Curriculum Vitae

2021-Current
Biometrician

  • Worked 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
Lead 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

Guest speaking

Seaweek Akaroa Science Night (2025)

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

Oamaru Penguin Symposium – Oamaru, NZ (2025)

Birds NZ Conference –Christchurch, NZ (2024)

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)

Teaching

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)

Students supervised

Lucy Howell (University of Canterbury, PhD, current)

Paula Brown (University of Canterbury, MSc, current)

Kaitlin Bowe (University of Otago, MSc, current)

Georgia Gwatkin (University of Canterbury, MSc, 2025)

Alexandra Strange (University of Canterbury, summer student, 2022)

 

 

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

Advisor  several post-graduate students; University of Otago (2020-2022)

Spread the word