IU Biology alumna Dr. Heather Bleakley is a researcher fascinated by interacting phenotypes. She uses two systems—guppy antipredator behavior and cannibalism in isopods—to explore how interacting phenotypes may evolve.
Bleakley is also a teacher. Corroborating this are her string of teaching awards from Outstanding Associate Instructor while completing her Ph.D. at IU to her recent Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching at Stonehill College.
She works exclusively with undergraduates at a teaching intensive institution. Bleakley employs a rolling mentor-apprentice lab organization to provide substantive research experiences to diverse, often at-risk, undergraduates. These students both contribute to the lab research agenda and conduct independent research before going on to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and health careers. Such research experiences greatly support retention of at-risk students and help to diversify the STEM pipeline.
Heather Bleakley visited Indiana University Bloomington in March to give the 2016 Joan Wood Lecture, a forum for undergraduates to interact with women in science careers.
Heather Bleakley received her Ph.D. in Biology (Evolution, Ecology & Behavior) from Indiana University in 2007 with Armin Moczek. She also received a minor in College Pedagogy and an area certificate in Animal Behavior. She is currently an associate professor of biology at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts.
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