Krista Nichols

Background

Krista joined the Conservation Biology division as a research molecular geneticist in January 2012.  Krista holds a B.S. in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina, a M.S. degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University, and a PhD in Zoology from Washington State University.  After completing her PhD, Krista was a National Research Council post-doctoral fellow at the Center from 2003-2005, and from there joined the faculty at Purdue University.  Immediately prior to joining the CB division, Krista was an Associate Professor at Purdue University in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Forestry and Natural Resources, with an active research program in ecological genomics and genetics of aquatic organisms.  Krista currently serves on the editorial boards of Genetics and BMC Genomics.  Kristas research background and includes age and growth of fishes, environmental toxicology, and quantitative genetics and genomics. 

Current Research

Kristas research centers on the genetics and genomics of alternative life histories in fishes, including the genetic basis of migration in salmonid fishes.  Other projects include molecular phylogeography of aquatic organisms, genetics/genomics of disease in salmonid fishes, and quantitative genetics and genomics of traits important for aquaculture in fishes.  For more information about Kristas research and publications, please see http://noaa.academia.edu/KristaNichols.