Jesse Balaban-Feld

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Biology, Saint Louis University

3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103
jbalaban@slu.edu - (847) 284-0427

EDUCATION
Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO
Ph.D. Candidate - Program in Biology - Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics
Advisor Dr. Thomas J. Valone (valone@slu.edu)

Fall 2012-Present

Planned date of graduation: May 2017

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology; Minor in Chemistry

Fall 2006-Spring 2010

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS
Animal behavior, invertebrate ecology, reproductive behavior, mate choice, evolution, sexual selection, sexual conflict,
learning and memory, bayesian updating, Drosophila melanogaster; community ecology, species diversity, dominance
structure, impact of exotic invasive species; plant-insect interactions; conservation biology, GIS; scientific literacy, outreach,
and education.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO
Fall 2012-Present
Ph.D. Candidate
Designed and implemented research program to study the effects of social experience on the consistency of
reproductive behaviors and personalities in male Drosophila melanogaster
Utilized video analysis to quantitatively characterize courtship and mating behaviors
Research Assistant
Analyzed and managed data from long term (>20 year) desert ecology study examining relationships between
community diversity, temporal stability, dominance, and exotic invasive species.
Duke University, Costa Rica
Summer 2009
Student Researcher
Participated in Tropical Biology program: Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS)
Designed and performed field experiment examining the affect that anti-fungal properties in plants have on leafcutter ant foraging
Traveled to and conducted group experiments in Wet and Dry Rainforest ecosystems
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Fall 2009-Spring 2010
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Entomology Lab under Dr. Andrew Suarez
Learned and employed laboratory techniques, including ant colony maintenance, insect pinning
Participated in high speed camera experiment studying jaw-closing mechanism of South American Trap-Jaw ant
TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATION
Certificate in University Teaching Skills (CUTS)
Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning

Fall 2014-16

Completed 2-year university-level teaching certification program

Attended 10 2-hour workshops developing pedagogical knowledge and strategy
Completed online seminars in course design and teaching with technology
Received feedback from teaching mentor concerning lectures presented at Saint Louis University
Generated a teaching portfolio

Lectures Presented
Course: Evolution Saint Louis University
Sexual Selection

Fall 2016

Course: Behavioral Ecology University of Missouri St. Louis

Intra-sexual Selection

Spring 2016

Course: Animal Behavior Saint Louis University

Habitat Selection and the Ideal Free Distribution Model
Territoriality, Aggression, and Game Theory

Spring 2015

Graduate Teaching Assistant Saint Louis University

Animal Behavior
Lecture Assistant
Laboratory Assistant
Aided students with experimental design and execution
Introductory Biology I
Introductory Biology II
Led Laboratory section of class
Delivered weekly lecture and guided laboratory experiments

Spring 2015

Fall 2012-13
Spring 2013-14

PUBLICATIONS

Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone (2016). Male reproductive personalities in Drosophila melanogaster. (in review Animal
Behaviour)
T.J. Valone and Balaban-Feld, J. (2016). Exotic invasion reduces diversity but enhances stability of natural plant communities.
(in review Journal of Ecology).
Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone (2016). Male courtship learning and personality in Drosophila melanogaster. (in prep)
Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone (2017). Male Drosophila melanogaster use social information and bayesian updating to alter
mate choice decisions. (in prep)

PRESENTATIONS
Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone. Identifying male reproductive personalities in Drosophila melanogaster: the importance of
controlling female behaviour. Animal Behavior Society (ABS) National Conference. Columbia, MO. July 31, 2016.
(Research Talk)
Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone. Identifying male reproductive personalities in Drosophila melanogaster: the importance of
controlling female behaviour. Saint Louis University Graduate Research Symposium. St. Louis, MO. April 22, 2016
(Research Talk)

Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone. Evidence of male personalities in courtship and mating behavior of Drosophila melanogaster.
Saint Louis University Department of Biology Seminar. St. Louis, MO. October 30, 2015
(Research Talk)
Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone. The effect of female behavior on the detection of male courtship personalities in Drosophila
melanogaster. Saint Louis Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation (SLEEC) Retreat. St. louis, MO (STLZOO). September 26, 2015
(Research Poster)
Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone. Repeatability of Male Courtship and Mating Preferences in Drosophila melanogaster. Saint
Louis University Graduate Research Symposium. St. Louis, MO. April 24, 2015
(Research Talk)
Balaban-Feld, J. and T.J. Valone. Repeatability of male mating preferences in Drosophila melanogaster. Saint Louis Ecology,
Evolution, and Conservation (SLEEC) Retreat. Edwardsville, IL (SIUE). October 11, 2014
(Research Poster)
Balaban-Feld, J., Havelka B.D., and T.J. Valone. Repeatability of male preference for virgin females in Drosophila melanogaster.
Saint Louis University Sigma Xi Symposium. St. Louis, MO. May 5, 2014.
(Research Poster)
Balaban-Feld, J., Havelka B.D., and T.J. Valone. Repeatability of male preference for virgin females in Drosophila melanogaster.
Indiana University Animal Behavior Conference. Bloomington, IN. April 24, 2014
(Research Poster)
Balaban-Feld, J., Havelka B.D., and T.J. Valone. Repeatability of male preference for virgin females in Drosophila melanogaster.
Saint Louis University Graduate Research Symposium. St. Louis, MO. April 11, 2014
(Research Poster)
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATIONS
Animal Behaviour Society

Saint Louis University Graduate Student Association

Department of Biology Representative
Attended and participated in bi-monthly GSA meetings
Received and allocated annual department GSA fund
Reviewed and endorsed GSA Conference Travel Awards

Fall 2012-Present

Fall 2013-Spring 2015

AWARDS
3rd Place Biological Sciences Research Talk Category: Saint Louis University Graduate Research Symposium

2016

1st Place - Biological Sciences Research Talk Category: Saint Louis University Graduate Research Symposium

2015

Brennan Dissertation Summer Fellowship Award: Saint Louis University

2015

3rd Place - Biological Sciences Research Poster Category: Saint Louis University Graduate Research Symposium

2014

UNDERGRADUATES MENTORED
Madison Richey: Drosophila husbandry, manipulation of body size via alteration of larval density. Saint Louis University
Amena Ahmed: Drosophila husbandry, manipulation of body size via alteration of larval density. Saint Louis University
Tobin Chemplavil: Drosophila husbandry, administration and video analysis of behavioral trials. Saint Louis University

2016
2015
2014

Ben Havelka: Drosophila husbandry, administration and video analysis of behavioral trials. Saint Louis University
Kenn Vattatarha: Drosophila husbandry. Saint Louis University

2013-2014
2013

EXTRACURRICULAR AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Good News After-School Reading Program, Chicago, IL
August 2004- May 2009
Tutor
Volunteered in program that targets at-risk second graders in danger of failing school due to being years behind in
reading proficiency
Tutored students individually in reading, writing, and vocabulary exercises
Family Matters After-School Program, Chicago, IL
August 2004- May 2006
Program Member
Assisted first, second, and third graders with homework for two hours, following school, twice a week

PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Dr. Thomas Valone (PI)
Professor Saint Louis University
valone@slu.edu
(314) 977-4090
Dr. Shawn Nordell
Senior Associate Director The Teaching Center Washington University in St. Louis
shawn.nordell@wustl.edu
(314) 935-8387
Dr. Aimee Dunlap
Assistant Professor University of Missouri St. Louis
aimee.dunlap@umsl.edu
(314) 516-6578