Kelly Wallace

Kelly Wallace is a biologist at Amherst College with a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution & Behavior from the University of Texas at Austin (2021) and a B.A. in Biology from Cornell University (2015). Her research bridges neuroethology, social cognition, and evolutionary adaptation, focusing on how social environments shape neural and behavioral traits in fish species.

• Education
  • Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin (2021)
  • B.A., Cornell University (2015)

Her lab investigates artificial selection in Betta splendens, examining how aggression breeding affects cognition, neuromodulators (dopamine/oxytocin), and hormonal responses (testosterone/cortisol). Techniques include immunohistochemistry, behavioral assays, and social environment manipulation. Teaching integrates Tinbergen's Four Questions, emphasizing interdisciplinary understanding of animal behavior.

Research trends include social behavior network analysis, neuromodulator localization, and equity frameworks in academic programs. Key awards: NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020), NASEM Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship (2017).