People
Dr. Rachel Johnston, Ph.D.
Director of Conservation Genomics
Rachel Johnston is the Director of Conservation Genomics at Zoo New England, and a Visiting Scientist with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. She leads multiple genomics projects involving in situ and ex situ populations to study the causes and consequences of genetic variation on animal and population health.
Dr. Eric Baitchman, DVM, DACZM
Co-Founder and Veterinary Advisor
Eric Baitchman is the Vice President of Animal Health and Conservation at Zoo New England, Lecturer on Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Visiting Scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Eric’s main research and professional interest is in the field of One Health, which is the concept that human health, animal health, and ecosystem health are interconnected and interdependent.
Dr. Elinor Karlsson, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and Genomics Advisor
Elinor Karlsson is the director of Vertebrate Genomics at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and an Associate Professor at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Her research combines new technology, community science and genomics to investigate diseases and discover the origins of exceptional mammalian traits.
Danica Wolfe
Project Coordinator
Danica Wolfe is the Project Coordinator for the Center for Zoonomics, based at Zoo New England. With six years of experience as an Animal Care Professional at Zoo Atlanta, she brings a unique blend of zoo keeping experience and knowledge of genetics to her role. In her position, Danica focuses on coordinating, streamlining, and standardizing the Center’s efforts within both the genetics research and AZA communities.
Tahlia Perry, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Tahlia Perry is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Project Genomics Scientist at the Center for Zoonomics. Originally from Australia, Tahlia graduated from University of Adelaide and brings a wealth of expertise in genetics research and science communication, particularly on unique species like the echidna. At the Center, Tahlia is leading genomics research focusing on assessing the genetic health of AZA and EAZA gorillas.
Previous Members
Melissa Zarate, M.S.
Mel is a Ph.D. candidate in biological anthropology at Boston University and a previous conservation genomics intern at Zoo New England. Her research interests include using population genetics to understand how human development impacts the viability of endangered primate species.
Jimmy Erkens, B.S.
Jimmy Erkens is a Ph.D. Student in Biological Anthropology at Boston University and a previous conservation genomics intern at Zoo New England. He is interested in using population genomics to better understand the health, conservation, and evolution of non-human primates. Outside of the internship, Jimmy researches savanna monkey evolution using phylogenetic methods. At the Center for Zoonomics, Jimmy assisted with genomics research to better understand the health of AZA gorillas.