| 2009 (anticipated) | Ph.D. | Duke University |
| Department of Biology | ||
| Concentration: Evolutionary Ecology | ||
| 2002 | B.A. | University of Colorado at Boulder |
| Double Major: Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, and Biochemistry | ||
| Minor: Chemistry | ||
| Summa Cum Laude, With Distinction |
Comparative phylogeography, population genetics, and invasion biology of parasitic plants and their hosts.
| 2006-2008 | Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant | National Science Foundation |
| Sum 2007 | Summer of Code Project | Google, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) |
| Sum 2007 | Conference Travel Grant to Botany 2007 | Deep Time |
| 2006-2007 | Eloise Gerry Fellowship | Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science |
| 2006-2007 | Amy Lutz Rechel Award | Association for Women in Science |
| 2006-2007 | Graduate Student Research Grant | American Society of Plant Taxonomists |
| 2006-2007 | Grant in Aid | Sigma Xi |
| 2006-2007 | Grant in Aid | Department of Biology, Duke University |
| 2006-2007 | Graduate School International Research Travel Award | Duke University |
| 2005-2006 | Graduate School International Research Travel Award | Duke University |
| 2004-2005 | Grant in Aid | Department of Biology, Duke University |
| 2003-2004 | Grant for Training in Plant/Fungal Systematics | Duke University, Mellon Foundation (3 separate awards) |
| 2008 | Biology Department One-Semester Fellowship | Duke University |
| 2002-2007 | Graduate Research Fellowship | National Science Foundation |
| 2002-2006 | James B. Duke Fellowship | Duke University |
| 2002 | Outstanding Graduate for the College of Arts and Sciences | University of Colorado |
| 2002-present | Ph.D. Student |
| Dept. of Biology, Duke University | |
| Advisor: Paul Manos | |
| Dissertation: The invasion dynamics and migration history of the parasitic plant Epifagus virginiana. | |
| 1999-2002 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Dept. of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado | |
| Advisor: Jeff Mitton | |
| Honors Thesis: A recent natural history of quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides: A phylogeography using organellar DNA. | |
| 1999-2002 | Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado | |
| Advisor: Veronica Vaida | |
| Project: Surface properties and reactions of organic monolayers and their implications for marine aerosols. |
| 2009 | Teaching Assistant | Organismal Diversity | Dept. of Biology, Duke University |
| 2007, 2008 | Teaching Assistant | Genetics and Molecular Biology | Dept. of Biology, Duke University |
| 2004-2005 | Teaching Assistant | Organismal Diversity | Dept. of Biology, Duke University |
| 2001-2002 | Teaching Assistant | Data Structures | Dept. of Computer Science, University of Colorado |
| Fall 2001 | Co-Instructor | General Chemistry Co-Seminar | Minority Arts and Sciences Program, University of Colorado |
| 2000-2001 | Group Tutor | Organic Chemistry | Student Academic Services, University of Colorado |
| Summmers 1999, 2000 | Teaching Assistant | General Chemistry | Minority Arts and Sciences Program, University of Colorado |
Tsai, YE, and JB Mitton. 2002. A recent natural history of quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides: A phylogeography using organellar DNA. Honors Thesis. University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
Tsai, YE, and PS Manos. Host constraints on the post-glacial migration of the parasitic plant, Epifagus virginiana. [Poster]. Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science National Business Meeting; Raleigh, NC; 20 June 2009.
Tsai, YE, and PS Manos. Global change, parasites, and community assembly: How a parasite expanded its range in the shadow of its host. [Presentation]. Oosting Memorial Symposium; Durham, NC; 17 April 2009.
Tsai, YE, and PS Manos. Beechdrops on the move: A parasitic plant’s tale of host influences on post-glacial recolonization. [Presentation]. Botany 2008; Vancouver, BC; 28 July 2008.
Tsai, YE, and PS Manos. A phylogeographic exploration of host constraints on the post-glacial migration of a parasitic plant, Epifagus virginiana.[Presentation]. Evolution 2008; Minneapolis, MN; 23 June 2008.
Tsai, YE, and D Kidd. PhyloGeoViz: Want to put pie charts on a map? Then PhyloGeoViz is the application for you. [Presentation]. NESCent Phyloinformatics End-of-Summer-of-Code Meeting; Durham, NC; 16 August 2007.
Tsai, YE, and PS Manos. The hitchhiker’s guide to the forest: A parasitic plant’s account of the range expansion of its host. [Presentation]. Botany Conference; Chicago, IL; 10 July 2007.
Tsai, YE, and PS Manos. Do hosts and their obligate parasites co-migrate? Inferences from the post-glacial phylogeographies of beech (Fagus grandifolia) and beechdrop (Epifagus virginiana). [Presentation]. Botany Conference; Chico, CA; 2 August 2006.
Tsai, YE, and PS Manos. Do hosts and their obligate parasites co-migrate? Inferences from the post-glacial phylogeographies of beech (Fagus grandifolia) and beechdrop (Epifagus virginiana). [Presentation]. Evolution Conference; Stony Brook, NY; 24 June 2006.
Vaida, V, and YE Tsai. Surface Properties and Reactions of Organic Monolayers and Their Implications for Marine Aerosols. [Presentation]. University of Colorado, NSF-REU Chemistry and Biochemistry Student Symposium; Boulder, CO; 10 August 2001
Tsai, YE, and JB Mitton. A phylogeography of quaking aspen using organellar DNA markers. [Poster]. University of Colorado, Undergraduate Research Day; Boulder, CO; 25 April 2001.
Tsai, YE, and JB Mitton. A phylogeography of quaking aspen using organellar DNA markers. [Presentation]. University of Colorado, Department of Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology Student Symposium; Boulder, CO; 28 April 2001.
| Summer 2007 | Developer of PhyloGeoViz, a phylogeographic visualization tool. | Mentoring organization: National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), sponsored by the Google Summer of Code Program |
| 2005-present | Webmaster and planning committee member. Planning committee chair since Fall 2007. | Women in Science and Engineering, Duke University |
| Summer 2007 | Assistant Coordinator | Howard Hughes Program for Precollege Students |
| Summers 2004, 2005, 2006 | Mentor | NSF-Research Experience for Undergraduates Program, Duke University |
| 2003-2004 | Co-Editor of the Biology Graduate Student Handbook 2004-2005 | Department of Biology, Duke University |
Society for the Study of Evolution
American Society of Plant Taxonomists
Botanical Society of America
Sigma Xi
Graduate Women in Science/Sigma Delta Epsilon
Association of Women in Science
American Association of University Women