Tyler McCraney, PhD
Genomics Data Scientist
Red Bluff, CA 96080
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Fish Biologist (2025-24) US Fish & Wildlife Service, Red Bluff, CA
Supervisor: Bill Poytress, Sacramento R. Juvenile Fish Monitoring
Research: Predicitve Analytics of Rotary Screw Trap Efficiency
Research: Statistical Pipeline for Population Monitoring
Research: Bootstrap Confidence Intervals for Stock Assessment
Postdoc Genomics (2024-21) Cal Poly Humboldt
Advisor: Andrew Kinziger, PhD, Fisheries Biology
Research: Adaptation Genomics of Endangered Tidewater Goby
Research: eDNA ddPCR Assays for Chinook Salmon Run-Timing
Advisor: Susan Marshall, PhD, Forestry & Wildland Resources
Research: De novo Genome Assembly of Phytophthora Pathogens
Research: eDNA qPCR Assays for Phytophthora Plant Pathogens
PhD Biology (2019-12) UCLA
Advisor: Michael Alfaro, PhD, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Dissertation: Phylogeny & Divergence Times of Gobiarian Fishes
Genetics Tech (2012-09) NOAA Auke Bay Lab, Juneau, AK
Supervisor: Jeffrey Guyon, PhD, Genetics Program
This was a term-limited Federal job
MS Natural Resources: Fisheries (2009-07) Cal Poly Humboldt
Advisor: Andrew Kinziger, PhD, Fisheries Biology
Thesis: Conservation Genetics of Endangered Tidewater Goby
Fish Tech (2006-05) Pac. States Marine Fish. Comm., Portland, OR
Assignment: California Recreational Fisheries Survey
Assignment: Ocean Salmon Project
This was a seasonal State job (CDFW)
BS Fisheries Biology: Aquaculture (2006-02) Cal Poly Humboldt
Advisor: David Hankin, PhD, Fisheries Biology
Research: Survival & Growth of Cutthroat, Rainbow, & Hybrid Trout
PUBLICATIONS
McCraney WT, Thacker CE, Faircloth BC, Harrington RC, Near TJ, Alfaro ME (2025) Explosion of goby fish diversity at the Eocene-Oligocene transition. Submitted to Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Available at SSRN: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5077291.
Jacobs DK, Kinziger AP, Abrecht M, McCraney WT, Hà BA, Spies BT, Heath-Heckman E, Marimuhtu MPA, Oanh N, Fairbairn CW, Seligmann WE, Escalona M, Miller C, Shaffer HB (2024) Reference genome for the endangered, genetically subdivided, northern tidewater goby, Eucyclogobius newberryi. The Journal of Heredity, XX, 1-9.
Thacker CE, McCraney WT, Harrington RC, Near TJ, Shelley JJ, Adams M, Hammer MP, Unmack PJ (2023) Diversification of the sleepers (Gobiiformes: Gobioidei: Eleotridae) and evolution of the root gobioid families. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 186, 107841.
Ghezelayagh A, Harrington RC, Burress ED, Campbell MA, Buckner JC, Chakrabarty P, Glass JR, McCraney WT, Unmack PJ, Thacker CE, Alfaro ME, Friedman ST, Ludt WB, Cowman PF, Friedman M, Price SA, Dornburg A, Faircloth BC, Wainwright PC, Near TJ (2021) Prolonged morphological expansion of spiny-rayed fishes following the end-Cretaceous. Nature Ecology and Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01801-3.
de Brito V, Betancur-R R, Burns MD, Buser TJ, Conway KW, Fontenelle JP, Kolmann MA, McCraney WT, Thacker CE, Bloom DD (2022) Patterns of phenotypic evolution associated with marine/freshwater transitions in fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology, icac085.
Thacker CE, Shelley J, McCraney WT, Adams M, Hammer MP, Unmack P (2022) Phylogeny, diversification, and biogeography of a hemiclonal hybrid system of native Australian freshwater fishes (Gobiiformes: Gobioidei: Eleotridae: Hypseleotris). BMC Ecology and Evolution, 22, 1-23.
Thacker CE, Shelley J, McCraney WT, Unmack P, McGee M (2022) Delayed adaptive radiation among New Zealand stream fishes: joint estimation of divergence time and trait evolution in a newly delineated island species flock. Systematic Biology, 71, 13-23.
McCraney WT, Thacker CE, Alfaro ME (2020). Supermatrix phylogeny resolves goby lineages and reveals unstable root of Gobiaria. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 151, 106862.
Kinziger AP, Hellmair M, McCraney WT, Jacobs DK, Goldsmith G (2015) Temporal genetic analysis of the endangered tidewater goby: extinction-colonization dynamics or drift in isolation? Molecular Ecology, 24, 5544-5560.
McCraney WT, Farley EV, Kondzela CM, Naydenko SV, Starovoytov AN, Guyon JR (2012) Genetic stock identification of overwintering chum salmon in the North Pacific Ocean. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 94, 663-668.
McCraney WT, Saski CA, Guyon JR (2011) Isolation and characterization of 12 microsatellites for the commercially important sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria. Conservation Genetics Resources, 4, 415-417.
McCraney WT, Goldsmith G, Jacobs DK, Kinziger AP (2010) Rampant drift in artificially fragmented populations of the endangered tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi). Molecular Ecology, 19, 3315-3327.
REPORTS
McCraney WT, Kinziger AP (2024) Metapopulation genomics of endangered tidewater goby reveals evidence of local adaptation. Report to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Arcata, California, 61 pages.
McCraney WT, Kinziger AP (2023) Development of droplet digital PCR assays for detection of Sacramento River Chinook Salmon run-timing ecotypes in environmental DNA from water samples. Report to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 26 pages.
Kondzela CM, McCraney WT, Nguyen HT, Guyon JR (2012) Genetic stock composition analysis of chum salmon bycatch samples from the 2010 Bering Sea groundfish fisheries. NOAA Technical Memorandum, National Marine Fisheries Service - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 233.
Gray AK, McCraney WT, Marvin CT, Kondzela CM, Nguyen HT, Guyon JR (2011) Genetic stock composition analysis of chum salmon bycatch samples from the 2008 Bering Sea groundfish fisheries. NOAA Technical Memorandum, National Marine Fisheries Service - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 222.
McCraney WT, Kondzela CM, Murphy J, Guyon JR (2010) Genetic stock identification of chum salmon from the 2006 and 2007 Bering-Aleutian Salmon International Survey. North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, 1288.
AWARDS
STAR Award (2025) United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Raney Award (2018) American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists
Conference Grant (2016) Western Division American Fisheries Society
Taiwan Grant (2015) NSF East Asia Pacific Summer Institute
Rosemary Award (2014) Society for the Study of Evolution
Franklin Grant (2014) UCLA Center for Tropical Research
FLAS Fellowship: Indonesian (2014-13) US Department of Education
Graduate Award (2009) Granite Bay Flycasters
Graduate Award (2008) Marin Rod & Gun Club
TEACHING
Lecturer
Genetics, Cal Poly Humboldt
Evolutionary Applications for Fisheries & Wildlife Conservation, UCLA
Introduction to Ecology and Behavior, UCLA
Evolution, UCLA
Evolutionary Medicine, UCLA
Conservation Genetics of Fish & Wildlife, Cal Poly Humboldt
Teaching Assistant
Evolution of Cosmos & Life, UCLA
Evolutionary Applications for Fisheries & Wildlife Conservation, UCLA
Introduction to Marine Science, UCLA
Evolution, UCLA
Advanced Statistics in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCLA
Comparative Biology & Macroevolution, UCLA
Molecular Ecology & Evolution, Indonesian Biodiversity Research Center
Ichthyology, Cal Poly Humboldt
Techniques in Fisheries Biology, Cal Poly Humboldt
Conservation Genetics of Fish & Wildlife, Cal Poly Humboldt
Evolution, Ecology, & Biodiversity, UCLA
Life - Concepts & Issues, UCLA
PRESENTATIONS
California Ichthyology Congress (2024) Asilomar, CA
California Forest Pest Council (2022) Davis, CA
Eco-Evo Pub (2020) Los Angeles, CA
American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists (2018) Rochester, NY
Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (2017) Papeete, Tahiti
Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology (2016) New Orleans, LA
Western Division American Fisheries Society (2016) Reno, NV
Northeast Pacific Pink & Chum Salmon Workshop Poster (2012) Juneau, AK
American Fisheries Society (2011) Seattle, WA
Alaska Chapter American Fisheries Society (2010) Juneau, AK
Coastwide Salmonid Genetics Meeting (2010) Boise, ID
University of Alaska Fairbanks Fisheries Division (2009) Juneau, AK
Humboldt Bay Symposium (2008) Eureka, CA
Gilbert Ichthyological Society (2008) Klamath, OR
American Fisheries Society Poster (2007) San Francisco, CA
American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists Poster (2007) St Louis, MO
Gilbert Ichthyological Society (2006) Newport, OR
SYMPOSIA
Eco-Evo Pub (2016)
Organizer & Moderator, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, UCLA
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology of Gobies in North America (2011)
Organizer & Moderator, American Fisheries Society, Seattle, WA
ACADEMIC & COMMUNITY SERVICE
Peer Reviewer (2024) Molecular Ecology
Peer Reviewer (2022) Molecular Ecology Resources
Peer Reviewer (2022) Systematic Biology
Peer Reviewer (2021) Molecular Ecology
Peer Reviewer (2020) Systematic Biology
Organizer & Host (2018) Monday Social for Ecologists & Evolutionary Biologists, UCLA
Department Representative (2018-17) Biological Sciences Council, UCLA
Laboratory Safety Coordinator (2019-2015) Alfaro Lab, TLSB 2154, UCLA
Scientific Diver (2015-14) Kelp Project, LA Waterkeeper, Los Angeles, CA
Peer Reviewer (2011) Journal of Fish Biology
Temporary Duty (2010) NOAA Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response, Pascagoula, MS
STEM Mentor (2010) Juneau-Douglas High School, Juneau, AK
Genetics Section Judge (2010) Southeast Alaska Regional Science Fair, Juneau, AK
Peer Reviewer (2010) Genetica
TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS
Supervision for New Supervisors (2025) United States Department of Interior
Transforming STEM Teaching, Faculty Learning Program (2024) California State University
Workshop on Molecular Evolution (2018) Marine Biological Laboratory
Scientific Diver (2012) American Academy of Underwater Sciences
SQL Fundamentals (2012) Oracle
Workshop on Leading Effective Technical Meetings (2011) NOAA
AFFILIATIONS
American Fisheries Society
American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists
Gilbert Ichthyological Society
Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Michael Alfaro, PhD
Professor & Chair
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Andrew Kinziger, PhD
Professor & Chair
Department of Fisheries Biology
Cal Poly Humboldt
Arcata, CA 95519
Susan Marshall, PhD
Professor
Department of Forestry & Wildland Resources
Cal Poly Humboldt
Arcata, CA 95519
Bill Poytress
Program Manager
Mainstem Sacramento River Juvenile Fish Monitoring
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
Red Bluff, CA 96080
Christine Thacker, PhD
Curator Emerita
Department of Ichthyology
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Los Angeles, CA 90007