Education

Ph.D., Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 2008
Dissertation—Neotropical ant-gardens: Behavioral and chemical ecology of an obligate ant-plant mutualism

M.S., Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2003
Thesis—The effects of ants on the carnivorous butterfly caterpillar Feniseca tarquinius and the role of chemical camouflage in the Feniseca-ant interaction.

B.A., Biology, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, valedictorian, 1999

Science Communication Experience

Programs Manager, Sigma Xi, Durham, NC, December, 2008-present

• Collaborate with Public Radio International to develop new multimedia “virtual science café” in which scientists and the public will informally discuss science news.
• Produce and solicit themed Web content and annual meeting programming for Sigma Xi’s critical issues in science program.
  
• Compile, write, and edit various science news summaries for American Scientist magazine and the Sigma Xi website and newsletters.
  
• Coordinate and facilitate public understanding of science programs hosted by Sigma Xi chapters

News Intern, Science magazine, Washington, DC, January-June, 2008

• Reported and wrote 25 online news articles for ScienceNOW, 5 print news and feature stories for Science, and about 30 short news items.
• Researched and recorded portions of 5 Science podcasts.
  Collaborated with the art department to develop an interactive online infographic.
• Topics covered included biology, psychology and medicine.

 AAAS Mass Media Fellow, WOSU Public Media, Columbus, OH, June-August, 2007

• Prepared 20 news and feature stories for public radio during nine-week fellowship.
• Found leads, researched, interviewed, collected sounds, wrote and voiced scripts, posted articles and audio files online.
• Topics included engineering, archaeology, medicine and other areas of science.

Science Writing Intern, National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, Durham, NC, January 2007-January, 2008

• Created online resource for biology educators by writing 12 "Evolution in the News" articles relating current research to textbook principles.
• Interviewed researchers in two video podcasts for classroom use.

Freelance Writer, July, 2006-present

• Contributed news and feature stories to the News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), American Scientist, The Scientist, ScienceNOW and North Carolina State University News Services. Seven articles freelanced to date. 

Staff Writer, Technician, daily student newspaper of North Carolina State University, July,2005-September, 2006

• Contributed more than 30 articles to the Science and Tech and News sections, generated story and graphic ideas and brainstormed at staff meetings.
• Topics included biology, medicine, engineering, and computer science.

 Other Professional Experience

Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, August, 2000-May, 2001

• Taught laboratory sections of zoology class for non-majors and tutored students.

Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Madison, WI, May, 2001-October, 2001

• Monitored populations of endangered butterflies and moths and recommended habitat management strategies.

Curator, Collection Manager, Educator, and Research Assistant, Milwaukee Public Museum, July, 1999-October, 2002

• Managed research collection of Lepidoptera and maintained live butterfly exhibit.
• Educated visitors about butterfly biology in presentations and one-on-one interaction.
• Collected field data for a sustainable agriculture research program in Costa Rica. 

Assistant Supervisor, World Bird Sanctuary Birds of Prey Show, Milwaukee County Zoo, May-August, 1997; May-July, 1999

• Coordinated team of 5 to produce daily bird shows and train 20 birds of prey. Presented one to three shows per day, interacting with audiences of up to 100.
• Promoted from educator/bird trainer in 1997 to assistant supervisor in 1999.

Honors

• 2006    GAANN Biotechnology Fellowship
• 2005    Amazon Conservation Association Research Fellowship
• 2004    Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research          
• 2000    University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Graduate School Fellowship     
• 2000    National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
• 1995    National Merit Scholarship

Service and Outreach

Nature walks leader, Wake Audubon Society and Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, NC, 2003-2007. Guided groups of adults and children in observing insects and other wildlife.

SAFE Child bilingual assistant and facilitator, Raleigh, NC, 2006. Led discussions among Spanish-speaking participants in court-ordered course to avert domestic violence. Coordinated child care.

Earthwatch program: Tropical Caterpillars guide, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, December, 2002-2003. Led volunteers in collecting, rearing and observing behavior of tropical caterpillars.  

Center for the Spanish Speaking English tutor, Milwaukee, WI, 2000-2002. Guided adult ESL students in English exercises to prepare for citizenship and driver license tests.

Languages                                                         

English (fluent); Spanish (fluent); French (intermediate)