Johnathan (Jack) P.

Hruska

Department of Biology
Texas Tech University
Office: 2901 Main St., Lubbock, TX 79409-43131.
Email: jackphruska@gmail.com phone: 607-216-5409 twitter:picathartes25

Last updated: August 8th, 2018


EDUCATION
Ph.D. candidate Texas Tech University. Biological Sciences. 2018-Present
Advisor: Dr. Joseph Manthey
M.Sc. University of Kansas. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 2015-2018
Advisor: Dr. Robert Moyle. Thesis: A phylogenomic investigation of the relationships among herons
(Aves: Ardeidae).
B.S. Cornell University. Biological Sciences. 2009-2014

APPOINTMENTS & EMPLOYMENT

2018 Research Assistant, Ornithology Dept., University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute.

2017 Research Assistant, Ornithology Dept., University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute.
2016 Curatorial Assistant, Ornithology Dept., University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute.
2014 Naturalist Guide, Rancho Naturalista Lodge, Turrialba, Costa Rica.

TEACHING

2017 Principles of Organismal Biology. University of Kansas. Instructors: Dr. Jenny

Archibald and Dr. Trevor Rivers.
2017 Ornithology Lab. University of Kansas. Instructor: Dr. Rob Moyle.
2016 Principles of Organismal Biology. University of Kansas. Instructors: Dr. Rob Moyle
and Dr. Mark Mort.
2015 Principles of Biology. University of Kansas. Instructor: Dr. Julie
Campbell.
2011 Ecology and the Environment Tutor. Learning Strategies Center. Cornell
University.
AWARDS & GRANTS

RESEARCH GRANTS
2018 American Museum of Natural History, Chapman Award $ 1,914
2016 University of Kansas, Biodiversity Institute Panorama Award $ 785
2016 University of Kansas, Latin American Studies Tinker Award $ 1,700
2014 Cornell Lab of Ornithology IVY Expeditions Grant $ 14,800

TRAVEL AWARDS
2018 University of Kansas Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology $ 350
2018 University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute $ 350
 PUBLICATIONS

Eric R. Gulson-Castillo, Teresa M. Pegan, J. Ryan Shipley, Justin M. Hite, Julian A. Kapoor,
Jack P. Hruska, Emma I. Greig, Sophia C. Orzechowski, and David W. Winkler. Observations
on the broadbills (Eurylaimidae, Calyptomenidae), pitas (Pittidae), and other birds encountered
in Tawau Hills Park, southern Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’
Club. In review.

Van Doren, B., Hruska, J.P. Nest helpers at a Sapayoa nest are kin. Bulletin of the British
Ornithologists’ Club. In review.

Hruska, J.P., Dzielski, S., Van Doren, B., J.M. Hite. 2016. The avifauna of the northern Serranía
de Pirre, Panamá. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 136:224-242.

Dzielski, S.* , Van Doren, B.*, Hruska, J.P., J.M. Hite. 2016. Reproductive biology of the
Sapayoa (Sapayoa aenigma ), the ‘Old World Suboscine’ of the New World. The Auk:
Ornithological Advances 133: 761-769. doi: 10.1642/AUK-16-105.1.

Pegan, T.M., Hruska, J.P. and Hite, J.M., 2013. A newly described call and mechanical noise
produced by the Black-and-crimson Pitta (Pitta ussheri).Forktail 29: 160-162.

OTHER WRITTEN WORKS

Winkler, D., T.M. Pegan, E.R. Gulson-Castillo, J.I. Byington, J.P. Hruska, S. C. Orzechowski,
B.M. Van Doren, E.I. Greig, and E.M. Wood. 2017. Student-led expeditions as an educational
and collections-building enterprise.Pp. 185-200 in M.S. Webster(editor), The Extended
Specimen: Emerging Frontiers in Collections-based Ornithological Research. Studies in Avian
Biology (no.50), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.

J.P. Hruska. 18 October 2016. 2016 Taxonomy Update—Splits push Central America over 1200
species. URL: http://ebird.org/content/camerica/news/2016-taxonomy-update-splits-push-
central-america-over-1200-species/?lang=en

Hruska, J., Pegan, T. 2013. Proposal (607) to South American Classification Committee:
Recognize a new species level taxonomy of Trumpeters (Psophiidae).

J.P. Hruska, and G. M. Kirwan. 2012. Capuchinbird (Perissocephalus tricolor), Neotropical

Birds Online(T.S. Schulenberg, Editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; retrieved from
Neotropical Birds Online: http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?
p_p_spp=496556
 PRESENTATIONS

J.P. Hruska, K. McCracken, C. Oliveros, P. Lavretsky, R. Moyle, F. Sheldon. A phylogenomic

investigation of the relationships among herons (Ardeidae). American Ornithological Society
Meeting. 13 April 2018. Tucson, Arizona. Lightning oral presentation.

J.P. Hruska. La Sabana De Pino de Nicaragua: Potencial Para el Ecoturismo. Festival

International de Aves. 19 November 2017. Granada, Nicaragua. Oral Presentation.

J.P. Hruska, V. Chua, R. Moyle, F. Sheldon. Patterns of Genomic Differentiation in ‘Montane’

Avifauna of Borneo: A Case Study Utilizing Three Independent Lineages. Kansas Ornithological
Society Meeting. 7 October 2017. Garden City, Kansas. Oral Presentation.

J.P. Hruska & S. Gladstone. The Conservation of Upland Forest in West-Central Nicaragua: “El
Nisperal” Coffee Farm as a Case Study. North American Ornithology Conference. 18 August
2016. Washington, D.C. Oral Presentation.

B.V. Doren, S. Dzielski, J.P. Hruska, J.M. Hite. Reproductive biology of the Sapayoa (Sapayoa
aenigma), the ‘Old World suboscine’ of the New World. North American Ornithology Conference.
20 August 2016. Washington, D.C. Oral Presentation.

J.P. Hruska, S. Dzielski, & B. Van Doren. Resolving an avian enigma: natural history and
ecology of the Sapayoa. Kansas Ornithological Society Meeting. 2 October 2015. Emporia,
Kansas. Oral Presentation.

J.P. Hruska, S. Dzielski, & B. Van Doren. Resolving an avian enigma: natural history and
ecology of the Sapayoa. American Ornithologists Union Conference. 29 July 2015. Norman,
Oklahoma. Poster Presentation.

OUTREACH and PUBLIC EDUCATION

Science of the Macabre Volunteer. Lawrence, Kansas. 26 October 2017.

DNA Day Ambassador. Highland Park High School. 27 April 2017.
DNA Day Ambassador. Eudora High School. 25 April 2017.
Kansas Invasive Species Event Volunteer. Northeast Kansas Regional Science Olympiad
Tournament. 21 February 2017.
Sexy Science Volunteer. KU Natural History Museum. 9 February 2017.
Girl Scout Nature Walk Volunteer. Dover, Kansas. 13 November 2016.
Science Saturday Volunteer. KU Natural History Museum. 7 November 2016.
Party in the Panorama Volunteer. KU Natural History Museum. 29 October 2016.
Science of the Macabre Volunteer. KU Natural History Museum. 20 October 2016.
Girl Scout Nature Walk Volunteer. Lawrence, Kansas. 9 April 2016.
DNA Day Ambassador. Topeka High School. 5 April 2016.
Science Night Volunteer. Hillcrest Elementary School. 2 March 2016.
 SERVICE

2017-
2018 American Ornithological Society (AOS) Student Affairs Committee Member
2017-
2018 University of Kansas Chapter Secretary, Society for the Advancement of Native
Americans in Science
2017 Fundraising Committee Co-Chair, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student
Organization, University of Kansas
2016 KU EEB Student Representative, SACNAS Conference, Long Beach, CA.

FIELD EXPERIENCE

2017 Field Assistant, University of Kansas expedition, Solomon Islands.

2017 Expedition Leader, University of Kansas expedition, Nicaragua.
2016 Expedition Leader, University of Kansas expedition, Nicaragua.
2015 Field Assistant, Gull Banding, Appledore Island, Maine.
2014 Expedition Leader, Cornell IVY Expeditions, Panamá.
2014 Research Assistant, Avian conservation in Q’eqchi’ Maya agro-ecosystems,
Cornell University, Guatemala.
2014 Research Assistant, Golden-winged Warbler Wintering Ecology, Panamá.
2013-
2010 Field Assistant, Golondrinas de las Americas, Cornell University.
2012 Expedition Co-Leader, Cornell IVY Expeditions, Malaysia.
2011 Research Assistant, Panamanian Amphibian Rescue Project, Panamá.
2010 Field Assistant, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá.
2009 Field Assistant, Peregrine Fund, Panamá.
2004-
2001 Field Assistant, MoSI Banding Stations, Nicaragua.

MEMBERSHIPS

American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU), Society of Systematic Biologists, SACNAS.

* Equal author contributions.