Yongjiu Chen

The Legend
Population genetics machine
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Office: HRI 311
Email: yongjiu.chen@tamucc.edu

Biography
Presently, I am a postdoctoral associate at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. I was born and grew up on Zhoushan archipelago in the East China Sea. I completed my doctoral degree in the Ecology Program (Conservation Biology Area of Emphasis) at the University of California, Davis in 2006. Following my Ph.D., I conducted postdoctoral research at the Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center (The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and at North Dakota State University.

Research & Teaching Interests
I am interested in a diverse spectrum of conservation and population genetics questions. My research considers organisms that sustain the biological diversity and systems that promote the evolutionary potential. Currently, I am working with colleagues on the species of (1) cyprinids (Cyprinidae), suckers (Catostomidae) and cyprinodonts (Cyprinodontidae) in North America; (2) riffle gobies (Sicydiinae) in the Pacific Ocean; and (3) pygmy sleepers (Butinae) in coastal West Africa.

I am interested in teaching in a variety of biological subjects. Most recently, I instructed two upper-division undergraduate / graduate-level courses at North Dakota State University, (1) Conservation Biology and (2) Evolution. I enjoy engaging with students in both the class room and the laboratory settings.

Publications
Chen, Y., C. Conway, C. Keeler-Foster, R. Hamman, and S. Meismer. 2009. Genetic characterization of variation in captive and wild woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus). North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 29: 843-849.
Chen, Y., S. Reid, and B. May. 2009. Genetic relationships of tui chub populations in the northwestern Great Basin and conservation implications for the Cow Head Tui Chub. Conservation Genetics. 10: 101-114.
Chen, Y., S. Parmenter, and B. May. 2007. Introgression between Lahontan and endangered Owens tui chubs, and apparent discovery of a new tui chub in the Owens Valley, California. Conservation Genetics. 8: 221-238.
Leunda, P. M., R. Miranda, J. Madoz, S. Parmenter, Y. Chen, and B. May. 2005. Threatened fishes of the world: Siphateles bicolor snyderi (Miller, 1973) (Cyprinidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes. 73: 109-110.
Yang, Z., Q. Li, Y. Zuo, X. Chen, Y., Chen, L. Nie, C. Wei, J. Zen, S. W. Attwood, X. Zhang, and Y. Zhang. 2002. Characterization of Sarcocystis species (Protozoa) in domestic animals using a PCR-RFLP analysis of variation in the 18S rRNA gene: a cost-effective and simple technique for routine species identification. Experimental Parasitology. 102: 212-217.
Zhang, Y., Y. Zhang, Y. Luan, Y. Chen, and W. Yin. 2001. Phylogeny of higher taxa of hexapoda according to 12s rRNA sequences. Chinese Science Bulletin (English). 46: 840-842.
Zhang, S., Y. Zhang, X. Zheng, Y. Chen, H. Deng, D. Wang, Q. Wei, Y. Zhang, L. Nie, and Q. Wu. 2000. Molecular phylogenetic systematics of twelve species of Acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L-ND4 gene sequence analysis. Science in China Series C Life Sciences (English). 43: 129-137.
Chen, Y., Y. Zhang, Y. Yang, and D. Yang. 1999. Genetic diversity and taxonomic implication of Cordyceps sinensis (Fungus) as revealed by RAPD markers. Biochemical Genetics. 37:201-213.

Invited Talks and Seminars
Chen, Y. Genetic characterization and conservation implications for native fish species in various environments. Harte Research Institute/ College of Science and Technology Seminar, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Texas, December, 2009.
Chen, Y. Genetic structure, introgression, taxonomy, and conservation of endangered tui chubs. Department of Fishery and Wildlife Science Seminar, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, March, 2006.
Chen, Y. and S. Parmenter. Genetics and conservation of tui chubs in the Owens River basin. The Second Annual Reserve Lecture in Conservation & Ecology, Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory, the University of California (SNARL), California, June, 2005.

	On the hunt for the elusive Tui Chub in Armagosa Canyon.
	Steve Parmenter showing fin clipping techniques
	A Toikona Tui Chub at Mule Spring!