Current Projects:
Population genetics and worldwide phylogenetics of Didemnum sp. A
Life history and ecology of Didemnum sp.A
Vouchering hard substrate ascidians of eastern Long Island Sound.

Past Research Experience:
Isolating meiotic genes from a putatively asexual rotifer (Laboratory of John Logsdon, University of Iowa ).

Chemical communication between freshwater macrophytes (Laboratory of Mark Hay, Georgia Institute of Technology).

Effects of a clionid sponge on the common periwinkle, Littorina littorea (Honors Thesis project, Cornell University )

Publications/Presentations/Awards

Stefaniak L.M. and A. Gittenberger. Aug 2006. Results of the 2006 Smithsonian Tunicate Taxonomy Course. Bocas del Toro, Panama. www.ascidians.com

Stefaniak L.M. May 2006. Ascertaining suitable methods to quantify genetic diversity of Didemnum sp. in Eastern Long Island Sound: Some preliminary findings. S.Y. Feng Colloquium. Dept. of Marine Sciences. University of Connecticut . Groton, CT.

Stefaniak L.M., Lin, S., and R.B. Whitlatch. Mar 2006. Ascertaining suitable methods to quantify genetic diversity of Didemnum sp. in Eastern Long Island Sound: Some preliminary findings. Benthic Ecology Meeting. Laval University . Quebec, Quebec .

Stefaniak L.M., McAtee J., and M.J. Shulman. 2005. The costs of being bored: effects of a clionid sponge on the gastropod Littorina littorea (L). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 327(1): 103-114.

Malik S.-B., Pightling A.W., Stefaniak L.M., Schurko A.M., Ramesh M.A., Logsdon J.M. Jr. Sep 2005 Insights into the evolution of meiosis from conserved genes in Trichomonas. Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Program in Evolutionary Biology Annual Meeting, Nanaimo. BC, Canada .

Malik S.-B., Ramesh M.A., Pightling A.W., Stefaniak L.M. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. Apr 2005. Phylogenomic analyses reveal an early origin of meiosis in protists. James F. Jakobsen Graduate Student Senate Forum. University of Iowa. Iowa City, IA. Third prize winner.

Malik S.-B., Ramesh M.A., Pightling A.W., Stefaniak L.M. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. Feb 2005. Phylogenomic analyses reveal an early origin of meiosis in protists. XV Meeting of the International Society for Evolutionary Protistology. University of Melbourne. Melbourne , Australia .

Malik S.-B., Schurko A.M., Stefaniak L.M., Pightling A.W., Ramesh M.A. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. Jun 2004. Phylogenomic analyses of the origins and evolution of meiosis. Gordon Research Conference on Meiosis . New London , NH .

Malik S.-B., Ramesh M.A., Stefaniak L.M., Schurko A.M., Pightling A.W. and J.M. Logsdon Jr. Mar 2004. The evolution of eukaryotes and meiosis. Jakobsen Graduate Student Senate Forum. University of Iowa . Iowa City , IA.

Stefaniak L.M. and M.J. Shulman. Mar 2003. Shrink or be eaten? Benthic Ecology Meeting. University of Connecticut . Groton , CT.

Stefaniak L.M. and M.J. Shulman. Feb 2003. Are there costs to being bored? A sponge-snail-crab interaction. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Conference. Salt Lake City , UT.

Other Interests/Hobbies

I am a member of the UConn Ballroom Dance Club and competitive Ballroom Dance Team. I also play ultimate frisbee and disc golf.