Curriculum Vitae

2021-Current
Biometrician

Proteus Research and Consulting  – Dunedin, NZ
  • 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

Helps Pōhatu Conservation Trust  – Akaroa, NZ
  • 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

Public Outreach and Teaching

2018-2021       Demonstrator  University of Otago

2021       Guest speaker – Birds New Zealand

2020       Guest speaker Penguin Awareness Day, Akaroa, NZ

2020       Guest speaker Seaweek “Know Your Big Blue Backyard”, Akaroa, NZ

2019-2020      Stats Cadet tutor  University of Otago

2019       Guest speaker for Wildlife Management Diploma Course  University of Otago

2017        Guest speaker for One Health Seminar Series presenting Penguins in Peril– Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA

2016        Guest speaker presenting Penguins in Peril: Our Obligation to Protect Our Animal Neighbors –Westover School, Middlebury, CT

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

2015        Secondary supervisor for undergraduate theses in Macroecology – University of Lincoln, UK

2015        Grader for Evolutionary Ecology 3rd year module – University of Lincoln, UK

2015        Guest speaker presenting Penguin Ecology – Ramsden Primary School, UK

2015        Journal Referee for Ecography, Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, Global Ecology and Biogeography

Conferences and
Awards

2021       Oamaru Penguin Symposium   Oamaru, NZ

2019       10th International Penguin Conference   Dunedin, NZ

2018-2021        Yellow-eyed Penguin Symposium   Dunedin, NZ

2019        University of Otago Postgraduate Research Proposal Seminar   Dunedin, NZ

2015        Postgraduate Student Conference – University of Lincoln, UK

2015        EU Macro Conference Ignite Presenter – Copenhagen, Denmark

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

2014-2016        British Ecological Society (BES) Student Member, Macroecology Special Interest Group Member

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

2012-2013        2012 President’s IQP Award Certificate of Merit – WPI, Worcester, MA, USA

2012-2013        Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Student Member and Poster presenter at Aquatic Sciences Meeting – New Orleans, LA, USA

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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