Downloadable CV
Education
PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of California, Los Angeles
Dissertation: “Response of Large Mammalian Predators to Changes in the Richness and Relative Abundance of Their Presumed Large Herbivore Prey”
Committee: Drs. Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Jonathan Marcot, Karen Sears, Nathan Kraft, David Jacobs
Graduation: June 2024 (Expected)
M.S. in Geosciences
East Tennessee State University
Thesis: “Peccaries (Artiodactyla: Tayassuidae) from the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene Gray Fossil Site: Regional Implications with a Review of Tayassuinae”
Committee: Drs. Steven Wallace, Blaine Schubert, James Mead
Graduated: May 2016
B.S. in Geology with a Geospatial Technologies minor
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduated: May 2014
University of California, Los Angeles
Dissertation: “Response of Large Mammalian Predators to Changes in the Richness and Relative Abundance of Their Presumed Large Herbivore Prey”
Committee: Drs. Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Jonathan Marcot, Karen Sears, Nathan Kraft, David Jacobs
Graduation: June 2024 (Expected)
M.S. in Geosciences
East Tennessee State University
Thesis: “Peccaries (Artiodactyla: Tayassuidae) from the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene Gray Fossil Site: Regional Implications with a Review of Tayassuinae”
Committee: Drs. Steven Wallace, Blaine Schubert, James Mead
Graduated: May 2016
B.S. in Geology with a Geospatial Technologies minor
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Graduated: May 2014
Teaching APPOINTMENTS
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
COURSES TAUGHT |
University of California, Los Angeles
4 quarters LS 7B Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology
1 quarter LS 15 Life Concepts and Issues
2 quarters LS 110 Career Exploration In Life Sciences
2 quarters EEBIOL 110 Vertebrate Morphology
3 quarters EEBIOL 115 Mammalogy
1 quarter EEBIOL 116 Comparative Biology
1 quarter EEBIOL 117 Vertebrate Evolution
6 quarters EEBIOL 144 Prehistoric California
University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign
1 semester IB 150 Organismal Biology (Fall 2016)
4 quarters LS 7B Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology
1 quarter LS 15 Life Concepts and Issues
2 quarters LS 110 Career Exploration In Life Sciences
2 quarters EEBIOL 110 Vertebrate Morphology
3 quarters EEBIOL 115 Mammalogy
1 quarter EEBIOL 116 Comparative Biology
1 quarter EEBIOL 117 Vertebrate Evolution
6 quarters EEBIOL 144 Prehistoric California
University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign
1 semester IB 150 Organismal Biology (Fall 2016)
RESEARCH APPOINTMENTS
University of California, Los Angeles
Eastern Tennessee State University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Doctoral Student (August 2017-present)
- Published my Master’s thesis within PeerJ (Doughty et al. 2018)
- Worked with collaborators to compile a dataset of dental measurements and body mass estimates of ~521 carnivoran and ~1129 large herbivore species from the scientific literature and museum specimens.
- Used R and Python to perform the primary and sensitivity analyses for my three dissertation chapters
- Graduate Student Researcher (Spring 2022, Winter 2023)
- Compiled a dataset of dental measurements from ~240 species of Paleogene ungulates and ungulate-like mammals from the scientific literature
- Aided in the development and implementation of statistical methods to evaluate functional and taxonomic richness and abundance of species within the North American fossil record
Eastern Tennessee State University
- Master’s Student (August 2014 to August 2016)
- Collected dental and postcranial measurements from tayassuid specimens housed within the Gray Fossil Site, University of Florida, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Indiana State Museum collections
- Described tayassuid material within the Gray Fossil Site Collections and identified two species, Prosthennops serus and Mylohyus elmorei
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Undergraduate Senior Research Project (August 2013-May 2014)
- Collected cranial measurements from ~15 bison specimens
- Created a model to estimate the water discharge required to transport skulls within the Missouri River just south of the Oahe Dam
- Used recorded water levels and discharge rates from the Oahe Dam to calculate when the bison skulls were likely transported during the 2011 floods of the Missouri River and determine when they may be at risk of further transport in the future
Awards, Grants, and Fellowships
Major Funding
- GAANN Fellowship, University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana--$25,228 (Spring and Summer 2017)
- UCLA Doctoral Student Travel Grants for Conferences, Professional Development and Off‐Campus Research--~$1000 (Fall 2021)
- Graduate Conference Travel Award Grant, UoI Department of Animal Biology— $300 (Fall 2016)
Other Professional Experience
Absaroka Energy and Environmental Solutions, LLC.
Eastern Tennessee State University
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Department of the Interior, Badlands National Park
GeoCorps America, National Park Service, Badlands National Park
- Paleontological Monitor (June 2017 to August 2017)
- Monitored construction along an approximately two-mile stretch of Hwy 1804 east of Williston, ND for paleontological materials
- Collected both petrified wood and carbonized plant fossils from the Paleocene Sentinel Butte Fm under salvage permit
- Compiled daily reports concerning progress of construction and notable paleontological resources
Eastern Tennessee State University
- Research Assistant (August 2014 to August 2016)
- Processed hundreds of animal carcasses to yield skeletal remains via maceration and dermestid beetles
- Skinned and preserved animal pelts from over thirty mammal and reptile species
- Maintained a running inventory of over 300 specimens during processing
- Aided in the basic identification, conservation, and curation of over 2000 cataloged specimens
- Field Technician, Center of Excellence in Paleontology (June to August 2015 and 2016)
- Excavated fossil specimens within both the Gray Fossil Site, TN and Saltville, VA localities
- Wet Screened and micropicked fossil bearing sediments
- Aided in the mapping of the Gray Fossil Site using a total station
- Consolidated fossil specimens using Butvar and Paraloid
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota
- Summer Research Assistant (June to July 2016)
- Micropicked Persistence Cave sediments for Pleistocene to Holocene fossils
- Identified microfossil material to order and family level
- Conducted interpretation regarding Persistence Cave and Mammoth Site within Wind Cave visitor center
- Summer Intern (May 2014 to August 2014)
- Conducted interpretation with public by leading hourly tours and running junior paleontology, advanced paleontology, and atlatl classes
- Performed multiple tasks related to site development and maintenance (e.g., fossil excavation and preparation using pneumatic and hand tools, total station mapping, and the screen washing and micropicking of sediments)
- Aided in the operation of the front desk and gift shop for ~2-3 hours per day
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Work Study (September to May 2010 to 2014)
- Aided the move of fossil material and equipment from the old workspace to a new building on campus
- Installed shelving for the compactor units in the vertebrate collections room
- Aided in the organization of archives, library, invertebrate, vertebrate, and recent collections
- Prepared, curated, molded, and casted fossils vertebrate and invertebrate fossil specimens
- Field Assistant (July 2011 to August 2011)
- Aided professor with basic operation of a Jurassic fossil quarry within Morrison Fm
- Drove personnel and equipment to and from site five days a week
- Excavated sauropod vertebrae from an ~0.5 ton block of matrix
- Museum Assistant (Museum of Geology) (May 2011 to July 2011)
- Operated front desk and gift shop 3-4 days a week
- Provided interpretation for individual visitors and group tours of up to twenty people
- Maintained 30-40 exhibits on a rotating schedule
Department of the Interior, Badlands National Park
- GS-05 Physical Sciences Technician (June 2013 to August 2013)
- Mapped and surveyed localities within the park’s wilderness areas for paleontological resources
- Aided survey for new park boundary fence that adjoined two properties
- Set up inter-division ATV certification training for four personnel
- Conducted interpretation of park resources for park visitors of various ages and backgrounds
GeoCorps America, National Park Service, Badlands National Park
- GeoCorps Intern (May 28th, 2012-August 17, 2012)
- Mapped and surveyed new localities within the park’s wilderness areas for paleontological resources
- Aided in the excavation, total station mapping, and interpretation of the Saber Site Fossil Quarry
- Aided in the hand preparation of ~ 5 fossil specimens and interpretation for visitors to the fossil preparation lab
Outreach and Service
2022-2023 Student liaison for Departmental Seminar Committee, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA
2021-2022 Speaker on Research Collections, Recruitment Weekend, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA
2018-2019 Volunteer for Explore You Universe, an outreach event at UCLA
2014-2016 Volunteer for museum outreach events (e.g., Darwin Day and Fossil Day), Gray Fossil Site and Museum
2010-2014 Volunteer for classroom and public outreach events, SDSM&T Paleontology Club
2011-2014 Fundraised via chocolate sales for SDSM&T Paleontology Club
2011-2013 Club Treasurer and President, SDSM&T Paleontology Club
2021-2022 Speaker on Research Collections, Recruitment Weekend, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA
2018-2019 Volunteer for Explore You Universe, an outreach event at UCLA
2014-2016 Volunteer for museum outreach events (e.g., Darwin Day and Fossil Day), Gray Fossil Site and Museum
2010-2014 Volunteer for classroom and public outreach events, SDSM&T Paleontology Club
2011-2014 Fundraised via chocolate sales for SDSM&T Paleontology Club
2011-2013 Club Treasurer and President, SDSM&T Paleontology Club
Certifications
- Heartsaver CPR and AED Training (Last issued 2/10/2024)
- Heartsaver First Aid Training (Last Issued (2/10/2024)
Professional Memberships
- Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, January 2014 to present
- Geological Society of America, January 2012 to present
- American Society of Mammalogists, October 2015 to December 2015