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Education

Bachelor's Degree in General Zoology (with honor), 2015 Washington State University

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M.S. in Biology, 2017, University of Oklahoma

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Ph.D in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, 2021, University of Oklahoma

 

Academic Awards

 

2013-14  Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. 

 

2013-14 George Van Vleet Endowment. 

 

2012-13 Ruth M. Coffin Endowed Scholarship. 

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Research Grants and Fellowships Received

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2017 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

 

2017 NSF East Asian and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI)

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2016 Mekong River Conservation Fund (From Shanshui Conservation Center)

       Rapid biodiversity survey of the upper Mekong River

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2014 Auvil Award.

      Undergraduate research award for students with faculty mentor at WSU.

      Quantitative measurement of anti-predatory behavior of amphibian larvae.

 

2014 Undergraduate Herpetological Research Grant (From Chicago Herpetological Society)

      Species validity and phylogenetics of two recently described newts (Tylototriton yangi and Tylototriton           daweishanensis) from southern Yunnan Province: behavioral and molecular evidence. 

 

2014 MHS Grant in Herpetological Conservation and Research (From Minnesota Herpetological Society) 

      Species validity and phylogenetics of two recently described newts (Tylototriton yangi and Tylototriton           daweishanensis) from southern Yunnan Province: behavioral and molecular evidence.

 

 

Research Experience

Herpetological diversity surveys in Asia.  (2014–present)

  • Leading field expeditions  in SW China, Nepal, and Philippines 

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Museum-based Systematic Researches. (2013- present) 

  • Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Asian reptiles and amphibians

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Full-Time Intern at the Laboratory of Herpetological Diversity and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China. (Summers of 2012, 2013, and 2015)

  • Field surveys across SW China

 

Laboratory research with Dr. Jesse Brunner, Washington State University. (Oct 2012 – 2015)

  • Designed and conducted experiments quantifying anti-predator responses of amphibian larvae 

  • Participated in the fieldworks for environmental DNA detection of Ranavirus 

  • Assisted with experiment of testing non-lethal detection methods of Ranavirus. Responsibilities included filter sample collections and viral DNA extractions.

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Independent research with Dr. Paul Verrell, Washington State University. May 2013 – 2014​

  • Designed and conducted the behavioral observations both in the field and in captivity for Tylototriton yangi 

 

 

 

Professional Conferences Attended

  • 2021   International Academic Conference on Herpetological Biodiversity and Conservation in Eurasia & 2021 Annual Academic Conference of Chinese Herpetological Society, Chengdu, China 
  • 2018   Annual Meeting of the Chinese Herpetological Society, Lanzhou, China
  • 2017   Annual Meeting of the Chinese Herpetological Society. Kunming, China
  • 2016   World Congress of Herpetology. Tonglu, China
  • 2015   Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR). Lawrence, Kansas,                USA.

  • 2013   Pacific Northwest region Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC). Coeur d’Alene,                  Idaho, USA

  • 2012   The 5th Asian Herpetological Conference. Chengdu, China

 

 

Presentations

  • Wang K. (2018). Phylogenetic revision of Japalura sensu lato in Asia. Annual Meeting of the Chinese Herpetological Society, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.

  • Wang K. (2017). Taxonomic Review of Chinese Draconinae Lizards: Current Challenges and Future Directions. Annual Meeting of the Chinese Herpetological Society, Kunming, Yunnan, China.

  • Wang K. (2016). Herpetological Diversity of Upper Mekong River. Shanshui Conservation Center, Kunming, Yunnan, China.

  • Wang K. (2016). The Underestimated Diversity: A Taxonomic Review of the Japalura flaviceps Complex (Sauria: Agamidae: Draconinae) in Southwest China. The 8th World Congress of Herpetology, Tonglu, Zhejiang, China.

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Professional Memberships​

  • Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC)

  • Chinese Zoological Society (CZS)

  • Society of the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR)

  • The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)

 

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