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Eleni Petrou, Ph.D.

Molecular ecology, population genomics, management and conservation of marine species, historical ecology and ancient DNA, social-ecological systems

I am a population geneticist whose research addresses questions with practical applications to the management and conservation of wild populations. First, how is genetic diversity distributed and what mechanisms maintain it through time? Second, what are the effects of human activities on the evolutionary potential of populations that are foundational to food webs and human food systems? Third, can integrating information from the historical and archaeological record inform restoration and management goals? I also use genomics and bioinformatics to develop high-throughput tools for monitoring human-wildlife interactions. Much of my research is focused on coastal and boreal environments of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.

Professional Experience

  • 2022 – Present       Geneticist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK

  • 2019 – 2022            Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  • 2014 – 2019            Graduate Research Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  • 2013                          Fulbright Scholar, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama

  • 2009 – 2012            Graduate Research Assistant, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  • 2007 – 2009           Various science technician positions

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. 2019             University of Washington, Seattle, WA      Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

  • M.S. 2012               University of Washington, Seattle, WA      Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

  • B.S. 2008               State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY         

Honors and Awards

  • 2022: SAFS DEIJ and Community Service Recognition Award

  • 2021: Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Award, UW College of the Environment

  • 2017: First prize for environmental policy brief, NYT – APRU Asia-Pacific Case Competition

  • 2016: Best graduate student presentation, FSBI Annual Symposium

  • 2014: NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship

  • 2013: Fulbright Research Fellowship, Panama

  • 2011: NSF Graduate Teaching Fellowship in K-12 Education

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Spies I, Drinan D, Petrou EL, Tarpey C, and Hauser L. 2021. Evidence for divergent selection and spatial differentiation in a putative zona pellucida gene is indicative of local adaptation in Pacific cod. Ecology and Evolution.
Chamberlin J*, Petrou EL*, Barsh R, Juanes F, Qualley J, and Hauser L. 2021. Phenological diversity of a prey species supports life-stage specific foraging opportunity for a mobile consumer. ICES Journal of Marine Science. * Equal first authors
Petrou EL, Fuentes-Pardo A, Rogers LA, Orobko M, Tarpey C, Jimenez-Hidalgo I, Moss M, Lepofsky D, Yang D, Pitcher TJ, Sandell T, Lowry D, Ruzzante DE, and Hauser L. 2021. Functional genetic diversity in an exploited marine species and its relevance to fisheries management. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
Crosman KM, Petrou EL, Rudd MB, Tillotson M. 2019. Clam hunger and the changing ocean: characterizing social and ecological risks to the Quinault razor clam fishery using participatory modeling. Ecology and Society, 24(2):16.
Petrou EL, Drinan D, Kopperl R, Lepofsky D, Yang D, Moss M, Hauser L. 2019. Intraspecific DNA contamination distorts subtle population structure in a marine fish: decontamination of herring samples before restriction-site associated (RAD) sequencing and its effects on population genetic statistics. Molecular Ecology Resources, 19(1): 1131-1143.
Petrou EL, Seeb JE, Hauser L, Witteveen MJ, Templin WD, and Seeb L. 2014. Fine-scale sampling reveals distinct isolation by distance patterns in chum salmon populations occupying a glacially dynamic environment. Conservation Genetics, 15(1): 229-243.
Petrou EL, Hauser L, Waples RS, Seeb JE, Gomez-Uchida D, and Seeb LW. 2013. Secondary contact and changes in coastal habitat availability influence the nonequilibrium population structure of a salmonid. Molecular Ecology, 22(23): 5848-5860.
Coffroth MA, Poland DM, Petrou EL, Brazeau DA, and Holmberg JC. 2010. Environmental symbiont acquisition may not be the solution to warming seas for reef-building corals. PLoS One, 5(10): e13258.
Petrou EL, Kopperl R, Lepofsky D, Rodrigues AT, Yang D, Moss ML, CF Speller, and Hauser L. 2022. Ancient DNA reveals phenological diversity of Coast Salish herring harvests over multiple centuries. Scientific Reports 12, 13512. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17656-4

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

  • Publications

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Spies I, Drinan D, Petrou EL, Tarpey C, and Hauser L. 2021. Evidence for divergent selection and spatial differentiation in a putative zona pellucida gene is indicative of local adaptation in Pacific cod. Ecology and Evolution.
    Chamberlin J*, Petrou EL*, Barsh R, Juanes F, Qualley J, and Hauser L. 2021. Phenological diversity of a prey species supports life-stage specific foraging opportunity for a mobile consumer. ICES Journal of Marine Science. * Equal first authors
    Petrou EL, Fuentes-Pardo A, Rogers LA, Orobko M, Tarpey C, Jimenez-Hidalgo I, Moss M, Lepofsky D, Yang D, Pitcher TJ, Sandell T, Lowry D, Ruzzante DE, and Hauser L. 2021. Functional genetic diversity in an exploited marine species and its relevance to fisheries management. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
    Crosman KM, Petrou EL, Rudd MB, Tillotson M. 2019. Clam hunger and the changing ocean: characterizing social and ecological risks to the Quinault razor clam fishery using participatory modeling. Ecology and Society, 24(2):16.
    Petrou EL, Drinan D, Kopperl R, Lepofsky D, Yang D, Moss M, Hauser L. 2019. Intraspecific DNA contamination distorts subtle population structure in a marine fish: decontamination of herring samples before restriction-site associated (RAD) sequencing and its effects on population genetic statistics. Molecular Ecology Resources, 19(1): 1131-1143.
    Petrou EL, Seeb JE, Hauser L, Witteveen MJ, Templin WD, and Seeb L. 2014. Fine-scale sampling reveals distinct isolation by distance patterns in chum salmon populations occupying a glacially dynamic environment. Conservation Genetics, 15(1): 229-243.
    Petrou EL, Hauser L, Waples RS, Seeb JE, Gomez-Uchida D, and Seeb LW. 2013. Secondary contact and changes in coastal habitat availability influence the nonequilibrium population structure of a salmonid. Molecular Ecology, 22(23): 5848-5860.
    Coffroth MA, Poland DM, Petrou EL, Brazeau DA, and Holmberg JC. 2010. Environmental symbiont acquisition may not be the solution to warming seas for reef-building corals. PLoS One, 5(10): e13258.
    Petrou EL, Kopperl R, Lepofsky D, Rodrigues AT, Yang D, Moss ML, CF Speller, and Hauser L. 2022. Ancient DNA reveals phenological diversity of Coast Salish herring harvests over multiple centuries. Scientific Reports 12, 13512. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17656-4

    **Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.