CVM Graduate Student Association Research Week, oral presentation award 2002 TAMU Genetics Graduate Research Competition, oral presentation award 2002 Texas Genetics Society, poster competition award 2001-2002 President, TAMU Genetics Graduate Student Association 2000-2001 Vice-President, TAMU Genetics Graduate Student Association 2000-2001 TAMU Faculty of Genetics Recruiting Committee, Student Representative 1999-2000 Genetics Program Reagents’ Fellow, College of Agriculture TAMU

B. Peer-reviewed publications Nerren, J. R., S. Payne, N. D. Halbert, R. J. Martens, N. D. Cohen (2009) Cytokine expression by neutrophils of adult horses stimulated with virulent and avirulent Rhodococcus equi in vitro. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 127: 135-143. Halbert, N.D., J.N. Derr (2008) Patterns of genetic variation in U.S. federal bison herds. Molecular Ecology 17: 4963-4977.

PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 11/07) Page 1 of 3 Program Director/Principal Investigator: Halbert, Natalie Dierschke Halbert, N. D., P. J. P. Gogan, R. Hiebert, J. N. Derr (2007) Where the buffalo roam: the role of history and genetics in the conservation of bison on U.S. federal lands. Park Science 24: 22-29 (COVER). Vogel, A. B., K. Tenggardjaja, S. Edmands, N.D. Halbert, J.N. Derr, D. Hedgecock (2007) Detection of mitochondrial DNA from domestic cattle in bison on Santa Catalina Island. Animal Genetics 38: 410-412. Halbert, N. D., J. N. Derr (2007) A comprehensive evaluation of cattle introgression into U.S. federal bison herds. Journal of Heredity 98: 1-12 (COVER). Freese, C. H., K. E. Aune, D. P. Boyd, J. N. Derr, S. C. Forrest, C. C. Gates, P. J. P. Gogan, S. M. Grassel, N. D. Halbert, K. Kunkel, K. H. Redford (2007) Second chance for the plains bison. Biological Conservation 2: 175-184. Musani, S. K., N. D. Halbert, D. T. Redden, D. B. Allison, J. N. Derr (2006) Marker genotypes, population admixture, and their association with body weight, height, and relative body mass in U.S. federal bison herds. Genetics 174: 775-783. Halbert, N. D., N. D. Cohen, N. Slovis, J. Faircloth, R. J. Martens (2006) Equid SLC11A1 5’UTR variation and associations with Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 20: 974-979. White, S. N., N. D. Halbert, K. H. Taylor, J. N. Derr, J. E. Womack (2005) TLR4 variation in Yellowstone bison. Animal Genetics 36: 533-534. Halbert, N. D., R. A. Reitzel, R. M. Martens, N. D. Cohen (2005) Multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the simultaneous identification of Rhodococcus equi and detection of the vapA virulence-associated gene. American Journal of Veterinary Research 66: 1380-1385. Harrington, J. R., M. C. Golding, R. J. Martens, N. D. Halbert, and N. D. Cohen (2005) Evaluation of a real- time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for detection and quantitation of virulent Rhodococcus equi. American Journal of Veterinary Research 66(5): 755-761. Halbert, N. D., T. J. Ward, R. D. Schnabel, J. F. Taylor, and J. N. Derr (2005) Conservation genomics: disequilibrium mapping of domestic cattle chromosomal segments in North American bison. Molecular Ecology 14: 2343-2362. Seabury, C. M., N. D. Halbert, P. J. P. Gogan, J. W. Templeton, and J. N. Derr (2005) Bison PRNP genotyping and potential association with Brucella spp. seroprevalence. Animal Genetics 36: 104-110. Halbert, N. D., W. E. Grant, and J. N. Derr (2005) Genetic and demographic consequences of importing animals into a small population: a simulation model of the Texas State Bison Herd (U. S. A.). Ecological Modelling 181: 263-276. Seabury, C. M., R. L. Honeycutt, A. P. Rooney, N. D. Halbert, and J. N. Derr (2004) Prion protein gene (PRNP) variants and evidence for strong purifying selection in functionally important regions of bovine exon 3. PNAS 101(42): 15142-15147. Halbert, N. D., T. Raudsepp, B. P. Chowdhary, and J. N. Derr (2004) Conservation genetic analysis of the Texas State Bison Herd. Journal of Mammalogy 85(5): 924-931. Halbert, N. R., L. D. Ross, J. Kathirithamby, J. B. Woolley, R. R. Saff, and J. Spencer Johnston (2001) Phylogenetic analysis as a means of species identification within Myrmecolacidae (Insecta: Strepsiptera). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 144: 179-186.

PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 11/07) Page 2 of 3 Program Director/Principal Investigator: Halbert, Natalie Dierschke C. Research Support

Ongoing Research Support USGS - Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center 10/01/08-09/31/10 “Developing genetic tools for the conservation of European bison” In this study, we are using whole-genome mitochondrial DNA sequencing to identify sequence variants and assess diversity in nuclear population genetic markers in order to develop tools for European bison conservation efforts. Role: PI

National Park Service – Great Plains CESU 05/05/08-12/31/10 "Development of a genetic-based conservation management program for the Wind Cave National Park Bison Herd” In this study, we are developing an individual-based model using genetic and demographic parameters to evaluate current and alternative management strategies and their effects on long-term genetic diversity and herd structure. Role: CoI

The Nature Conservancy – RJKose Foundation 07/01/07-06/31/09 “Bison herd genetic architecture and management – working toward a species-wide conservation approach” In this study, we are evaluating levels and sources of introgression in private conservation herds across the US and Canada to identify important sources of bison diversity for genome conservation efforts. Role: CoI

National Park Service – Colorado Plateau CESU 07/01/07-06/31/09 “Bison genetics of the Great Sand Dunes National Park” In this study, we are evaluating levels and sources of introgression in a private conservation herd for the National Park Service to identify important sources of bison diversity for genome conservation efforts. Role: CoI

Completed Research Support National Park Service – Challenge Cost Share Program 06/01/06-05/31/07 “Remove threats to irreplaceable bison herd at Wind Cave National Park” In this study, we used parentage analysis to evaluate the breeding structure of the bison herd in Wind Cave National Park. Role: CoI

Turner Enterprises 01/01/06-12/31/06 “Bison mitochondrial DNA and productivity” In this study, we evaluated associations between mitochondrial polymorphisms and bison production characteristics in a commercial herd. Role: CoI

National Park Service – Great Plains CESU 10/01/05-09/30/06 “Development of a genetic based management plan for the Badlands National Park bison population” In this study, we assessed the genetic structure of the bison herd at Badlands National Park and evaluated the effects of current and alternative management strategies for long-term maintenance of genetic diversity.

Texas Parks & Wildlife 05/01/01-08/31/01 “Development of a genetic breeding program for the Texas State Bison Herd” In this study, we evaluated the genetic architecture of the Texas State Bison Herd through parentage assessment, chromosome structure analysis, and population genetic analyses.

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