Claudia Saldana DeCamillis

Graduate Research Assistant

Faculty Advisor:  Dr. Danielle Levesque

Office Location:

 

Biographical Statement: 

My name is Claudia N. Saldaña DeCamillis. I am an MASc candidate in the School of Biology and Ecology. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. My curiosity about the natural world has led me to pursue research across diverse taxa and questions, including the immunology of Coquí frogs in Puerto Rico, reproductive behavior in Emerald glass frogs in Costa Rica, genomics in Zebra Longwing butterflies, and most recently, the thermophysiology of small tropical mammals in Borneo. Being bilingual has aided me in research internationally.

Beyond research, I am passionate about drawing. Scientific illustration has become a meaningful bridge between my artistic and scientific interests. I have also contributed as an installation designer for a community outreach museum through CIRE2N and the Universidad de Puerto Rico. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, equestrian sports and husbandry, photography, running, and nearly anything that gets my shoes dirty. As a ‘Boricua’, moving to Maine was a major transition, but it has become one of the most formative experiences in my personal and scientific journey. I can safely say that snow and sand, palm and pine now hold equal beauty to me.

 

Research Area:  Thermophysiological Responses and Behavior in small tropical Murid rodents in Borneo, advised by Dr. Danielle L. Levesque.