Alicia M. Ebert
Assistant Professor Tel: 802-656-0458
Department of Biology e-mail:
313 Marsh Life Science
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
EDUCATION
2008 PhD Zoology
Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences Program
Colorado State University
Emphasis: Developmental Biology and Neuroscience
Title of Dissertation: “New Roles for Calcium Channel Beta Subunits in Zebrafish Development”
2002 B.S. Molecular Biology
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Minors: Chemistry and Psychology
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2008-2012Postdoctoral Fellow: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy
University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
Mentor: Dr. Sarah McFarlane
2002-2003Professional Research Assistant: Department of Neuroscience
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO
Employer: Dr. Nicholas Seeds
2001-2002Undergraduate Research Assistant: Department of Molecular Biology
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Mentor: Dr. Nancy Petersen
TEACHING/ MENTORING EXPERIENCE
Guest Lecturer (University of Calgary):
- Organismal Biology(MDSC 402) Fall 2009-2011. Using Zebrafish and
Xenopus as a model system lectures
- Genes and Development summer student symposium 2010-2011. Using
zebrafish as a model system lecture
- AdvancedDevelopmental Biology (CMMB 505) Fall 2010-2011. Neuronal
axonguidance moleculesand eye development lectures
Spare preceptor (University of Calgary):
- Honors Thesis and Research Communication (MDSC 508) Winter and Spring
2009-2012.Listened to fourth year student honors thesis presentations and gave
feedback.
Instructor (Colorado State University):
- Developmental Biology(BZ311)Summer 2008. Responsible for lectures,
exams, grades, laboratory, and 2 graduate student teaching assistants
Teaching Assistant (Colorado State University):
- Developmental Biology Laboratory (BZ311)Spring 2005-2007.
- Attributes of Living Systems (BZ102)Fall 2004-2007.
Responsible for weekly laboratory lectures and quizzes, proctoring exams and
grading exams.Received outstanding teaching evaluations 3 semesters and good
evaluations 2 semesters
Mentored an undergraduate summer student 2012 (University of Calgary)
Student was awarded an external summer student fellowship
Mentored an undergraduate honors thesis student 2011 (University of Calgary)
Student won a University Research Presentation award
Mentored an undergraduate summer student 2010 (University of Calgary)
Student was awarded 2 internal and 2 external summer student fellowships
Mentored eight undergraduates 2005-2008 (Colorado State University)
Each student presented posters at several annual meetings
Two students received undergraduate best poster awards
Four students completed undergraduate honors theses under my supervision
TEACHING WORKSHOPS
Engaging students in the Undergraduate Classroom 2012 (University of Calgary)
Course Design Workshop 2012 (University of Calgary)
Instructional Skills Workshop 2009 (University of Calgary)
Learned teaching concepts and practiced new teaching approaches through face-to-face instruction, theory applications and peer discussion
PUBLICATIONS
Ebert AM, Childs SJ, McFarlane S. 2012. PlexinA2 and Sema6A Regulate Tissue Cohesion of the Developing Eye. Submitted.
Chernyavskaya Y, Ebert AM, Milligan E, Garrity DM. 2011. The voltage gated calcium channel 2 protein is required in the heart for control of cell proliferation and heart tube integrity. In press Developmental Dynamics
Ebert AM, Lamont RE, Childs S, McFarlane S. 2011. Neuronal expression of class 6 semaphorins in zebrafish. In pressGene Expression Patterns.
Ebert AM, McAnelly CA, Handschy AV, Mueller RL, Horne WA, Garrity DM. 2008. Genomic organization, expression and phylogenetic analysis of Ca2+ channel β4 (CACNB4) genes in thirteen vertebrate species. Physiological Genomics. Oct 8;35(2): 133-44.
Ebert AM, McAnelly CA, Srinivasan A, Muller RL, Garrity DB, Garrity DM. 2008. The calcium channel beta2 (CACNB2) subunit repertoire in teleosts.BMC Molecular Biology.9(38).
Ebert AM, McAnelly CA, Srinivasan A, Linker JL, Horne WA, Garrity DM. 2008. Ca2+ Channel-independent requirement for MAGUK-family CACNB4 genes in initiation of zebrafish epiboly.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105(1); 198-203.
Ebert AM, Hume GL, Warren KS, Cook NP, Burns CG, Mohideen MA, Siegal G, Yelon D, Fishman MC, Garrity DM. 2005. Calcium extrusion is critical for cardiac morphogenesis and rhythmicity in embryonic zebrafish hearts. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102(49); 17705-17710.
SELECT ABSTRACTS
AM Ebert, SJ Childs, S McFarlane. “PlexinA2 regulates the size of the eye primordium in zebrafish” International Zebrafish Meeting, Madison WI, June 2012.
AM Ebert, P Rohs, A Zuba, S McFarlane. “FGF8a and retinal ganglion cell development” ACHRI Research Day, University of Calgary, Calgary AB. April 2012.
AM Ebert, P Rohs, A Zuba, S McFarlane. “FGF8a and retinal ganglion cell development” Canadian Developmental Biology Meeting, Banff AB, February 2012.
P Rohs, AM Ebert, S McFarlane. “FGF Signaling in zebrafish eye development.” University of Calgary Undergraduate Research Symposium, November 2011.
AM Ebert, A Zuba, S Childs, S McFarlane. “PlexinA2 regulates the size of the eye primordium in zebrafish.” European Zebrafish Meeting, Edinburgh, UK. July 2011.
AM Ebert, A Zuba, S Childs, S McFarlane. “PlexinA2 regulates the size of the eye primordium in zebrafish.” ACHRI Research Day, University of Calgary, Calgary AB. April 2011.
AM Ebert, RE Lamont, S Childs, S McFarlane. “Neuronal expression of class 6 semaphorins in zebrafish.” ACHRI Research Day, University of Calgary Calgary AB. April 2010.
AM Ebert, S McFarlane. “ Neuronal expression of class 6 semaphorins in zebrafish.” Northwest Regional Society for Developmental Biology, Friday Harbor WA. April 2010.
INVITED TALKS
“Keeping it together: Zebrafish retinal development.” Department of Biology, High Point University, High Point, NC February 2012.
“Keeping it together: Zebrafish retinal development.” Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT January 2012.
“PlexinA2: the glue that holds the eye together” Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Annual Retreat, Banff, AB November 2011.
“Zebrafish retinal development” Department of Biology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO February 2011.
“A per-plexin role for guidance molecules in eye development” Molecular and Genetic Basis of Child Health, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Annual Retreat, Banff, AB October 2010.
“plexinA2 signaling in retinal ganglion cell morphogenesis.” Vision Quest Symposium, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB October 2010.
AWARDS AND HONORS
Oct 2010–July 2012Canadian Institutes for Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
July 2010–July 2012Alberta Innovates Health Solutions/ Foundation Fighting Blindness Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
May 2009-Oct 2010Hotchkiss Brain Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
Oct 2008-May 2009CIHR Training Grant in Genetics, Child Health and Development Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
SERVICE AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES
2010Operation Minerva Mentor – Calgary Young Women in Science
2009Lets talk science course – University of Calgary
2008 Participated in “Science Day” for local 9th graders
2008 Brain Awareness Week Volunteer (station captain)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
2010-presentSociety for Neuroscience
2006-presentSociety for Developmental Biology
2004-2008Front Range Neuroscience Group
ABSENCES
I was on maternity leave from May - October 2009.