Dr. Joshua V. Peñalba

Education & professional appointments

2021 – present: Research scientist; Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery; Museum für Naturkunde.
2017 – 2020: Postdoctoral Researcher; Division of Evolutionary Biology; Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität München. PI: Prof. Jochen Wolf
2013 – 2017: PhD Candidate; Research School of Biology, Australian National University (ANU); Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).  Advisors: Prof. Craig Moritz & Dr. Leo Joseph
2008 – 2013: B.A. Integrative Biology (Hons); University of California, Berkeley. Advisor: Prof. Rauri Bowie

Volunteer & other appointments

2016 – 2017: Moritz Lab Manager (part-time), Australian National University
Manage standard molecular lab maintenance (lab inductions, supply stocking, managing expenditures).
2011 – 2013: Assistant Lab Manager, UC Berkeley, Evolutionary Genetics Lab
Assist with standard lab maintenance in the absence of the resident lab manager and assist in training of other researchers
2011 – 2013: Independent Contractor: Evolutionary Genetics, UC Berkeley
Work independently for foreign researchers to collect genetic and genomic data
2010 – 2013: Curatorial Assistant, UC Berkeley, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Organize specimens, update online databases, and install specimens into the natural history collections. Assistant for ornithology, herpetology, and mammalogy collections.
2009 – 2013: Field Assistant, UC Berkeley, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Assist curators and graduate students in the field trips for collecting and ecological studies
2009 – 2013: Lab Technician, UC Berkeley, Advisor: Dr. Rauri Bowie
Perform standard molecular lab techniques for Sanger sequencing and NGS
2008 – 2013: Preparation Lab Assistant, UC Berkeley, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Prepare skeletons, study skins, and alcohol specimens of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles for the collection for scientific use and preservation (ca. 350 specimens)

Teaching & training

2014 – 2015: Australian National University, Demonstrator, Biol1008: Human Biology (2 semesters)
2014: Australian National University, Demonstrator, Biol3157: Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics (1 semester)
2011: UC Berkeley, Undergraduate Student Instructor, IB173: Ornithology (1 semester)
2010 – 2013: UC Berkeley, Undergraduate Student Instructor, Advanced Bird Skinning Seminar (4 semesters)
2009 – 2010: UC Berkeley, Undergraduate Student Instructor, Preparation Lab Seminar (2 semesters)
2009 – 2013: UC Berkeley, Lab Technician, Evolutionary Genetics Lab Training (ca. 15 students)

Invited talks

2019: Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
2020: Louisiana State University; Systematics, Ecology, and Evolution Seminar Series; Louisiana, USA

Conference presentations

2018: Peñalba JV, Joseph L, Moritz C. Genome divergence and gene flow through the speciation continuum: insights from suture zones of Australian birds. Oral presentation. Hamilton Award Symposium. Joint Congress of on Evolutionary Biology, Montpellier
2017: Peñalba JV, Joseph L, Moritz C, Cockburn A. De novo whole genome sequencing and assembly of the superb fairywren (Malurus cyaneus). Poster presentation Centre for Biodiversity Analysis – Genomics and Collections: Adaptation to Macroevolution.
2017: Peñalba JV, Joseph L, Moritz C. Genomic introgression across an Australian bird suture zone. Centre for Biodiversity Analysis – Genomics and Collections: Adaptation to Macroevolution.
2017: Peñalba JV, Joseph L, Moritz C. Divergence-with-gene-flow in birds: genome differentiation in allopatry vs. parapatry through the speciation continuum. Poster presentation. Gordon Research Conference – Speciation.
2016: Peñalba JV, Joseph L, Moritz C. Genomic divergence in allopatry vs. parapatry through the speciation process. Poster presentation. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
2015: Peñalba JV, Mason IJ, Schodde R et al. Divergence in an avian suture zone. Oral presentation. Australasian Ornithological Council.
2014: Peñalba JV, Smith, LL, Tonione, M et al. Sequence Capture using PCR-generated Probes (SCPP): A cost-effective method of targeted high-throughput sequencing for non-model organisms. Poster presentation. International Biogeography Conference.
2013: Peñalba JV, Smith, LL, Tonione, M et al. Sequence Capture using PCR-generated Probes (SCPP): A cost-effective method of targeted high-throughput sequencing for non-model organisms. Poster presentation. Evolution.

Awards

2017: Vice Chancellor’s HDR Travel Grant, Australian National University ($1500 AUD)
2016: Registration Reimbursement Award, Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution ($425 AUD)
2016: Spencer Smith-White Travel Grant, Genetics Society of Australasia ($500 AUD)
2015: Stuart Leslie Bird Research Award, BirdLife Australia ($5000 AUD)
2015 – 2017: The Hermon Slade Foundation ($58800 AUD)
2015: Joyce W. Vickery Wildlife Fund, Linnean Society of New South Wales ($800 AUD)
2013 – 2016: University Research Scholarship (International), Australian National University ($31600 AUD p.a. – tuition, $24653 AUD p.a.)
2013: Departmental Citation Award, Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley
2012: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, College of Letters & Sciences, UC Berkeley ($4000 USD)
2012: Biodiversity Award, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley ($2500 USD)
2011: Biodiversity Award, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UB Berkeley ($2500 USD)
2010: Biology Fellows Program, UC Berkeley ($2500 USD)

Committee memberships

2015 – 2017: EEG HDR Representative, Research Training Committee, Research School of Biology, ANU
2015: EEG HDR Representative, Organisational Review Panel, Research School of Biology, ANU

Society memberships

BirdLife Australia
Genetics Society of Australasia [GSA]
Phi Beta Kappa [PBK]
Sigma Xi
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution [SMBE]
Society for the Study of Evolution [SSE]
Society of Systematic Biologists [SSB]

Journal reviewer

Behavioral Ecology
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Bird Conservation International
Emu – Austral Ornithology
Evolution
Journal of Biogeography
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Ecology
Molecular Ecology Resources
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Plos One
Proceedings of the Royal Society B
Scientific Reports

Skills

Public Outreach