College of Veterinary Medicine

PO Box 100136
2015 SW 16th Ave
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 392-2226 ext 5729

Education:

BS, Biological Sciences, Honors Degree with Distinction, University of Delaware,   Newark, 2005

MS, Marine Biology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 2007

Honors and Awards:

Charles Peter White Fellowship, 2004

Recipient of Charles H. Bussman Graduate Scholarship through the Marine Technology Society, 2006

Society for Marine Mammalogy travel grant, 2007

University of Florida Graduate Student Association travel grant, 2007
University of Florida Veterinary Graduate Student Association travel grant, 2008

Current Research:

My research focuses on the chemoreceptive ability of the Florida manatee. I am
specifically interested in examining the receptors responsible for their sense of taste and smell. I also plan to examine the excretions/secretions of female Florida manatees to determine the source of signals which are broadcast to males during estrus.

Laboratory Experience:

• PCR and Real time PCR
• Histology (cutting and staining)
• SEM (limited)
• Statistics (basics such as T-tests and Anovas)
• "Distance" computer program for estimating abundance and distribution
  

 

Selected Publications:

Bills, M.L., Callaway, S.B., Kessler, A.T., and Taylor, M.H. Ovarian contraction in
various teleost families. J Fish Biology 72(3):671-680. 2008.

Selected Presentations:

Bills, M.L. SE and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symp., Charleston, SC. Oral presentation. March 2008.

Bills, M.L. Society for Marine Mammalogy, 17th Biennial Conf., Cape Town, South Africa. Poster presentation. November 2007.

Bills, M.L. SE and Mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symp., Beaufort, NC. Poster presentation. March 2006.