Kat Munley

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Evolution, Ecology and Behavior program within the Department of Biology at Indiana University. My dissertation research, which I am conducting in the lab of Dr. Greg Demas, focuses on the hormonal mechanisms underlying seasonal changes in aggression in Siberian hamsters. In addition to being passionate about scientific research, I also love writing about science! I am excited to be a part of ScIU and share my love of science and writing with readers.

Entries by Kat Munley

Expert or poser? Debunking the psychology behind imposter syndrome

Posted November 21, 2020 by Kat Munley

[An open book with faded yellow pages is sitting on a black desk. The following quote by journalist David Carr is written in capital letters with black permanent marker on the pages “We all walk this Earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn’t end soon.”]

As a young scientist, not a day goes by when I don’t see the phrase “imposter syndrome” in at least a few tweets or Instagram posts written by colleagues. In recent years, imposter syndrome seems to have become commonplace in academia, particularly among students and early-career faculty. So, what exactly is imposter syndrome, and how does it arise?

What’s in a name? How the Black Lives Matter movement is reshaping bird taxonomy

Posted October 17, 2020 by Kat Munley

[A drawing of a black bird is centered on the image. The bird is enclosed in a blue circle with a gold border. A black box with white text that reads “Bird Names for Birds” is located on top of the bird’s legs.]

Since May 2020, millions of people around the world have shown their support for the Black Lives Matter movement by attending protests, posting on social media, and signing petitions. In the scientific community, perhaps one of the most vocal groups of researchers for this social justice movement has been birders. The birding community was the first group of scientists to create a social media initiative to celebrate diversity in STEM in May 2020: Black Birders Week.

The early bird gets the worm, part II: How behavioral ecology is connecting the dots between early-life stress and aging

Posted May 28, 2019 by Kat Munley

A young bird is perched on top of a person’s fingers. The bird has white feathers on its abdomen and gray feathers on its back.

This is the second post of a two-part series on a day in the life of a behavioral ecologist, which features the stories and research of members of Dr. Kim Rosvall’s laboratory in the Department of Biology. Click here to read the first post of the series! In Part I of this series, I discussed… Read more »

Winter makes me SAD: The biological story behind seasonal affective disorder and its potential treatments

Posted March 5, 2019 by Kat Munley

A barren hillside with a few large boulders and trees scattered in the background. The trees pictured have no leaves, and there are a few small patches of grass growing on the side of the hill. The sky above is overcast, and no visible sunlight is shining through the clouds.

As fall transitions into winter, all animals, including humans, must acclimate to colder weather, shorter days, and less sunlight. In many northern latitudinal regions across the globe, winter is often characterized by overcast skies and snowy days, in which little to no sunlight reaches life on the ground. Colloquially, some people report having the “winter… Read more »

The early bird gets the worm, part I: What can behavioral ecology tell us about female aggression and its underlying mechanisms?

Posted January 22, 2019 by Kat Munley

One adult bird in the background is chasing another bird in the foreground mid-air near a single wooden bird box attached to a metal pole. The bird in the background is arching its body and extending its legs towards the bird in the foreground, and the bird in the foreground is glancing at the other bird over its right shoulder. Both birds have white feathers on their abdomens, with iridescent green and blue feathers on their heads, necks, and backs.

This post is the first of a two-part series on a day in the life of a behavioral ecologist, which features the stories and research of members of Dr. Kim Rosvall’s laboratory in the Department of Biology. When most people imagine a scientist, they picture a person wearing a stark white lab coat and thick-rimmed… Read more »

Not your typical summer school: An IU program engages high school students in the wonders of science

Posted June 26, 2018 by Kat Munley

Photograph of a male high school student and a female middle school student using plastic pipettes to transfer microscopic flatworms, called planaria, from a plastic, water-filled container to watch glasses.

Being a teacher is one of the many hats that graduate students across the country wear during their career. As a graduate student who has taught several science courses, I know that keeping students engaged is always a challenge, particularly in required and introductory courses. While I have taught different levels of undergraduates, from freshman… Read more »

Fatherhood in the animal kingdom and its intricate relationship with aggression

Posted June 12, 2018 by Kat Munley

A photograph collage of different animal species displaying aggressive behavior or providing parental care. In the upper left image, two juvenile male lions practice fighting behavior while playing. One lion is growling at the other, and the second lion is lunging towards the other. In the upper right image, two blue jay birds face each other mid-air with their wings spread apart and their beaks open. The two birds have gray beaks, bright blue feathers with a black and white stripe on their backs, and gray feathers on their abdomens. In the lower left image, an adult discus fish swims alongside its tiny juvenile offspring. The adult fish is flat and dark orange in color, with intricate iridescent blue markings along its body. Its offspring are silver in color, with orange fins and a thin black stripe running vertically through their eyes. In the lower right image, an adult Barbary macaque embraces a small infant. Both macaques have light pink faces and golden-colored fur.

On Father’s Day, hundreds of thousands of people across the United States will show appreciation for the love, encouragement, and support that their fathers have provided them throughout their lifetimes. Interestingly, numerous animals provide parental care to their offspring, from fish and birds to non-human primates and humans. Yet, there is substantial evidence that many… Read more »

A gut feeling: Demas lab explores how microbiome influences social behavior

Posted May 1, 2018 by Kat Munley

Social behavior is most commonly associated with electrical and chemical signaling in the brain. But, did you know that your gut may also communicate with your brain? There is emerging evidence that the gut microbiome, a population of about 100 trillion microorganisms that resides in the gastrointestinal tract, may communicate with the central nervous system… Read more »