Nicole Melendez

Nicole M. Meléndez is a current post-baccalaureate research student in the Edwards Lab, with a deep passion for avian ethology. Her research focuses on investigating genetic polymorphisms in albatross populations, specifically studying Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes and their roles in immune function and pathogen recognition.

Nicole graduated with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, in 2023, where she worked on the gene annotation of the Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) and explored insulin signaling pathways in Drosophila takahashii. During her summers, Nicole broadened her research experience by studying motoneuron structure in woodpeckers at Brown University and conducting research on blue light signaling photoreceptors in Arabidopsis thaliana at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. In her spare time, she enjoys to go hiking, drawing, and exploring  nature.