معرفی
Jennifer Houtz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Allegheny College, where she started her lab in Fall 2023. She is based in Steffee Hall and is actively involved in teaching and mentoring undergraduate researchers.
Research Interests: Her research lies at the intersection of microbial, physiological, and behavioral ecology. She investigates how the gut microbiome and hormonal systems interact to influence phenotypic plasticity and stress resilience in wild birds. Using cavity-nesting species such as tree swallows, American kestrels, Eastern bluebirds, and European starlings, her lab integrates field ecology with molecular techniques including DNA extraction, PCR, high-throughput sequencing, and metabolite assays.
Teaching: She teaches courses including Hormones and Behavior, Junior Seminar, Population and Community Ecology, and Organismal Physiology and Ecology.
Mentoring and Outreach: The Houtz Lab prioritizes undergraduate research mentorship and science outreach. Students gain hands-on experience in ornithological field methods such as bird banding, behavioral monitoring, and blood sampling.
Education:
- B.S. in Animal Behavior, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
- Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University
