Education
PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology June 2015 - Present
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research: Ecological and evolutionary drivers of worker size polymorphism in ants
Adviser: Andrew Suarez
BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, magna cum laude, with honors Aug. 2011 – May 2015
The University of Arizona, Tucson AZ
Thesis Title: “Smaller bumble bee workers are safeguards against poor resource environments”
Adviser: Anna Dornhaus
Presentations
Posters
Honors and Awards
UIUC Grad College Conference Travel Grant 2015
NSF GRFP Fellowship 2015 - Present
Summer Pre-doctoral Institute, University of Illinois Summer 2015
NSF IGERT Traineeship, University of Illinois 2015 - Present
Grad College Fellowship, University of Illinois 2015
EEB Department Outstanding Senior, University of Arizona 2015
Leslie N. Goodding Scholarship, University of Arizona 2014
Animal Behavior Society Turner Award (Travel and registration to ABS 2014) 2014
IUSSI Travel Award 2014
Honors College Research Grant, University of Arizona 2014
Van de Verde Scholarship, University of Arizona 2014
Gilbert Escalante Galileo Scholar, University of Arizona 2014
Galileo Circle Scholar, University of Arizona 2013
Diversity at Evolution Scholar (Travel and registration to Evolution 2014) 2014
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC), 2014
2nd Place Undergraduate Paper Competition ESA Pacific Branch 2014
UA Honors College Junior of the Year (nominated), University of Arizona 2014
NSF Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) Indiana University 2013
First Level Honors University of Arizona Honors College 2012
Dean’s List University of Arizona Fall 2011-Spring 2015
People’s Choice Award EEB Undergrad Poster Session, University of Arizona 2012
Arizona Regents High Honors Award 2011
Outreach
EGSA (Entomology Graduate Student Association) Outreach
Professional Affiliations
PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology June 2015 - Present
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research: Ecological and evolutionary drivers of worker size polymorphism in ants
Adviser: Andrew Suarez
BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, magna cum laude, with honors Aug. 2011 – May 2015
The University of Arizona, Tucson AZ
Thesis Title: “Smaller bumble bee workers are safeguards against poor resource environments”
Adviser: Anna Dornhaus
Presentations
- Rivera, Dornhaus “If bigger is better why bother with the rest: Worker size variation in bumble bees in response to poor resource conditions” Entomology Society of America 2015, Minneapolis, MN
- Rivera, Suarez “Ecological and evolutionary drivers of morphological variation in social insects” 2015 Illinois Sumer Research Symposium Urbana-Champaign, IL
- Rivera, Dornhaus “If bigger is better why bother with the rest: Size polymorphism in bumble bees” 2014 UROC Presentation Tucson, AZ
- Rivera, Dornhaus “The impacts of floral features on pollinator landing success” 2014 Entomology Society of America Pacific Branch Meeting Student Paper Competition (2nd place) Tucson, AZ
- Rivera, Meyers, Alberts “Offspring modulate maternal behavior: Implications for phenotype development in knockout mice strains” 2013 Indiana University CISAB REU Colloquium Bloomington, IN
Posters
- Rivera, Dornhaus “The adaptive value of bumble bee size polymorphism” 2015 UA Honors College Research Expo, Tucson, AZ
- Rivera, Donaldson-Matasci, Dornhaus “Quitting time: How do foraging bees decide to quit a resource in natural conditions? 2014 Animal Behavior Society Meeting, Princeton, NJ
- Rivera, Donaldson-Matasci, Dornhaus “Quitting time: How do foraging bees decide to quit a resource in natural conditions? 2014 International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) Cairns, AUS
- Rivera, Dornhaus “The impacts of floral features on pollinator landing success” 2014 Evolution Raleigh, NC
- Rivera, Barker, Bronstein “Nectar robbing: An energetically efficient strategy?” 2014 University of Arizona EEB Undergraduate Poster Conference
- Rivera, Dornhaus “Can floral features facilitate flying foragers?” 2013 University of Arizona EEB Undergraduate Poster Conference
- Rivera, Donaldson-Matasci, Dornhaus “Quittin’ Time! Why do foraging honey bees decide to quit?” 2012 University of Arizona EEB Undergraduate Poster Conference (People’s choice award)
Honors and Awards
UIUC Grad College Conference Travel Grant 2015
NSF GRFP Fellowship 2015 - Present
Summer Pre-doctoral Institute, University of Illinois Summer 2015
NSF IGERT Traineeship, University of Illinois 2015 - Present
Grad College Fellowship, University of Illinois 2015
EEB Department Outstanding Senior, University of Arizona 2015
Leslie N. Goodding Scholarship, University of Arizona 2014
Animal Behavior Society Turner Award (Travel and registration to ABS 2014) 2014
IUSSI Travel Award 2014
Honors College Research Grant, University of Arizona 2014
Van de Verde Scholarship, University of Arizona 2014
Gilbert Escalante Galileo Scholar, University of Arizona 2014
Galileo Circle Scholar, University of Arizona 2013
Diversity at Evolution Scholar (Travel and registration to Evolution 2014) 2014
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC), 2014
2nd Place Undergraduate Paper Competition ESA Pacific Branch 2014
UA Honors College Junior of the Year (nominated), University of Arizona 2014
NSF Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) Indiana University 2013
First Level Honors University of Arizona Honors College 2012
Dean’s List University of Arizona Fall 2011-Spring 2015
People’s Choice Award EEB Undergrad Poster Session, University of Arizona 2012
Arizona Regents High Honors Award 2011
Outreach
EGSA (Entomology Graduate Student Association) Outreach
- Pollinatarium - Taught 2nd grade students about honey bee biology and introduced them to an observation hive
- Booker T. Washington – Lead students in an experiment to determine the function of cockroach leg spines
- Discussed bumble bee polymorphism project and research experiences
- Talked about the plight of native bees and what listeners can do to help
- Manned a festival information booth, providing information about the festival and its events
- Worked the insect discover booth, introducing visitors to various arthropods
- Set up and worked a display of bumble bees, explained the research and importance of native bees
- Discussed the lab’s and my own research with prospective students and their parents
- Talked about my experiences at the University and the transition from high school to college
Professional Affiliations
- Center for the Integrated Study of Animal Behavior (CISAB)
- International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI)
- Entomology Society of America (ESA)
- Animal Behavior Society (ABS)