education

2020 Ph.D., Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

2013 M.S., Biology, San Diego State University

2007 B.S., Biology and History, Trinity University

publications

In press:

S. S. Kienle, A. Berta. The evolution of feeding strategies in phocid seals (Pinnipedia, Phocidae). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

2019:

S. S. Kienle, A. Cacanindin* (undergrad), T. Kendall, B. Richter, C. Ribeiro-French, L. Castle, G. Lentes, D. Costa, R. Mehta. Hawaiian monk seals exhibit behavioral flexibility when targeting prey of different size and shape. Journal of Experimental Biology.

2018:

S. S. Kienle, H. Hermann-Sorensen H, D. P. Costa, C. Reichmuth, R. S. Mehta. Comparative feeding strategies and kinematics in phocid seals: suction without specialized skull morphology. Journal of Experimental Biology 221: jeb179424

2017:

S. S. Kienle, C. J. Law, D. P. Costa, A. Berta, R. S. Mehta. Revisiting the behavioural framework of feeding in marine mammals. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284: 20171035.

2016:

S. S. Kienle, A. Berta. The better to eat you with: the comparative feeding morphology of phocid seals (Pinnipedia, Phocidae). Journal of Anatomy 228: 396-413.

2015:

S. S. Kienle, J. S. Reidenberg, T. A. Deméré. Tongue musculature and functional morphology of the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). The Anatomical Record 298:660-674.

E. G. Ekdale, S. S. Kienle. Passive restriction of blood flow and counter-current heat exchange via lingual retia in the tongue of a neonatal gray whale Eschrichtius robustus (Cetacea, Mysticeti). The Anatomical Record 298:675-679.

A. Berta, E. G. Ekdale, N. T. Zellmer, T. A. Deméré, S. S. Kienle, M. A. Smallcomb. Eye, nose, hair, and throat: external anatomy of the head of a neonate gray whale (Cetacea, Mysticeti, Eschrichtiidae). The Anatomical Record 298:648-659.

A. Berta, S. S. Kienle, S. Sorbi, G. Biannuci. A re-evaluation of Pliophoca etrusca (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) from the Pliocene of Italy: Phylogenetic and biogeographic implications. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35:e889144.

awards and honors

Fellowships, Grants, and Scholarships:

2017-2020 Office of Polar Programs Grant (contributed to writing), NSF

2013-2018 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Summer Fellowship, UC Santa Cruz

2018 Graduate Student Associate Travel Grant, UC Santa Cruz

2017 Dissertation Research Grant, UC Institute for Mexico and the United States

2017 Grant for Marine Mammal Research, American Cetacean Society Monterey Bay

2016 UC MEXUS – CONACYT Research Grant, UC Institute for Mexico and the United States

2016 Grant for Marine Mammal Research, American Cetacean Society Monterey Bay

2016 Rebecca and Steve Sooy Graduate Fellowship in Marine Mammals, UC Santa Cruz

2015 Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant, UC Natural Reserves

2015 Lerner Grey Marine Research Grant, American Museum of Natural History

2014 Dr. Earl H. Myers & Ethel M. Myers Oceanographic and Marine Biology Trust, UC Santa Cruz

2014 Student Research and Education Award, Friends of Long Marine Laboratory

2014 Graduate Student Associate Travel Grant, UC Santa Cruz

2013 Regent’s Fellowship, UC Santa Cruz

2013 Student Travel Grant, Society of Marine Mammalogy

2013 Student Travel Grant, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

2013 Instructionally Related Student Travel Funds, San Diego State University

2012 Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Scholar Fellowship, California State University

2012 Theodore Cohn Evolutionary Biology Graduate Scholarship, San Diego State University

2012 Jordan D. Covin Memorial Scholarship, San Diego State University

2012 Harry E. Hamber Memorial Scholarship, San Diego State University

2012 Mabel Myers Memorial Scholarship, San Diego State University

2011 Lerner Grey Marine Research Grant, American Museum of Natural History

2011 Instructionally Related Student Travel Funds, San Diego State University

2011 Student Travel Grant, Society for Marine Mammalogy

2003–2007 President’s Scholarship, Trinity University

awards:

2019 Grad Slam Champion, UCSC

2018 Emily Klein Award, Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program

2015 Best Doctoral Speed Talk, Biology of Marine Mammals Conference

2013 D. Dwight Davis Award for Best Student Oral Presentation, Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology

2012 Dean’s Award for Best Oral Presentation, San Diego State University

2007 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Trinity University

2006 Trinity University Dean’s List, Trinity University

2006 Research Experience for Undergraduates Internship, NSF

2005 Research Experience for Undergraduates Internship, NSF

2004 Dean’s List, Trinity University

presentations

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (ORAL):

2019

Sex-specific foraging strategies of a sexually dimorphic marine predator, the northern elephant seal. Mathias Symposium, Bodega Bay, CA.

Hawaiian monk seals suck: Behavioral flexibility in feeding strategies and kinematics when Hawaiian monk seals target different prey. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Tampa, FL.

2018

Comparative feeding strategies and kinematics in phocid seals. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Francisco, CA

2017

Flexibility in the foraging behavior of Hawaiian monk seals. Biology of Marine Mammals, Halifax, Canada

Feeding strategies in Hawaiian monk seals. EEB Research Symposium, Santa Cruz, CA

Feeding strategies of Hawaiian monk seals. SMM California Student Chapter, Moss Landing, CA

2016

Pinnipeds Suck: Examining underwater feeding strategies in seals and sea lions. EEB Research Symposium, Santa Cruz, CA

2015

Pinnipeds Suck: Examining underwater feeding strategies in seals and sea lions. Biology of Marine Mammals, San Francisco, CA

Biting vs. suction: Examining underwater feeding strategies in multiple pinniped species. EEB Research Symposium, Santa Cruz, CA

Biting vs. suction: Examining underwater feeding strategies in multiple pinniped species. Society of Marine Mammalogy Student Chapter, Moss Landing, CA

2014

The differential foraging ecology and habitat use of male northern elephant seals. EEB Research Symposium, Santa Cruz, CA

2013

The better to eat you with: The comparative feeding morphology of phocid seals. Biology of Marine Mammals, Dunedin, New Zealand

Pinniped skullduggery: The evolution of feeding strategies in phocid seals. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Los Angeles, CA

The better to eat you with: The comparative feeding morphology of phocid seals. California Student Chapter of the Marine Mammal Society, Santa Cruz, CA

Pinniped skullduggery: The evolution of feeding strategies in phocid seals. SDSU Student Research Symposium, San Diego, CA

Hungry, hungry pinnipeds: The comparative feeding morphology of phocid seals. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Francisco, CA

2012

The better to eat you with: The comparative anatomy and evolution of feeding in seals (Carnivora, Phocidae). SDSU Student Research Symposium, San Diego, CA

A re-evaluation of Pliophoca etrusca (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) from the Pliocene of Italy: Phylogenetic and biogeographic implications. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Raleigh, NC

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (Poster)

2014

Population-level foraging variability in a mesopelagic predator, the male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Bio-logging Science Symposium, Strasbourg, France.

2011

The comparative anatomy and evolution of feeding in phocids. Biology of Marine Mammals, Tampa, FL.

The comparative anatomy and evolution of feeding in phocids. Secondary Adaptation of Tetrapods to Life in the Water, San Diego, CA

seminars

2018

Males vs. females: Feeding behavior of northern elephant seals. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting, Alpena, MI

2017

Feeding behavior of northern elephant seals. Friends of Elephant Seals Lecture Series, Cambria, CA 2017

Suction versus biting: Prey capture strategies in seals. Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, MN 2016

2016

Feeding in the deep: Investigating the feeding behavior of northern elephant seals. San Simeon Public Lecture Series, Cambria, CA

Suction versus biting: Prey capture strategies in seals. Science on Tap Public Lecture Series, Santa Cruz, CA

2015

Pinniped feeding ecology. Santa Cruz Library Citizen Science Talk, Santa Cruz, CA

2006

Feeding preference and tolerance of chemically defended seaweeds in herbivorous marine amphipods. Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC

2005

Geomicroorganisms in Not-So Subsurface Environments. Trinity University, San Antonio, TX

Geomicroorganisms in Not-So Subsurface Environments. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM

teaching experience

University of California Santa Cruz

Making the CAISE: Creating Active and Inclusive Section Experiences, facilitator (2018)

Biology of Marine Mammals laboratory, lead instructor (2 terms, 2014–2015)

San Diego State University

Human Physiology laboratory, lead instructor (6 terms, 2010–2013)

KIPP: Aspire Academy

Life Science (2 terms, 2009-2010)

Environmental Science (1 term, 2009-2010)

Rio Grande City High School

Biology (4 terms, 2007-2009)

Teach for America Corps Member (4 terms, 2007-2009)

Trinity University

Ecology (2 terms, 2005-2007)

service
to the profession

• Reviewer, Marine Ecology Progress Series (2019-Present)

• Reviewer, PeerJ (2019-Present)

• Reviewer, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (2017-Present)

• Board Member, Student Member-at-Large, Society of Marine Mammalogy (2014-2017)

• Chair, Student Affairs Committee, Society of Marine Mammalogy (2015-2017)

service
to the university

• FaciTeaching Assistant Training, UC Santa Cruz (2018)

• Graduate Student Representative, UC Santa Cruz (2014-2015)

• Laboratory Safety Officer, Costa Lab, UC Santa Cruz (2015-2019)

service
to the public

2019

Scientist, Letters to a Pre-Scientist

Guest Scientist, Skype A Scientist

2018

Scientist, Letters to a Pre-Scientist

Guest Scientist, Skype A Scientist

Guest Speaker, California Ocean Alliance, Santa Cruz, CA

Guest Scientist, Boys and Girls Club Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Guest Speaker, Año Nuevo Docents Training, Año Nuevo State Park, CA

Guest Researcher, Año Nuevo Seal Adventure Days

2017

Community College Research Internship for Science Engagement, UC Santa Cruz

NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series

Guest Speaker, BioSITE and Leland High School

Interview, NOAA Ocean Guardians School

Guest Speaker, Año Nuevo Docents Training, Año Nuevo State Park, CA

Guest Researcher, Año Nuevo Seal Adventure Days

2016

Mentor, UC Santa Cruz Student Internship Program

Guest Speaker, Año Nuevo Docents Training, Año Nuevo State Park, CA

Guest Researcher, Año Nuevo Seal Adventure Days

2015

Guest Speaker, Lakeview Middle School

Panelist, Society for the Advancement of Hispanics/ Chicanos and Native Americans in Science

Middle School Science Fair Judge, Pajaro Middle School

Mentor, UC Santa Cruz Student Internship Program

Guest Speaker, Año Nuevo Docents Training, Año Nuevo State Park, CA

Guest Researcher, Año Nuevo Seal Adventure Days

2014

Guest Lecturer, Watsonville High School

Presenter, A Fish’s Story, Gavilan College

Elementary School Science Fair Judge, Westlake Elementary School

Guest Speaker, Año Nuevo Docents Training, Año Nuevo State Park, CA

Guest Researcher, Año Nuevo Seal Adventure Days

2013

Invited Speaker, Docent’s Lecture, San Diego Natural History Museum

Nifty Fifty Speaker, W.D. Hall Elementary School and Jean Farb Middle School

2012

Guest Scientist, La Mesa Dale Elementary School

Nifty Fifty Speaker, W.D. Hall Elementary School and Jean Farb Middle School

Exhibits Interpreter, Birch Aquarium

2011

Guest Speaker, Women Scientists in Action Camp

Guest Presenter, Health Sciences High and Middle College, San Diego, CA

Exhibits Interpreter, Birch Aquarium