Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of California, Santa Cruz, in progress
Dissertation: The life history trade offs of and possible role of kin selection in conspecific brood
parasitism in the wood duck (Aix sponsa)

Bachelor of Science, Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology
University of California, Davis, June 2007

Research Experience

Wood Duck Project Manager, UC Davis, Davis, CA

May 2012-August 2014

Monitored and summarized breeding efforts and reproductive success of female wood ducks at five field research sites in the greater Sacramento Valley region. Responsibilities included biweekly nest checks and biological sampling, maintenance of remote monitoring equipment,and lab and internship management. Designed and supported a network of over 100 radiofrequency identification (RFID) tracking devices and 15 solar powered nest cameras. Hand-trapped, banded, RFID tagged, and took blood samples from over 200 adult female ducks and over 1000 ducklings. Organized and managed a crew of 20-60 volunteer undergraduate interns, who were educated on field research techniques and project data collection. Curated field data and biological samples for further processing and analysis both within our lab and at other university facilities. Developed a relational Filemaker database for in-field data.

Volunteer Songbird Research Assistant, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

January 2010 – March 2011

Color banded and blood sampled 25 golden-crowned sparrows and 30 Brewer’s blackbirds for ongoing research in the Lyon lab in Santa Cruz, CA. Instructed undergraduate interns in data collection and banding techniques.

Waterbird Technician, US Geological Survey, Fremont, CA

April – August 2008/April-August 2010

Monitored American avocet, black-necked stilt, and Forster’s tern nests at multiple salt ponds and marshes in Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. Measured and banded approximately 300 hand-trapped Forster’s tern chicks. Handled approximately 1000 Forster’s tern chicks. Collected egg, feather, and fish samples for mercury and isotope analysis. Obtained albumin samples for mercury analysis using a newly developed technique (egg microsampling). Collected house mice for isotope analysis. Assisted in radio tagging and tracking California gulls.

Assistant Field Biologist, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, Milpitas, CA

March 2009 – September 2009

Surveyed for snowy plovers and monitored their nests at salt pond sites in Eden Landing Ecological Reserve and Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. Resighted banded adults and chicks throughout the breeding season. Deployed and maintained DVR recording stations at nest sites for a predation study. Conducted California gull colony walkthrough surveys. Set up enclosures around gull nesting sites and process banded chicks for a chick mortality study. Supervised interns as they conducted surveys and instructed them on applicable field techniques.

Assistant Field Biologist, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, Milpitas, CA

March 2009 – September 2009

Surveyed for snowy plovers and monitored their nests at salt pond sites in Eden Landing Ecological Reserve and Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. Resighted banded adults and chicks throughout the breeding season. Deployed and maintained DVR recording stations at nest sites for a predation study. Conducted California gull colony walkthrough surveys. Set up enclosures around gull nesting sites and process banded chicks for a chick mortality study. Supervised interns as they conducted surveys and instructed them on applicable field techniques.

Additional Experience

Teaching Assistant, UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

September 2010 – present

Lead discussion sections associated with undergraduate biology lecture courses. Courses topics include animal and plant physiology, behavioral ecology, field methods associated with behavioral ecology, general ecology and evolutionary biology, and ornithology. Write, prepare, and grade exams. Guest lecture as needed.

Volunteer Rehabilitator, California Raptor Center, Davis, CA

January 2006 – March 2006

Assisted with medical evaluation and treatment of injured raptors. Presented raptors to public groups, introducing them to the natural history of the birds. Prepared diets and cleaned the aviaries to the specifications of the medical staff.

Professional Affiliations

• American Ornithologist’s Union
• Animal Behavior Society
• Society for Conservation Biology
• The Wildlife Society

Honors/Awards

• Semla Herr Fund for Ornithological Research Recipient (2013,2014)
• Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
• Graduated with High Honors.