Graduating from University of Oregon with my Ph.D.

After graduating with my BS in Biology, I decided to pursue higher education and enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Oregon. I started my research rotations early in June 2010 and classes officially started in September 2010. Throughout my time at University of Oregon my classwork related to neuroscience and the majority of my research related to molecular biology. I worked on mouse model organisms, zebrafish model organisms, and cell lines. I also taught three undergrad laboratory/discussion sections from 2010 to 2011.

Doctoral Researcher

As a doctoral researcher I designed experiments, performed statistical analysis of complex experimental data and genome analysis in R (specifically G-test of genotypes) while working with our bioinformatician, wrote my dissertation and papers, presented at meetings and conferences, and collaborated with researchers. I also mentored one to three undergraduate researchers weekly by teaching SOPs and verifying results. My doctoral research focused on the zebrafish model organism - specifically trying to investigate zebrafish sex determination, female sex development, and reproductive duct formation. I defended and graduated with my Ph.D. in June 2016 and continued to complete my research and publications until August 2016.

Graduate Teaching Fellow

As a graduate teaching fellow I taught the laboratory section of BI 211: General Biology I: Cells, the laboratory section of BI 212: General Biology II: Organisms, and the discussion section of BI 122: Human Genetics. I enjoyed teaching undergraduate students and helping them learn complex topics.

Grant Earned

2015-2016 Developmental Training Grant (T32HD007348)

Publications Resulting from Doctoral Research

Michelle Kossack, Samantha High, Rachel Hopton, Yi-lin Yan, John Postlethwait, Bruce Draper. (2019) Female sex development and reproductive duct formation depend on Wnt4a in zebrafish. Genetics. 211(1): 219-233.

Yi-Lin Yan, Thomas Desvignes, Ruth Bremiller, Catherine Wilson, Danielle Dillon, Samantha High, Bruce Draper, Charles Loren Buck, John Postlethwait. (2017) Gonadal soma controls ovarian follicle proliferation through Gsdf in zebrafish. Dev. Dyn., 246: 925-945.

Samantha High. June 2016. Sex Determination in Zebrafish: Genetics of Sex and wnt4a. Dissertation, University of Oregon.

Wilson C, High SK, McCluskey BM, Amores A, Yan YL, Titus TA, Anderson JL, Batzel P, Carvan MJ 3rd, Schartl M., Postlethwait J. (2014) Wild sex in zebrafish: loss of the natural sex determinant in domesticated strains. Genetics. 198(3): 1291-1308.

Presentations and Posters Resulting from Doctoral Research and Curriculum

Samantha High, Yilin Yan, Ruth BreMiller, John Postlethwait. February 2016. Wnt4a is Necessary for the Development of the Ovary and Male Reproductive Duct in Zebrafish. Poster at Graduate Recruitment Weekend, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. November 2015. Wnt4a is necessary for the development of the ovary and male reproductive duct. Presentation at Student Research Report Seminar, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. November 2015. Lasting effects of early exposure to temperature on the gonadal transcriptome at the time of sex differentiation in the European sea bass, a fish with mixed genetic and environmental sex determination. Presentation at Developmental Biology Journal Club, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. May 2015. UPF2, a nonsense-mediated mRNA decay factor, is required for prepubertal Sertoli cell development and male fertility by ensuring fidelity of the transcriptome. Presentation at Developmental Biology Journal Club, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. April 2015. Wnt4a is necessary for the development of the ovary and male reproductive duct. Presentation at Zebrafish Groupie, University of Oregon.

Samantha High, Yilin Yan, Ruth BreMiller, John Postlethwait. February 2015. Female zebrafish sex development depends on Wnt4a activity. Poster at Graduate Recruitment Weekend, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. November 2014. Wnt4a is necessary for the development of the ovary and male reproductive duct. Presentation at Student Research Report Seminar, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. July 2014. Sex Determination in Zebrafish. Presentation at Zebrafish Groupie, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. February 2014. Meiotic chromosome structures constrain and respond to designation of crossover sites. Presentation at Developmental Biology Journal Club, University of Oregon.

Samantha High, Yilin Yan, Ruth BreMiller, John Postlethwait. February 2014. What is the Role of Wnt Signaling in Zebrafish Gonad Development? Poster at Graduate Recruitment Weekend, University of Oregon.

Samantha High. July 2013. Searching for Sex Associated Loci in Zebrafish. Presentation at Zebrafish Groupie, University of Oregon.

Samantha Steiner, Yilin Yan, Ruth BreMiller, Adriana Rodriguez Mari, John Postlethwait. February 2013. Zebrafish Fell off the See-Saw. Poster at Graduate Recruitment Weekend, University of Oregon.

Samantha Steiner. February 2013 Convergent Evolution Associated with Habitat Decouples Phenotype from Phylogeny in a Clade of Lizards.Presentation at EvoDevo Journal Club, University of Oregon.

Samantha Steiner. October 2012. Does the See-Saw Hypothesis Apply to Zebrafish Sex Determination? Presentation at Zebrafish Groupie, University of Oregon.

Samantha Steiner. April 2012. Nutritional Control of Reproductive Status in Honeybees via DNA Methylation. Presentation at EvoDevo Journal Club, University of Oregon.

Samantha Steiner, Yilin Yan, Ruth BreMiller, Adriana Rodriguez Mari, John Postlethwait. February 2012. Sex Determination in Zebrafish: Expression Analysis of Candidate Genes. Poster at Graduate Recruitment Weekend, University of Oregon.