Melissa Whitaker, a Ph.D. candidate in the Ecology graduate group, is currently studying the evolution of diet and parasitism in the lycaenid family of butterflies, and she has a knack for collaborating with others whether it’s on campus or around the world.

Locally based in Dr. Art Shapiro’s Butterfly Lab in the Evolution and Ecology Department, Whitaker has worked on interdisciplinary projects combining computer science, natural history education, and biodiversity informatics under the UC Davis REACH IGERT program.

Globally, her collaborations have included projects with various international research universities, including Kyoto University (Japan) and University of Tartu (Estonia) – not to mention she has also been to Uganda, Borneo, Peru, Thailand, Singapore and Costa Rica for other projects. Nationally, she has worked with top research universities like Harvard and the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

Whitaker has received numerous fellowships that have funded her studies and travel. “I have always been diligent about going after my own funding,” she said. “Through the process I have learned a lot about grant writing and creating a strong research proposal.” She has received various travel awards and fellowships, including the Young Explorers Grant from the National Geographic Society, the Research Award from the UC Davis Center for Population Biology, the Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship, and several others.

However, the extent of Whitaker’s work doesn’t stop at just research. She has recently made her mark on the mobile technology industry, as she has just released a new mobile app, “The Butterfly Guide,” that is available for free in iTunes. “It’s an educational iPhone app that I created in collaboration with two Computer Science undergrads at UC Davis,” she shared. “It serves as an electronic field guide to the butterflies of our region, and has features to promote citizen science and natural history education.” She plans to impact the local and global community through teaching, science outreach, and service – three things she has already successfully achieved during her time on and off campus.

When not in the lab, developing new mobile technology, or traveling the globe, Whitaker enjoys running, cooking and yoga.

Photo: Taken in Sutter Buttes, Calif. by Elizabeth C. Long.