Diana Muñoz

I'm a PhD Student in the Graduate Group in Ecology at UC Davis within the Genomic Variation Laboratory (phew).

I've always been interested in birds, but my fascination with vultures officially began when I worked with Orion the Turkey Vulture at the California Raptor Center. I was enthralled by his curiosity and intelligence!

I interned with the California Condor Program at Pinnacles National Park and my interest in vultures grew. I realized that many vulture species across the globe face some toxicological threat. How are these birds so easily poisoned by the chemicals we have introduced into the environment when they have evolved such a powerful gut and immune system?

One day, it clicked - could the microbial partners of vultures play some vital role in how they respond to toxicants? And here we are today!

December 2021