Curriculum Vitae

2021-Current
Biometrician

  • Work on contract-based projects to analyse and manage wildlife and ecological data
  • Managed the grooming, cleaning, and error-checking of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Database

2019-Current
Penguin Scientist

  • Initiated and leads a monitoring and research program on little penguins at the largest mainland colony in NZ

2016
African Penguin Research

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – Port Elizabeth, SA
  • Captured and released adult breeding African penguins off nest on remote, protected island
  • Performed physical restraint on adults to measure body condition (weights, beak and flipper measurements) and chicks to measure body growth
  • Inserted transponders and deployed and retrieved GPS loggers to geographically track foraging patterns

2016-2017
African Penguin Husbandry Internship

Mystic Aquarium – Mystic, CT USA
 
  • Performed husbandry care of 34 African penguins, including diet preparation, feeding, medicine dispersal, record keeping, exhibit maintenance, enrichment, and training
  • Engaged with and educated guests during encounter programs and daily feeding talks on microphone

2011
Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) – Worcester, MA
Chulalongkorn University –  Bangkok, Thailand

“Heat impacts on occupational health in the time of climate change”

  • Worked in an interdisciplinary team of WPI and Thai students to report interview findings of agricultural and industrial workers in rural Thailand regarding heat stress, health, and climate

2012-2013
Major Qualifying Project (MQP)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) – Worcester, MA

Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) effects on lentic lake water quality

  • Studied the interactions between a local freshwater environment (water quality) and invasive crayfish species in Massachusetts

2012
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Oceanography (SURFO)

University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography – Narragansett, RI

“Environmental parameters affecting the halo-tolerance of the toxic raphidophyte”

  • Maintained strains of H. akashiwo under varying salinity, temperature, and irradiance
  • Performed daily spectrophotometry fluorescence measurements to quantify growth and halo-tolerance
  • Presented poster at 2013 Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography annual meeting

Supervisory roles and teaching

External Supervisor several post-graduate students; University of Canterbury (2022-Current)

Advisor Post-graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies, University of Canterbury (2023-2024)

Advisor several post-graduate students; University of Otago (2021)

Demonstrator Zoology, University of Otago (2020-2021)

Stats Cadet tutor  University of Otago (2019-2021)

Secondary supervisor undergraduate theses in Macroecology, University of Lincoln, UK (2015)

Grader Evolutionary Ecology 3rd year module, University of Lincoln, UK (2015)

Guest speaking

University of Canterbury (2024)

Akaroa Area School (2015; 2024)

Ramsden Primary School, UK (virtual 2023)

Birds New Zealand (2021)

Penguin Awareness Day, Akaroa, NZ (2021)

Seaweek “Know Your Big Blue Backyard”, Akaroa, NZ (2020)

Rangatahi Tumeke camp, Papatowai, NZ (2019)

Wildlife Management Diploma Course  University of Otago (2019)

One Health Seminar Series presenting Penguins in Peril– Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA (2017)

Westover School, Middlebury, CT (2016)

Guest lecturer for Evolution & Ecology (BGY1007M), University of Lincoln, UK (2015)

Conferences

11th International Penguin Conference   Vina del Mar, Chile (2023)

Oamaru Penguin Symposium Oamaru, NZ (2023)

Birds NZ Conference –Christchurch, NZ (2022)

3rd World Seabird Conference – virtual (2021)

Oamaru Penguin Symposium   Oamaru, NZ (2021)

10th International Penguin Conference   Dunedin, NZ (2019)

Yellow-eyed Penguin Symposium   Dunedin, NZ (2018-2021)

University of Otago Postgraduate Research Proposal Seminar   Dunedin, NZ (2019)

Postgraduate Student Conference – University of Lincoln, UK (2015)

EU Macro Conference Ignite Presenter – Copenhagen, Denmark (2015)

School of Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Seminar – University of Lincoln, UK (2014)

Biology and Biotechnology MQP Final Presentation – WPI, Worcester, MA, USA (2013)

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) – New Orleans, LA, USA (2013)

Other Resume Highlights

2018-2019 AskOtago Student IT Advisor helping students with computer or network problems.
OU-NZ-Coated
University of Otago
Dunedin, NZ
2017-2018 Supervisor of dog and cat mobile vaccination clinics. I assisted Veterinarians by preparing vaccinations, restraining pets, running blood tests, and educating pet parents on yearly vaccinations/flea, tick, and heartworm prevention products
2016 Volunteer at SANCCOB to help rear abandoned African penguin chicks. This included tube feeding, assisted fish feeding, nebulization, health monitoring, preparing chick formula and fish, assisting in record keeping, and enclosure maintenance
2009-2012 Volunteer with the husbandry care of non-releasable regional and exotic animals, including diet and medication preparation, feeding, record keeping, exhibit maintenance, and enrichment
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