Professional Appointments
Assistant Professor
University of Houston
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
January 2023 - present
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Utah State University
April 2021 - December 2022
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Northeastern University Marine Science Center
Dr. Katie Lotterhos and Dr. Geoff Trussell
Research Coordinated Network for Evolution in Changing Seas
May 2019 - April 2021
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
East Carolina University
Dr. Michael McCoy (Now at Florida Atlantic University)
August 2018 - May 2019
EDUCATION
PhD Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences - 2018
East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
Advisor: Dr. Michael W. McCoy
MS Biology - 2011
East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
Advisor: Dr. Heather Vance-Chalcraft
BS Biology and American Studies - 2007
University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
*** I can provide free copies of all these papers. Please e-mail me at malbecker (at) gmail (dot) com for a free copy ***
† Undergraduate researcher
14. Albecker, M.A., Strobel, S.M., Womack, M.C. (In review at Integrative and Comparative Biology)
Developmental plasticity in anurans: Meta-analysis reveals effects of larval environments on metamorphosis timing and body size
13. Albecker, M.A., McCoy, M.W. (In revision at Conservation Physiology)
Responses to saltwater exposure vary across species, populations, and life-stages in anuran amphibians
12. McCoy, M.W., Hamman, E.L., Albecker, M.A., Wojdak, J., Vonesh, J.R., Bolker, B. 2022
Incorporating nonlinearity with generalized functional responses to simulate multiple predator effects.
PeerJ. 10:e13920 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13920
11. Albecker, M.A., Trussell, G.C., Lotterhos, K.E. 2022.
A novel quantitative approach for co-gradient variation and countergradient variation.
Ecology Letters. 25, 6: 1521-1533.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.14020
10. Lotterhos, K.E., Albecker, M.A., Trussell, G.C. 2021. Evolution in Changing Seas.
Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Science, Biology. Editorial for Special Issue on Evolution in Changing Seas. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2021.2443
9. Albecker, M.A.* Wilkins, L.*, Krueger-Hadfield, S.A., Bashevkin, S., Sewell, M.A., Hare, M., Hahn, M., Lotterhos, K.E., Kindsvater, H., & Reitzel, A. 2021.
Does a complex life cycle promote or constrain adaptation to environmental change? Genome-informed approaches and insights for characterizing selection across stages of a life cycle.
Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Science, Biology. Special Issue on Evolution in Changing Seas. 288: 20212122.
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2021.2122
*Co-first authors
8. Albecker, M.A., Stuckert, A.M.M., Balakrishnan, C.N., McCoy, M.W. 2021.
Molecular mechanisms of local adaptation for salt‐tolerance in a treefrog.
Molecular Ecology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mec.15867
7. Albecker, M.A., Pahl, M.†, Smith, M.†, Wilson, J.G.†, McCoy, M.W. 2020.
Influence of density and salinity on larval development of salt-adapted and salt-naïve frog populations.
Ecology and Evolution. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.6069
6. Walker, D.M., M.A. Albecker, M.W. McCoy, C. Camp, C. Kelehear, B. Edelbrock, J. Wooten, J. Rheubert, S.P. Graham. 2019.
Evolution of the skin and gut microbiome of the Woodland Salamander species complex.
Microbial Ecology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00248-019-01456-x
5. Albecker, M.A. and McCoy, M.W. 2019. Local adaptation for enhanced salt tolerance reduces non-adaptive plasticity caused by osmotic stress.
Evolution. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evo.13798
4. Albecker, M.A., M.W. McCoy, L.K. Belden. 2018.
Comparative Analysis of Anuran Amphibian Skin Microbiomes in Inland and Coastal Wetlands.
Microbial Ecology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00248-018-1295-9.
3. Albecker, M.A., Brantley, W.B.†, and McCoy, M.W. 2018.
Habitat salinity alters dietary content and nematode infection in the American Green Treefrog, Hyla cinerea.
Southeastern Naturalist. 17(1); 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1656/058.017.0116
2. Albecker, M.A. and M.W. McCoy. 2017.
Adaptive responses to salinity stress across multiple life stages in Anuran Amphibians.
Frontiers in Zoology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-017-0222-0
1. Albecker M.A., Vance-Chalcraft H.D. 2015.
Mismatched anti-predator behavioral responses in predator-naïve larval anurans.
PeerJ https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1472
MANUSCRIPts in prep
McCoy, M.W., Hamman, E.H., Albecker, M.A., Wodjak, J.M, Vonesh, J.R. Bolker, B.M.
Size matters when predicting multiple predator effects.
In Revision at PeerJ.
Albecker, M.A., McCoy, M.W., Peniston, J. Barfield, M., R.D. Holt.
Adaptation to environmental change in organisms with complex life cycles: The influence of stage-specific selection and density dependence. In prep. Target: American Naturalist
AWARDS & GRANTs
10. National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: 2017
Awarded $19,175.00
9. Ecology Society of America Aquatic Section Travel Award: 2017
Awarded $200.00
8. Pitt County Wildlife Club Scholarship: 2016
Awarded $1,500.00
7. Graduate Women in Science Nell Mondy Fellowship: Leaping Salt Barriers: salinity tolerance in salt-exposed frogs. 2016
Awarded $6,321.00
6. Garden Club of America Scholarship: Mechanisms of salinity tolerance in locally adapted coastal frogs. 2016.
Awarded $5,000.00
5. Coastal Maritime Council Research Grant: The effects of salt on reproductive decisions of Hyla cinerea. 2014
Awarded $1,000.00
4. North Carolina Sea Grant: Impacts of sea-level rise on coastal freshwater wetland communities. 2013
Co-P.I. with M. McCoy (P.I.).
Awarded $76,415.0
3. Explorer’s Club Grant: Exploring the physiological constraints of coastal amphibians to adapt to rising sea level. 2013
Awarded $2,500.00
2. North Carolina Herpetological Society Grant: Salt life- The effects of sea level rise on freshwater animal communities. 2013
Awarded $780.00
1. Martha N. Jones Scholarship 2011
Awarded $500.00
TEACHING
Instructor of Record:
Biology 1100 - Principles of Biology I
Fall 2017*, Spring 2018
*Used flipped classroom instructional strategy
Biology 2250 – Ecology - Instructor of Record
Fall 2015
Teaching Assistant:
Biology 1201 – Principles of Biology II Laboratory
Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011
Generalized Linear Modeling Workshop Instructor - Northeastern University Three Seas Program
Spring 2020 - Virtual Teaching
Statistics Tutor - Math 245
Fall 2020 - Remote Teaching
MENTORING
Lab Assistants:
Sarah Gill - Thesis: Osmoregulatory Adaptations of Hyla cinerea Found in Increasingly Saline Coastal Waters
* Recipient of ECU's Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award
Ben Brantley - Thesis: Diet and Nematode Infection Differ Between Coastal and Inland Populations of Green Treefrogs (Hyla cinerea)
* Published in Southeastern Naturalist
Hannah Bergman
Anisah Nwokolo
Matt Pahl - Project investigating interacting effects of density and salt exposure on frog development
Melissa Smith - Project investigating interacting effects of density and salt exposure on frog development
Jefferson Gray Wilson - Project investigating interacting effects of density and salt exposure on frog development
* Matt, Melissa, and Jefferson's work published in Ecology and Evolution
Field Assistants:
Tara McFarland (current: Veterinarian)
Chris Thaxton (former Knauss fellow)
Other Mentoring:
Graduate Committee Member for ECU master's student 2020-2021
Ecological Society of America SEEDS mentor - 2017
Mentor for Northeastern University's BEACHES program - 2019 (Demystifying graduate school application process)
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
2022 • Invited Seminar: University of Houston, Houston Texas
2022 • Invited Seminar: University of North Florida seminar, Jacksonville, Florida
2021 • Invited Seminar: Northeastern University Marine Science Center seminar series, Boston
2021 • American Society of Naturalists: Virtual Asilomar 2021
2020 • Invited Department of Biology Seminar: Vassar College, NY (*Postponed due to Covid-19)
2019 • Invited Ecology and Evolution Seminar: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
2018 • Invited EEBio Seminar: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
2017 • Research in Progress Seminar: East Carolina University
2017 • Ecological Society of America annual conference: Portland, Oregon
2017 • Research and Creative Week: East Carolina University
* Winner – Best Presentation for Doctoral Oral Natural Sciences
2016 • Three-minute Thesis competition: East Carolina University
*Finalist
2016 • American Naturalist Annual Meeting: Asilomar, California
2015 • Ecological Society of America annual conference: Baltimore, Maryland
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Graduate Education Day - Raleigh Legislative Building - May 2017
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual conference – January 2015
Atlantic and Estuarine Research Society Spring Meeting - March 2015
Climate Change Symposium hosted by NC State and NOAA – March 2014
Sea Grant Poster Reception – September 2014
Sea Grant Funded Research Symposium – April 2014
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
The American Society of Naturalists
Ecological Society of America
Graduate Women in Science (Founding Member)
Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology
North Carolina Herpetological Society
The Coastal Society (2013-2018)
ECU Biology Graduate Student Association (2013-2018)
SERVICE
Peer Reviewer: Global Change Biology, Aquatic Ecology, Ecology and Evolution, Biotropica, Oecologia, Behavioral Ecology, Ecological Entomology, Scientific Reports, Journal of Herpetology, Evolutionary Applications, Integrative and Comparative Biology, Microbial Ecology
2021 - Co-Editor for Proceeding of Royal Society Biology Special Issue on Evolution in Changing Seas
2020 - 2021- Diversity and Inclusion Committee member for RCN-ECS (2020-2021)
2020 - 2021 - Coordinator of Research Coordinated Network for Evolution in Changing Seas Coordinated Readings Discussion series (2020-2021)
2020 - Research Coordinated Network Diversity and Inclusion Committee
2018 - Panelist: Graduate Student Funding Workshop
2016 - Graduate Student Representative -- Founding Eastern NC Chapter of Graduate Women in Science
2016 - Panelist: Graduate Student Funding Workshop
2015 – Vice President -- Biology Graduate Student Association
2014 – Treasurer -- Biology Graduate Student Association
2014-2016 – Invite-A-Scientist – Bayboro Middle School
2013-2017 - SciRen Teaching Network contributor/presenter
WORK EXPERIENCE
National Parks Service with University of Delaware
Crew Leader
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In continuation of a long term study on breeding bird populations in parks around Washington D.C., I led a small crew to complete over 1350 avian point counts in 10 national parks
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April 2013-August 2013
Bat Conservation International
Crew Leader
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I led the crew for a Bat Conservation Int'l experiment that investigated the effects of curtailing wind turbines on bat and bird mortality
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August 2012-December 2012
NC State University
Lead Field Technician
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I led the fieldwork at the Georgia site for an NCSU research project that evaluated the avian and arthropod response to various woody biomass-harvesting guidelines
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April 2012 - July 2012
Dr. Dave Chalcraft, Principal Investigator, East Carolina University
Research Technician
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Assisted with the setup, maintenance, and breakdown of large-scale mesocosm experiment that examined at the effects of predator diversity on amphibian larvae
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Summers 2010 and 2011
Hazelwild Farm and Equestrian Center
Assistant Manager of Boarding Barn
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Provided general horse care for thoroughbred horse barns (turn outs, cleaning, feeding, etc.)
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December 2008 – August 2009
Virginia Safari Park and Preservation Center
Lead Keeper of Reptiles and “Lower Village”
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Supervised husbandry for wildlife including reptiles, amphibians, birds, primates, and mammals
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August 2007 – April 2008
Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
Reptile/Amphibian/Fish (Ectotherm) Intern
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Trained to uphold AZA standards for reptile, amphibian, invertebrate, and fish collections
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Summer 2007
RACE and STAT TRACKING!
2014 - OuterBanks Triathlon Olympic Distance (2:41.41 -- 9th female, 42/221 finishers)
2016 - OuterBanks Triathlon Olympic Distance (2:48.41 -- 4th female, 19/190 finishers)
2016 - Washington Triathlon Olympic Distance (2:47:14 -- 12/55 females, 39/118 finishers)
2016 - Shamrock Marathon (3:38.56 -- 69/822 females, 290/1841 finishers) (miserable nor'easter!)
2016 - Marine Corps Marathon (3:44.31 -- 312/? females, 1461/? finishers)
2017 - Shamrock Marathon (**BQ!** 3:30.31, 24/608 females, 167/1356 finishers) (another miserable nor'easter!)
2017 - North Face Endurance Challenge 50k (5:21.30 -- 7/142 Females, 46/391 finishers)
2017 - Medoc Mountain Trail Marathon (4:14.32 -- 24/124 finishers)
2017 - JFK 50 mile Ultramarathon (9:51.08 -- 64/223 Females, 259/750 finishers)
2018 - Boston Marathon! (4:04.50 -- Worst weather in 30 years! Battled IT-band issues for 5 months prior to race)
2018 - OuterBanks Marathon (3:48.05 -- 6/181 Females, 71/427 finishers) (perfect weather)
**long race pause due to baby (x2) and pandemic**