Emily Lescak

Dr. Emily Lescak is an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alaska. She holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (2015), with additional degrees in Biology, Secondary Education, and Psychology. Her research focuses on evolutionary biology using threespine stickleback fish as a model organism, investigating host-microbe interactions, contemporary evolution, and predator-prey dynamics. She is currently funded by an NSF postdoctoral fellowship to study antibiotic exposure effects on development in stickleback within Dr. Kat Milligan-Myhre's lab.

Research Interests: Host-microbe interactions, evolutionary genomics, contemporary evolution in island populations, and the ecological impacts of human activities (e.g., hatcheries). Her work integrates field studies, lab experiments, and genomic analyses to address questions in evolutionary ecology.

Awards & Fellowships:

• NSF Broadening Participation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024)
• Rasmuson Fisheries Board Fellowship
• Alaska EPSCoR and INBRE Grants
• University of Alaska Center for Global Change and Arctic Systems Research Fellowship

Teaching & Outreach: Taught courses in biology, bioinformatics, and science education at the University of Alaska Anchorage and SUNY Cobleskill. Engages in mentorship programs for Alaska Native students, high schoolers, and early-career scientists through organizations like 500 Women Scientists and the American Fisheries Society Hutton Program.

Labs & Collaborations: Collaborates with Dr. Kat Milligan-Myhre’s lab and participates in interdisciplinary projects on Arctic equity in research and data systems. Active in professional societies, including co-chairing the GSA’s Early Career Researcher Policy Committee.