Ever since she first began volunteering as a “Pit Crew” at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (Ann Arbor, MI), Dr. Waite has been excited about working with companion canines and their families. Her strong background in science and research combines well with her passion for animal learning and behavior. She is currently a Master’s student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Experimental Psychology: Behavior Analysis Program. She hopes to use her degrees and training to improve the lives of humans and animals as Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist.

Academic Degrees
PhD, Cellular & Molecular Biology: concentration on Developmental Neuroscience. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

MS in progress (2021), Behavior Analysis. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI.

BS, Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI.

Training
Dog Behavior: Problems and Solutions, EdX. Instructor: Clive Wynn, PhD. 2016.

Living and Learning with Animals – Animal Behavior Seminar. Speaker: Susan Friedman, PhD. Milwaukee, WI, 2016.

Unleashed! Speaker: Ian Dunbar, PhD, BVetMed. Madison, WI, 2015.

Dog Training Instructor, Best Paw Forward, Milwaukee, WI, 2015.

Month-long, full-time intensive dog training and behavior consultation apprenticeship at Dog’s Best Friend (training and behavior business founded by Dr. Patricia McConnell), Madison, WI, 2014.

Dog Behavior Assessment Assistant, Dane County Humane Society, Madison, WI, 2014.

Animal Handling and Stress Reduction: Working with Animals in the Shelter, Humane Society University, 2013.

Dog Trainer Foundations Course, Karen Pryor Academy, 2013.

Veterinary Assistant Training: Outpatient Care Course, College of Southern Maryland, 2013.

Veterinary Assistant Training: Diagnosis/Pharmacy Course, College of Southern Maryland, 2013.

Peer-Reviewed Publications
Waite MR, Skidmore JM, Billi AC, Martin JF, Martin DM. GABAergic and glutamatergic identities of developing midbrain Pitx2 neurons. DevDyn. 2011 Feb;240(2):333-46. PubMed PMID: 21246650; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3079949.

Skidmore JM, Waite MR, Alvarez-Bolado G, Puelles L, Martin DM. A novel TaulacZ allele reveals a requirement for Pitx2 in formation of the mammillothalamic tract. Genesis. 2012 Jan;50(1):67-73. PubMed PMID: 21898763.

Waite MR, Martin DM. Axial level-specific regulation of neuronal development: lessons from PITX2. J Neurosci Res. 2015 Feb;93(2):195-8. PubMed PMID: 25124216.

Waite MR*, Skaggs K*, Kaviany P, Skidmore JM, Causeret F, et al. Distinct populations of GABAergic neurons in mouse rhombomere 1 express but do not require the homeodomain transcription factor PITX2. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2012 Jan;49(1):32-43. PubMed PMID: 21925604; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3244529.
*Indicates co-authorship

Waite MR, Skidmore JM, Micucci JA, Shiratori H, Hamada H, et al. Pleiotropic and isoform-specific functions for Pitx2 in superior colliculus and hypothalamic neuronal development. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2013 Jan;52:128-39. PubMed PMID: 23147109; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3540135.

Waite MR. Does chronic SSRI treatment interfere with fear extinction in animals. Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behavior; 2014 February; Phoenix, AZ.