I am an evolutionary biologist that works with animals, molecular ecology and conservation. I have a mixed background combining a lot of fieldwork, lab and bioinformatic work. For my PhD, I worked understanding the species boundaries and ecological genomics of Myotis bats in northwestern Mexico using high-throughput sequencing. In addition to this, I also investigated the taxonomic identity of bats ectoparasites along the same region. I learned how amazing is the parasite world and I wanted to pursuit a new adventure related to them. Currently, I am doing a postdoc in Christe’s group, investigating the lineage community composition of avian malarian parasites in the great tit (Parus major), using high-throughput sequencing.
Education
2016-2020.
PhD in Biology. Ecological genomics of Myotis bats and their ectoparasites in Baja California peninsula.University of Leeds. United Kingdom. Supervisor: Simon Goodman. Co-supervisor: Hannah Dugdale.
2011-2013.
MSc. In Use, management and preservation of natural resources. Phylogeny of the endemic bat Myotis peninsularis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) with mitochondrial DNA and analysis of geometric morphometrics. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S. C. México. Honorific mention by assessment committee. Supervisor. Sergio Ticul Álvarez-Castañeda
2005-2010.
Licentiate/Bachelor in Biology. Universidad de Guadalajara.
Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias. “Outstanding Student award”. Supervisor: Sergio Guerrero Vazquez
Work experience:
2015-2016.
Lab technician. Assort in Genetic Services Molecular Lab. Centro de investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, S.C. Mexico.
2015.
Bioinformatic Lab technician. Museum of Mammalogy. Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, S.C. Mexico.
2013-2015.
Researcher assistant. Lipid Metabolism Lab. Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, S.C. Mexico.
2014.
Teacher of Botany. Universidad Mundial. Mexico.
2010.
Wildlife technician. Universidad de Guadalajara – Electricity Federal Commission. Mexico.
2009.
Field assistant - Environmental Impact manifests. Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico.
Álvarez-Castañeda, S. T. and Nájera-Cortazar, L. A. 2020. Do island populations differ in size and shape compared to mainland counterparts? Journal of Mammalogy 1(2):373-385. DOI:10.1093/jmammal/gyz193.
Nájera-Cortazar, L. A. 2017. Especie amenazada. Myotis peninsularis. Boletín de la Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe para la Conservación de los Murciélagos 8(1):24.
Nájera-Cortazar, L. A. 2017. Bats in the Baja California península. Mediterranews. 7:15-18.
Nájera-Cortazar, L. A., Álvarez-Castañeda, S. T. and De Luna E. 2015. An analysis of Myotis peninsularis (Vespertilionidae) blending morphometric and genetic datasets. Acta Chiropterologica, 17(1):37-47. DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2015.17.1.003.
