Dr. Amy Van Cise

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Amy's research program focuses on the ecological and evolutionary strategies of cetacean species, exploring how social behavior drives the evolution of population structure in marine mammals. Utilizing an integrative approach, her work addresses questions to advance the theoretical understanding of the evolutionary trajectories of social marine mammals, enable managers to respond to conservation needs for threatened species, and continue developing and improving methods to study these species. Currently, Amy's lab emphasizes acoustics and various types of 'omic data, including genomic, microbiome, and environmental DNA (eDNA), to address critical study questions. Ongoing projects include analyzing killer whale diets through nuclear and mitochondrial fecal DNA, enhancing eDNA use for monitoring large-scale marine mammal distributions, and examining the vocal behavior of endangered beluga populations as potential vectors for microbiome disease transmission. She invites you to learn more about her research lab by visiting her website.

Research Interests

Courses

Genetics Marine Mammalogy

Requirements for University of Washington

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:105
Overall
Required:105
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • English proficiency scores (for international students)
Specialization Notes

Standard Graduate School requirements for University of Washington apply to most departments listed unless specified otherwise by the program.