Looking for: Employment near the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Email: collinssamanthac@gmail.com
Take a look at my official resume, then scroll down for more!
About Me
I am: Samantha C. Collins, B.S.; US Citizen; research technician with 3 years experience
Looking for: Employment near the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Email: collinssamanthac@gmail.com
Take a look at my official resume, then scroll down for more!
Looking for: Employment near the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Email: collinssamanthac@gmail.com
Take a look at my official resume, then scroll down for more!
Education
In August 2009 I earned my Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Auburn University, Auburn AL. The Zoology track I followed focused on behavior, evolution, and ecology.
During my four years at Auburn I learned to properly handle biological and chemical materials in the laboratory, carefully work with preserved tissues, and humanely capture live animals in the field using funnel sieves, mist nets, and Sherman live traps. I am familiar with scientific methods and ethics; academic research, writing, and presentation; and I have proven myself an adept worker both alone and in teams.
During my four years at Auburn I learned to properly handle biological and chemical materials in the laboratory, carefully work with preserved tissues, and humanely capture live animals in the field using funnel sieves, mist nets, and Sherman live traps. I am familiar with scientific methods and ethics; academic research, writing, and presentation; and I have proven myself an adept worker both alone and in teams.
Experience, June 2009 - February 2010
Research Assistant in Dr. Craig Guyer's Lab at Auburn University
My most recent work also involved the widest variety of tasks and responsibilities. Several times a week I went into swamps around Lee and Macon county -- often in the Tuskegee National Forest -- to help monitor the local herp populations. This involved checking nets for turtles and salamanders, but primarily hunting for cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) from 8 PM through midnight. Physical measurements were taken from all specimens before they were released, and blood was drawn to test whether the animals were a vector for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Auburn also has a large preserved herp collection. I spent many hours in the museum taking measurements and tissue samples to record the seasonal sexual development of male timber rattlers (Crotalus horridus) and female copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix).
Additionally, I embedded organ segments from the timber rattlers in paraffin with a spin tissue processor and made slides with a rotary microtome, which I then dyed, photographed, and measured using the software ImageJ. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed being a part of the process from field work and sample collection all the way to presentation. The tissue on the right is a slide I made of the sexual segment of the kidney (ssk) -- a specialized reproductive organ found in male squamates.
I was pleased to present my findings to other professionals at ALAPARC (Alabama Chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation). Below are just a few of the images showing part of my Excel datasheets, one of several data graphs, and some of the slides from my PowerPoint presentation. You can also see a testes slide I processed and the three measurements I took from structures in that particular tissue.
My presentation discussed the mating patterns of North American rattlesnakes, the physiological markers of these patterns, and how these relate to the information I collected from male timber rattlers (C. horridus). I used my own findings and examples from other North American rattlesnakes to suggest that their mating patterns were likely a result of phylogenetic constraints rather than the environmental gradient explanation suggested by the Tropical Origins Model (Robert D. Aldridge, David Duvall (2002) EVOLUTION OF THE MATING SEASON IN THE PITVIPERS OF NORTH AMERICA. Herpetological Monographs: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 1-25.).
My most recent work also involved the widest variety of tasks and responsibilities. Several times a week I went into swamps around Lee and Macon county -- often in the Tuskegee National Forest -- to help monitor the local herp populations. This involved checking nets for turtles and salamanders, but primarily hunting for cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) from 8 PM through midnight. Physical measurements were taken from all specimens before they were released, and blood was drawn to test whether the animals were a vector for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
Auburn also has a large preserved herp collection. I spent many hours in the museum taking measurements and tissue samples to record the seasonal sexual development of male timber rattlers (Crotalus horridus) and female copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix).
Additionally, I embedded organ segments from the timber rattlers in paraffin with a spin tissue processor and made slides with a rotary microtome, which I then dyed, photographed, and measured using the software ImageJ. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed being a part of the process from field work and sample collection all the way to presentation. The tissue on the right is a slide I made of the sexual segment of the kidney (ssk) -- a specialized reproductive organ found in male squamates.
I was pleased to present my findings to other professionals at ALAPARC (Alabama Chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation). Below are just a few of the images showing part of my Excel datasheets, one of several data graphs, and some of the slides from my PowerPoint presentation. You can also see a testes slide I processed and the three measurements I took from structures in that particular tissue.
My presentation discussed the mating patterns of North American rattlesnakes, the physiological markers of these patterns, and how these relate to the information I collected from male timber rattlers (C. horridus). I used my own findings and examples from other North American rattlesnakes to suggest that their mating patterns were likely a result of phylogenetic constraints rather than the environmental gradient explanation suggested by the Tropical Origins Model (Robert D. Aldridge, David Duvall (2002) EVOLUTION OF THE MATING SEASON IN THE PITVIPERS OF NORTH AMERICA. Herpetological Monographs: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 1-25.).
Experience, September 2009
Field Assistant in Dr. Sharon Hermann's Lab at Auburn University
I took several all-day trips to Fort Benning, Georgia to record habitat information for the threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). The longleaf pine forests around Fort Benning are ideal tortoise habitat, and I was part of a team surveying vegetation by species, density, and growth layers along belt transects.
I took several all-day trips to Fort Benning, Georgia to record habitat information for the threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). The longleaf pine forests around Fort Benning are ideal tortoise habitat, and I was part of a team surveying vegetation by species, density, and growth layers along belt transects.
Experience, February - June 2008
Assistant in Black Swan Research at the University of Melbourne in VIC, Australia
The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) population around the University of Melbourne is the subject of numerous ongoing studies. During my semester abroad, I helped capture and attach scanners to the birds. We monitored the health of individuals, and the temporary scanners glued to their tail feathers would keep record of matings within the population, giving scientists a better understanding of the swans' social structure and so-called monogamy.
I also took a brief conservation trip to help control invasive plant species. The volunteer work was a great opportunity to get out of the city and explore Australia's unique ecology while also helping protect it.
The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) population around the University of Melbourne is the subject of numerous ongoing studies. During my semester abroad, I helped capture and attach scanners to the birds. We monitored the health of individuals, and the temporary scanners glued to their tail feathers would keep record of matings within the population, giving scientists a better understanding of the swans' social structure and so-called monogamy.
I also took a brief conservation trip to help control invasive plant species. The volunteer work was a great opportunity to get out of the city and explore Australia's unique ecology while also helping protect it.
Experience, May - December 2007
Research Assistant in Dr. Mary Mendonรงa's Lab at Auburn University
I monitored breeding pairs of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) in an experiment to see if stress -- adjusting food quality in this case -- could alter hormones enough to influence clutch sex ratio. My responsibilities were to care for and pair birds, sex and tag fledgelings, and record clutch size and any deaths. I also helped draw blood from females for hormone analysis and recorded their health by measuring weight and tarsometatarsus length.
I monitored breeding pairs of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) in an experiment to see if stress -- adjusting food quality in this case -- could alter hormones enough to influence clutch sex ratio. My responsibilities were to care for and pair birds, sex and tag fledgelings, and record clutch size and any deaths. I also helped draw blood from females for hormone analysis and recorded their health by measuring weight and tarsometatarsus length.
Experience, May 2007
Veterinary Volunteer work for Mary Battistella, D.V.M. in rural Panama
In 2007, I spent two weeks traveling through rural villages in Panama with a team of medical volunteers. Several locations were inaccessible to motorized vehicles, and villagers had no way or no money to provide livestock and pets with veterinary treatment. We took our donated supplies afield and inoculated animals against rabies and canine parvovirus, administered oral Ivermectin and supplementary vitamin shots, and gave all the pets medicated collars and treatment for external parasites. We owe everything to the kindness and cooperation of the local people, the generosity of our donators, and the incredibly hardworking Spay Panama team who accompanied us to several locations.
I learned that language is not a barrier, work can be done anywhere -- from narrow jungle roads to rainy mountainsides -- and how to handle difficult subjects like angry dogs, uncooperative cattle, stubborn hogs, even a bag of cats! Most importantly, we always worked with the villagers so at least a handful of residents learned how to measure and administer medication as well as we did, ensuring they had the experience and supplies to be able to continue treatments long after we left.
In 2007, I spent two weeks traveling through rural villages in Panama with a team of medical volunteers. Several locations were inaccessible to motorized vehicles, and villagers had no way or no money to provide livestock and pets with veterinary treatment. We took our donated supplies afield and inoculated animals against rabies and canine parvovirus, administered oral Ivermectin and supplementary vitamin shots, and gave all the pets medicated collars and treatment for external parasites. We owe everything to the kindness and cooperation of the local people, the generosity of our donators, and the incredibly hardworking Spay Panama team who accompanied us to several locations.
I learned that language is not a barrier, work can be done anywhere -- from narrow jungle roads to rainy mountainsides -- and how to handle difficult subjects like angry dogs, uncooperative cattle, stubborn hogs, even a bag of cats! Most importantly, we always worked with the villagers so at least a handful of residents learned how to measure and administer medication as well as we did, ensuring they had the experience and supplies to be able to continue treatments long after we left.
Honors and Skills
TriBeta National Biological Honor Society Member
Auburn University Honors College 2005-2009
Freshman Academic Scholarship 2007-2009
First Prize in World Literature Essay Contest 2008
National Merit Finalist 2005
Proficient in:
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Word
Open Office
Quark
Microsoft Excel
PowerPoint
Auburn University Honors College 2005-2009
Freshman Academic Scholarship 2007-2009
First Prize in World Literature Essay Contest 2008
National Merit Finalist 2005
Proficient in:
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Word
Open Office
Quark
Microsoft Excel
PowerPoint
Let's Work Together
If your institution is looking for a new lab technician or research personnel, I guarantee you will not find anyone more grateful or hard-working. I have the ability to work in any environment, experience in lab and field duties, and the desire to master any skill with determination and creativity. I'm excited to be part of a new project and ready to make your goals my own.Ask me more about where I've been, what I've done, and what we can do together. Contact me now -- I'd love to have a coffee with you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)