Rate My Professor Tania King

Dr. Tania King serves as the Molecular Genetics Technician in the Department of Zoology, Division of Sciences, at the University of Otago. Possessing a doctoral degree, she delivers critical technical expertise in molecular genetics, including DNA extraction, sequencing, PCR, and genetic data preparation. Her role supports a broad spectrum of research initiatives exploring New Zealand's biodiversity, with emphasis on evolutionary processes, ecological adaptations, phylogeography, and parasite-host interactions.

Dr. King's contributions are documented in numerous peer-reviewed publications as a co-author, reflecting her pivotal lab support. Prominent examples encompass "Human-driven evolution of color in a stonefly mimic" (Ni et al., 2024), investigating anthropogenic selection on insect phenotypes; "Paternal hypoxia exposure primes offspring for increased tolerance to hypoxia" (Ragsdale et al., 2022, BMC Biology), elucidating transgenerational epigenetic responses; "An integrated ecological, genetic and geological assessment of long-distance dispersal by invertebrates on kelp rafts" (Waters et al., 2018), analyzing rafting mechanisms; "Ebony underpins Batesian mimicry in melanic stoneflies" (Foster et al., 2024), linking genetics to mimicry; and associated datasets on insect evolution (Ni et al., 2024). Additional works include studies on nematode diversity (Bennett et al., 2022), torix rickettsia in amphipods (Park et al., 2020), ancient DNA from extinct grayling (Scarsbrook et al., 2023), genomic footprints of earthquake uplift (2020), hairworm genetic diversity (Tobias et al., 2017), and palaeogenetics of molluscs (Walton et al., 2022). Frequently acknowledged in PhD theses and papers for indispensable lab assistance, her efforts have advanced knowledge in genetic structuring, local adaptation, mimicry evolution, and dispersal ecology across taxa such as stoneflies, galaxiids, chitons, and parasites. Dr. King has also acted as a PhD co-supervisor, including for K.J. King's 2015 thesis on phylogeography, physiology, and melanism evolution. Through these endeavors, she has profoundly influenced molecular ecological research at the University of Otago and beyond.