Luke Klicka

Lukas Klicka

Graduate Student
785.864.2316
Dyche Hall

Luke is an evolutionary biologist interested in phylogeography and population genetics of bird populations.
Publications: 

Klicka L. B., Title P. O., Kus B. E., Burns K. J. 2015. Conservation genomics reveals multiple evolutionary units within Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii). Conservation Genetics. 17: 455-471. [link]

Klicka L. B., Campillo L. C., Manthey J. D., Qu, Y. 2015. Comparative phylogeography and niche modeling for three species complexes of SE China (Paradoxornis spp., Pycnonotus spp., Spizixos spp.). Current Zoology 61: 943-950. [link]

Peterson A. T., Moyle R. G., Lei F., Campillo L. C., Hosner P. A., Klicka L. B., Lim H. C., Nyári A. S., Qu Y., Reddy S., Sheldon F. H., Zou F. 2015. Avian evolution and speciation in the Southeast Asian tropics. Current Zoology 61: 898-900. [link]

Ryan P. G., Klicka L. B., Barker F. K., and Burns K. J. 2013. The origin of finches on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island, central South Atlantic Ocean. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69: 299-305. [link]

Education: 

The University of Kansas. Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2014-present)

San Diego State University. M.S. Biology (2011-2014)

University of Minnesota -Twin Cities B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (2006-2010)

Grants: 

2016 - Panorama Grant. Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas ($1,000).

2015 - SSB Graduate Student Research Award ($1500).

2015 - Panorama Grant. Biodiveristy Institute, University of Kansas ($1000).

2015 - Graduate Student Research Award. University of Kansas ($1500).

2013 – Ted Cohn Evolutionary Biology Fund. San Diego State University ($500.)

2012 – American Ornithologist’s Union Research Award ($2500).

2012 – AMNH – Frank Chapman Memorial Fund ($2350).

2012 – LA Audubon Society – Ralph W. Schreiber Ornithology Research Award ($1500).

Awards: 

2017 - Presenter Award. University of Kansas Graduate Student Organization retreat.

2017 - Summer Fellowship, University of Kansas ($3500)

2016 - Summer Fellowship, University of Kansas ($3000)

2014 - Kansas Ornithological Society. Best Paper by a PhD student

2014 – American Ornithologist’s Union Conference Travel Award

2013 – Harold and June Grant Memorial Scholarship. San Diego State University ($2600)

2013 – American Ornithologist’s Union Conference Travel Award

2012 – Mabel Myers Memorial Scholarship. San Diego State University ($1500)

Teaching: 
Instructor of Record:

Haskell University- Biol 122 Principles of Organismal Biology (Fall 2016)

Training:

Society for the Study of Evolution - Professional Development for Undergraduate Educators (Portland, Oregon 2017)

University of Kansas - Biol 701 Mentoring (Fall 2014)

Course Development:

Phylogeography Module - Kansas DNA day 2016

TA Positions:

The University of Kansas - Biol 350 Intro. to Genetics (Spring 2015 - Fall 2016, Fall 2017-current)

The University of Kansas - Biol 405 Laboratory in Genetics (Summer 2017)

The University of Kansas - Biol 152 Principles of Organismal Biology (Spring 2017) 

The University of Kansas - Biol 102 Introduction to Biology (Fall 2014)

San Diego State University - World of Animals laboratory (2011-2014)

Guest Lecture:

University of Kansas - Biol 593 Ornithology (2017)

San Diego State University - Biol 509 Evolutionary Biology (2013)

Outreach:

2017. DNA Day. Presented the "Phylogeography" module to several classes at a local high school.

2017. Sexy Science. A Biodiversity Institute outreach event held near Valentines Day each year. 

2016. DNA Day. Piloted the recently developed "Phylogeography" module.

2016. Science Night, Hillcrest Elementary. Presented on noctural bird species local to Douglas Co. KS. "Birds of the Night" 

2015. Science of the Macabre. A Biodiversity Institute outreach event held near Halloween each year.

2015. DNA day. Presented the "Genomics and Inheritance" module for Kansas DNA day's inagural year.

2014. Ocean Discovery Institute. Held a day long workshop for students (4th - 8th grade) to learn lab techniques like DNA extraction and PCR amplification.

Professional Presentations: 

Klicka LB, Weeks BC, Cracraft JL, Filardi CE, Moyle RG. Phylogeny of Melanesian flycatchers (Aves: Monarchidae) based on ultraconserved elements. Evolution Meeting, Portland, Oregon, USA, June 2017. Poster contribution.

Klicka LB, Campillo LC, Manthey JD, Filardi CE, Moyle RG. Phylogeography and systematics of small brown birds of the Southwest Pacific. Graduate Student Organization EEB retreat, Lawrence, KS, USA, May 2017. Oral contribution.

Klicka LB, Burns KJ, Title PO, Kus BE. Conservation genomics reveals multiple evolutionary units within the Bell's Vireo. Kansas Ornithological Society, Salina, Kansas, USA, October 2014. Oral contribution.

Klicka LB, Burns KJ, Title PO, Kus BE. Conservation genomics reveals multiple evolutionary units within the Bell's Vireo. 132nd American Ornithologis' Union, Estes Park, Colorado, USA, September 2014. Oral contribution.

Klicka LB, Burns KJ, Kus BE. Phylogeography and conservation genetics of the Bell’s Vireo. 131st American Ornithologists’ Union, Chicago, Illinois, USA, August 2013. Oral contribution.

Major Field Experience: 

2016- Solomon Islands, New Georgia Group. General collecting (birds, herps). 4 weeks

2015- Solomon Islands, Malaita. General collecting (birds, herps). 7 weeks

2013- Eastern Arizona, Western Texas. Dissertation focused collection (Vireo bellii). 2 weeks

2012- Western Arizona. Dissertation focused collection (Vireo bellii). 1 week

2012- California. Biogeography project (mammals, reptiles, birds, insects). 1 week

2008- Western United States. General bird collecting. 6 weeks 

2008- Bahamas. Coastal ecology of the Bahamas. 2 weeks

Professional Societies: 

American Ornithologist's Union (2011 - present)

Society for the Study of Evolution (2014 - present)

Society of Systematic Biologists (2014 - present)