CISSY BALLEN
Email:
Phone: 02 9351 8679
Fax: 02 9351 5609
Location: Room 447, Heydon-Laurence Building A08,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Current Research
The central theme of my PhD is to investigate proximate and ultimate drivers of life history strategies and associated costs using two model species, the Australian painted dragon lizard (Ctenophorus pictus) and the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Evolutionary trade-offs constrain fitness-related traits such that an increased allocation of energy to benefit one function cannot be achieved without diverting energy from another function. In the past decade a surge of literature has suggested that a highly volatile group molecules, reactive oxygen species (ROS), may be the limiting factor in life history trade-offs, preventing the unconstrained evolution of beneficial fitness-related traits. Using these brightly colored lizards and ROS biology, my research aims to describe the behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying such trade-offs, with an emphasis on the costs of reproduction.
Education
| Year | Qualification |
|---|---|
| 2010-present | PhD student, Evolutionary Biology, University of Sydney |
| 2008 | BSc Fisheries & Wildlife, Biology, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities |
Presentations
| Year | Presentation |
|---|---|
| February 2013 |
Male and female chameleons use different colours to advertise social dominance. (Oral presentation) |
| July 2011 | Sex-specific basking and activity effects on lizard superoxide levels: high superoxide levels in hot females and cool males (Oral presentation) Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Minneapolis, MN, USA |
| July 2011 | Sex-specific basking and activity effects on lizard superoxide levels: high superoxide levels in hot females and cool males (Oral presentation) Joint meeting of the International Ethological Conference and the Animal Behavior Society, Bloomington, IN, USA |
| June 2011 | Net superoxide levels: steeper increase with activity in cooler female and hotter male lizards (Poster presentation) University of Sydney post-graduate research showcase, Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| April 2011 | The evolution and maintenance of colour signals in reptiles (Oral presentation) University of Sydney introductory post-graduate seminar, Sydney, NSW, Australia |
Publications
| # | Publication |
|---|---|
| 5. | Olsson, M. M., Stuart-Fox, D., and Ballen, C. 2013. Genetics and evolution of colour patterns in reptiles. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology: in press. |
| 4. | Ballen, C., Healey, M., Wilson, M., Tobler, M., Olsson, M. 2012. Predictors of telomere content in dragon lizards. Naturwissenschaften 99(8):661-664. |
| 3. | Ballen, C., Shine, R., and Olsson, M. M. 2012. Male and female chameleons use different colours to advertise social dominance. (Submitted) |
| 2. | Ballen, C., Healey, M., Wilson, M., Tobler, M., Wapstra, E. and Olsson, M. 2012. Net superoxide levels: steeper increase with activity in cooler female and hotter male lizards. Journal of Experimental Biology 215(5):731-735. |
| 1. | Cotner, S., Ballen, C., Brooks, C. D., Moore, R. 2011. Instructor gender and student confidence in the sciences: a need for more role models? Journal of College Science Teaching 40(5):96-101. |
Grants and Awards
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| June 2012 | University of Sydney Post Graduate Research Support Scheme |
| June 2011 | American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Graduate Student Travel Award |
| June 2011 | University of Sydney Post Graduate Research Support Scheme, Travel Grant |
| March 2010-2013 | University of Sydney, Biological Sciences Faculty Scholarship |
| August 2008 | Outstanding Performance Award for Teaching Assistants in the College of Biological Sciences |
| May 2008 | Frank H. and Ione Mossman Kaufert Forestry Education Scholarship, University of Minnesota |
| May 2008 | Timothy B. Knopp Memorial Scholarship, University of Minnesota |
| May 2006 | University of Minnesota High Ability Scholars Grant |
| Sept 2004-May 2008 | College of Natural Resources High Ability Non-Resident Scholarship, University of Minnesota |
Laboratory and Classroom Teaching
| Year | Class |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Tropical Wildlife Biology (BIOL 3010), University of Sydney |
| 2010 | Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL 2011), University of Sydney |
| 2009 | Animal Diversity (BIOL 2005), University of Minnesota |
| 2008-2009 | Introductory Biology: Evolution and Biology of Sex (BIOL 1001), University of Minnesota |
| 2008 | Wildlife Handling and Immobilization for Research and Management (FW 5625), University of Minnesota |
| 2008 | Flowering Plant Diversity (PBIO 4511), University of Minnesota |
| 2007-2008 | General Zoology (BIOL 2012), University of Minnesota |
