Resume
Below I have included my Curriculum Vitae.
Caitlin Kempski - CV
Education:
Rochester Institute of Technology, MS in Environmental Science, expected October 2012.
Coursework at RIT: Plant Biology, Plant Ecology, Community Ecology, Tropical Ecology, Advanced Conservation Biology, Bird Banding, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, Science Technology and the Environment, Data Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistics, Graduate Reading Seminar, Graduate Research.
Coursework at Michigan State University (summer 2009): Environmental Microbiology taught by Dr. Terry Marsh
Thesis: "The Abundance and Biodiversity of Arthropods in Various Biofuel Crop Systems: Insects and Arachnids in Corn, Switchgrass, and Mixed Grass Prairie Fields." Study and specimen collection initiated during summer 2008 internship at Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Michigan State University with ongoing data collection and collaboration through 2010. Part of a broad KBS study to investigate the impact of cellulosic biofuel production on ecosystem health and sustainability. KBS Research Adviser: Dr. Bruce Robertson, RIT Adviser: Dr. Elizabeth Hane.
Belmont University, Graduate Department of Education
Coursework at Belmont: Methods for Secondary Teaching, Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners, Contemporary Issues in Education, Literacy Across Secondary Curriculum
Rochester Institute of Technology, BS in Biomedical Sciences with Honors, May 2008.
Technical Coursework: Adventures in Ornithology, Ecology of Baja, Zoology Internship, Animal Behavior, Marine Biology, General Ecology, Molecular Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Galapagos: Ecology & Evolution, Amphibian Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Tissue Culture, Intro Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry: Conformation Dynamics & Metabolism, Anatomy & Physiology, Intro Biology, Premedical Studies, Organic Chemistry, General & Analytic Chemistry, College Physics, Calculus, Introduction to Digital Photography.
Undergraduate Research (June 2005-2007): “Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria taken from Semi-Aquatic Turtles Native to New York State.” Created research hypothesis, performed sampling and cell cultures, and led team of four other students during summer 2005 to study Spotted turtles bred and raised in captivity and released to the wild with radio tracking. Additional research conducted on the capture, sample gathering, cell culture and identification, and antibiotic resistance testing of wild Eastern Painted turtles. Mentor: Dr. Harvey Pough.
Education Experience:
Horse Zookeeper: Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (August 2011- October 2011): Cared for a Clydesdale and a Gypsy Vanner including feeding, grooming, and training. Brought the horses out to interact with the public for four hours a day, five days a week. Taught the public about the individual horses, their breeds, draft horses in general, heritage breeds and the importance of conserving them. Facilitated opportunities for the public to pet the horses and have their pictures taken with them until the season ended on October 31st.
Summer Camp Counselor: Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (May 2011-July 2011): Instructed groups of twenty-four 7-9 year old children in June and taught them about different animal adaptations that aid in survival during a week-long summer camp. Instructed groups of twenty-four 5-6 year children in July and taught them about animal behavior using scat, tracks, bones, fur, feathers, and other clues. Worked closely with five other camp counselors, many teenage volunteers and two supervisors, assisted with program development and with aligning programs and vocabulary words to Tennessee state academic standards.
Volunteer Naturalist: Shelby Bottoms Nature Center (December 2010- Present): Presented programs to the public this spring on building garden ponds to increase aquatic habitat and using native plants, will present additional programs this summer on environmentally friendly hardscaping and ecological pest control methods, suggested using goats to help remove the invasive plant species. Also perform various other tasks as needed.
MNEA Building Representative: Cane Ridge High School (February 2011- May 2011). Served as the building representative for the teachers’ union; advised teachers and worked to resolve conflicts to ensure a safe working environment and conditions that facilitated student learning.
Ecology Teacher: Cane Ridge High School (August 2010 – May 2011): Taught Ecology to 150 students and Scientific Research to 33 students in the Metro Nashville Public School district. Structured the courses to focus on the human impact on the environment, the environment’s impact on humans, increasing awareness of how toxins and trash dumped into the rivers and oceans effects us, the condition of rivers and streams in the Nashville area, and teaching the students why conservation is important and how it affects them. Had 50 plants donated and planted rain gardens with the students.
Nashville Teaching Fellows Program: (Summer 2010): Intensive five-week summer training institute, included daily practice teaching experience at the Gallatin Summer School working with 7th and 8th graders and afternoon courses focused on instructional design and delivery and classroom management and culture.
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Adventures in Ornithology (Spring quarter 2009-10): Assisted in laboratory and lecture instruction in class once per week. Planned the weekend long class trip to Point Pelee, Ontario Canada which included assigning tasks to the students, and overseeing and assisting with their completion. Served twice a week as the Bander-in-charge at the Rochester Institute of Technology bird banding station. Duties included net setup, avian net extraction and banding, teaching students proper techniques for extraction and banding, and overseeing their work from pre-dawn to afternoon. Faculty Instructor: Dr. John Waud.
Graduate Teaching Assistant: General Ecology (Fall quarter 2008-9): Assisted with forest ecology laboratory and field instruction of undergraduate students and the grading of final presentations. Faculty Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Hane.
Lead Teaching Assistant: Archery (Spring quarter 2007-8, Fall & Spring quarters 2008-10): Assisted with instruction of students in proper archery techniques and safety, set up and took down equipment, and oversaw the other two TAs. Faculty Instructor: Alexander Sleeman.
Teaching Assistant: Intro Biology III Laboratory (Spring quarter 2006-7): Assisted instruction of undergraduates in lab procedures and techniques, supervised undergraduate student experiments, graded lab notebooks, weekly quizzes and group projects. Faculty Instructor: Dr. Harvey Pough.
Field Experience:
Visiting Researcher, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University (May-June 2009): G.H. Lauff Research Award to continue the investigation of how biofuel crop (corn, switchgrass, mixed-grass prairie) production impacts biodiversity and associated ecosystems. Supervising MSU faculty: Dr. Bruce Robertson.
Research Fellow, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University (May-August 2008): NSF-REU and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center sponsored research to investigate how biofuel crop (corn, switchgrass, mixed-grass prairie) production impacts biodiversity and associated ecosystems. Lead Investigators: Drs. Bruce Robertson, Doug Schemske and Patrick Moran.
RIT Baja Expedition (March 2008): One week excursion to the School for Field Studies Center in Baja California Sur to study gray whales and sea turtles as the culmination of the Ecology of Baja course. Instructor and Field Guide: Dr. Lei Lani Stelle.
College Intern, Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester NY (September-November 2007): Formal RIT coursework, and one day per week internship assisting Tina Fess and other zookeepers in enclosure cleaning, dietary preparation and delivery, and enrichment for several species. Worked with big cats, rhinoceros, reptiles, amphibians, birds, Golden Lion Tamarins, Two-toed sloth, Brazilian Agouti, coati, and other mammals. Coursework focused on research of chosen species and theoretical habitat and exhibit design to incorporate animal needs and enrichment as well as visitor enjoyment and education. Instructor and Internship Coordinator: Dr. Lei Lani Stelle.
Bird Banding (June- August 2007): Assisted in the Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship (MAPS) program. Duties included net setup, avian net extraction and banding, wing chord and tarsus length measurement, and photography from pre-dawn to afternoon, twice weekly during summer, intermittent during academic year. MAPS Station Mgrs.: Dr. Mark Deutchlander. Ms. Cindy Marino, Dr. John Waud and Dr. David Mathiason.
Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC), Savannah, NY (June-August 2007): Habitat creation, maintenance, and care of the education exhibit animals, all indigenous to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge or to central New York State. Researched and created diets, and tracked animal weight gain. Helped create MAC brochure for public distribution. Supervisors: Mr. Frank Moses, MAC Director, and Ms. Carol Stokes-Cawley, Education Manager.
RIT Galapagos Expedition (June 2006): Ten-day excursion to the Galapagos ecosystem to explore and photograph the islands avian, aquatic, and terrestrial wildlife, as the culmination of the RIT Galapagos: Ecology & Evolution course. Instructor and Field Guide: Dr. Robert Rothman.
Skill, Certifications, Additional Activities and Interests
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Photoshop
Nature and Sports Photography
TV Commercial Timeout Coordinator (October 2009 – March 2012): Coordinate between on-ice officials, coaches, players, and the television crew for commercials breaks during RIT Men's Hockey games at Ritter Arena. Make sure commercial breaks are taken in accordance with NCAA and AHA rules. Ensure all parties know within what time intervals breaks are scheduled and when a break is being taken, provide officials with a countdown to the end of commercial breaks, and update on-ice officials if a break is missed so they can update the coaches.
Classroom Organization and Management Program (October, 2010 - February, 2011): Program of Peabody College at Vanderbilt University validated by the National Diffusion Network and approved by the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration. Learned multiple classroom behavior management techniques and organizational methodologies to facilitate learning and successfully completed initial and follow up workshops.
Project WILD Aquatic: Professional Development through Warner Park Nature Center for K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide emphasizing aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. Participated in hands on activities designed for integration into existing courses of study and integrated them into my instruction.
Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Delta Alpha Chapter: Member, January 2005-present; Historian, 2006-07; Parliamentarian, Fall 2007. Spent 20 hours per academic quarter assisting the American Red Cross, Karen Decker Cardiomyopathy Fund and Strong Memorial Hospital, Adopt-A-Highway, and Teach for America organizations through Phi Sigma Pi activities, January 2005-May 2010.
Yearbook Editor-in-Chief: Pittsford Mendon High School, Pittsford NY. (July 2003-June 2004): Attended a summer program at Gettysburg College on yearbook planning, layouts, theme development, and cover design. Oversaw a staff of 9 other students during the academic year to create the 232 page book. Time was spent overseeing and assisting the staff, which was divided among 8 different sections. Took pictures at sporting events, homecoming float building, and around school to supplement other student photos, edited pages before submitting them for printing, delegated assignments, met with faculty and Herff Jones supervisors, and ensured the quality of the finished book and that deadlines were met. Final production cost was $52,800 with $10,560 raised from ads and the rest covered by the sale cost of the book. Faculty Supervisor: Mr Keith Boardman. Herff Jones Representative: Ms. Diana Danielson
Seneca Park Zoo Explorers Program (Summers 2002 and 2003): The program was for high school students to work at the zoo and learn about the different career opportunities there including: keeper, educator, animal trainer, enrichment specialist, exhibit designer, veterinarian, and conservationist. The first summer was spent working with the veterinarian and the second summer focused on work with the keepers and educators. Program Supervisor: Jeff Wyatt, DVM, Zoo Veterinarian.
Caitlin’s Animal Care, Pittsford, NY (1999-present): More than 1000 hours of part-time pet care for vacationing pet owners. Care provided for dogs, cats, birds, lizards, snakes, hamsters, guinea pigs, tortoises, and gerbils; including care for a cat with renal failure that required subcutaneous fluid injections twice daily. Equine care (grooming and exercising) also provided twice weekly for a horse owned by an elderly woman, from 1999-2004.
References
Dr F Harvey Pough, Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. fhpsbi@rit.edu
Denise Weyer, Director Shelby Bottoms Nature Center. denise.weyer@nashville.gov
Thaisa Bell, School Programs Manager Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. tbell@nashvillezoo.org
Alexander Sleeman, Associate Director – NCAA Compliance. atsped@rit.edu
Rochester Institute of Technology, MS in Environmental Science, expected October 2012.
Coursework at RIT: Plant Biology, Plant Ecology, Community Ecology, Tropical Ecology, Advanced Conservation Biology, Bird Banding, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, Science Technology and the Environment, Data Analysis, Fundamentals of Statistics, Graduate Reading Seminar, Graduate Research.
Coursework at Michigan State University (summer 2009): Environmental Microbiology taught by Dr. Terry Marsh
Thesis: "The Abundance and Biodiversity of Arthropods in Various Biofuel Crop Systems: Insects and Arachnids in Corn, Switchgrass, and Mixed Grass Prairie Fields." Study and specimen collection initiated during summer 2008 internship at Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) Michigan State University with ongoing data collection and collaboration through 2010. Part of a broad KBS study to investigate the impact of cellulosic biofuel production on ecosystem health and sustainability. KBS Research Adviser: Dr. Bruce Robertson, RIT Adviser: Dr. Elizabeth Hane.
Belmont University, Graduate Department of Education
Coursework at Belmont: Methods for Secondary Teaching, Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners, Contemporary Issues in Education, Literacy Across Secondary Curriculum
Rochester Institute of Technology, BS in Biomedical Sciences with Honors, May 2008.
Technical Coursework: Adventures in Ornithology, Ecology of Baja, Zoology Internship, Animal Behavior, Marine Biology, General Ecology, Molecular Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Galapagos: Ecology & Evolution, Amphibian Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Tissue Culture, Intro Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry: Conformation Dynamics & Metabolism, Anatomy & Physiology, Intro Biology, Premedical Studies, Organic Chemistry, General & Analytic Chemistry, College Physics, Calculus, Introduction to Digital Photography.
Undergraduate Research (June 2005-2007): “Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria taken from Semi-Aquatic Turtles Native to New York State.” Created research hypothesis, performed sampling and cell cultures, and led team of four other students during summer 2005 to study Spotted turtles bred and raised in captivity and released to the wild with radio tracking. Additional research conducted on the capture, sample gathering, cell culture and identification, and antibiotic resistance testing of wild Eastern Painted turtles. Mentor: Dr. Harvey Pough.
Education Experience:
Horse Zookeeper: Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (August 2011- October 2011): Cared for a Clydesdale and a Gypsy Vanner including feeding, grooming, and training. Brought the horses out to interact with the public for four hours a day, five days a week. Taught the public about the individual horses, their breeds, draft horses in general, heritage breeds and the importance of conserving them. Facilitated opportunities for the public to pet the horses and have their pictures taken with them until the season ended on October 31st.
Summer Camp Counselor: Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (May 2011-July 2011): Instructed groups of twenty-four 7-9 year old children in June and taught them about different animal adaptations that aid in survival during a week-long summer camp. Instructed groups of twenty-four 5-6 year children in July and taught them about animal behavior using scat, tracks, bones, fur, feathers, and other clues. Worked closely with five other camp counselors, many teenage volunteers and two supervisors, assisted with program development and with aligning programs and vocabulary words to Tennessee state academic standards.
Volunteer Naturalist: Shelby Bottoms Nature Center (December 2010- Present): Presented programs to the public this spring on building garden ponds to increase aquatic habitat and using native plants, will present additional programs this summer on environmentally friendly hardscaping and ecological pest control methods, suggested using goats to help remove the invasive plant species. Also perform various other tasks as needed.
MNEA Building Representative: Cane Ridge High School (February 2011- May 2011). Served as the building representative for the teachers’ union; advised teachers and worked to resolve conflicts to ensure a safe working environment and conditions that facilitated student learning.
Ecology Teacher: Cane Ridge High School (August 2010 – May 2011): Taught Ecology to 150 students and Scientific Research to 33 students in the Metro Nashville Public School district. Structured the courses to focus on the human impact on the environment, the environment’s impact on humans, increasing awareness of how toxins and trash dumped into the rivers and oceans effects us, the condition of rivers and streams in the Nashville area, and teaching the students why conservation is important and how it affects them. Had 50 plants donated and planted rain gardens with the students.
Nashville Teaching Fellows Program: (Summer 2010): Intensive five-week summer training institute, included daily practice teaching experience at the Gallatin Summer School working with 7th and 8th graders and afternoon courses focused on instructional design and delivery and classroom management and culture.
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Adventures in Ornithology (Spring quarter 2009-10): Assisted in laboratory and lecture instruction in class once per week. Planned the weekend long class trip to Point Pelee, Ontario Canada which included assigning tasks to the students, and overseeing and assisting with their completion. Served twice a week as the Bander-in-charge at the Rochester Institute of Technology bird banding station. Duties included net setup, avian net extraction and banding, teaching students proper techniques for extraction and banding, and overseeing their work from pre-dawn to afternoon. Faculty Instructor: Dr. John Waud.
Graduate Teaching Assistant: General Ecology (Fall quarter 2008-9): Assisted with forest ecology laboratory and field instruction of undergraduate students and the grading of final presentations. Faculty Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Hane.
Lead Teaching Assistant: Archery (Spring quarter 2007-8, Fall & Spring quarters 2008-10): Assisted with instruction of students in proper archery techniques and safety, set up and took down equipment, and oversaw the other two TAs. Faculty Instructor: Alexander Sleeman.
Teaching Assistant: Intro Biology III Laboratory (Spring quarter 2006-7): Assisted instruction of undergraduates in lab procedures and techniques, supervised undergraduate student experiments, graded lab notebooks, weekly quizzes and group projects. Faculty Instructor: Dr. Harvey Pough.
Field Experience:
Visiting Researcher, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University (May-June 2009): G.H. Lauff Research Award to continue the investigation of how biofuel crop (corn, switchgrass, mixed-grass prairie) production impacts biodiversity and associated ecosystems. Supervising MSU faculty: Dr. Bruce Robertson.
Research Fellow, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University (May-August 2008): NSF-REU and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center sponsored research to investigate how biofuel crop (corn, switchgrass, mixed-grass prairie) production impacts biodiversity and associated ecosystems. Lead Investigators: Drs. Bruce Robertson, Doug Schemske and Patrick Moran.
RIT Baja Expedition (March 2008): One week excursion to the School for Field Studies Center in Baja California Sur to study gray whales and sea turtles as the culmination of the Ecology of Baja course. Instructor and Field Guide: Dr. Lei Lani Stelle.
College Intern, Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester NY (September-November 2007): Formal RIT coursework, and one day per week internship assisting Tina Fess and other zookeepers in enclosure cleaning, dietary preparation and delivery, and enrichment for several species. Worked with big cats, rhinoceros, reptiles, amphibians, birds, Golden Lion Tamarins, Two-toed sloth, Brazilian Agouti, coati, and other mammals. Coursework focused on research of chosen species and theoretical habitat and exhibit design to incorporate animal needs and enrichment as well as visitor enjoyment and education. Instructor and Internship Coordinator: Dr. Lei Lani Stelle.
Bird Banding (June- August 2007): Assisted in the Monitoring Avian Productivity & Survivorship (MAPS) program. Duties included net setup, avian net extraction and banding, wing chord and tarsus length measurement, and photography from pre-dawn to afternoon, twice weekly during summer, intermittent during academic year. MAPS Station Mgrs.: Dr. Mark Deutchlander. Ms. Cindy Marino, Dr. John Waud and Dr. David Mathiason.
Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC), Savannah, NY (June-August 2007): Habitat creation, maintenance, and care of the education exhibit animals, all indigenous to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge or to central New York State. Researched and created diets, and tracked animal weight gain. Helped create MAC brochure for public distribution. Supervisors: Mr. Frank Moses, MAC Director, and Ms. Carol Stokes-Cawley, Education Manager.
RIT Galapagos Expedition (June 2006): Ten-day excursion to the Galapagos ecosystem to explore and photograph the islands avian, aquatic, and terrestrial wildlife, as the culmination of the RIT Galapagos: Ecology & Evolution course. Instructor and Field Guide: Dr. Robert Rothman.
Skill, Certifications, Additional Activities and Interests
Computer Skills: Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Photoshop
Nature and Sports Photography
TV Commercial Timeout Coordinator (October 2009 – March 2012): Coordinate between on-ice officials, coaches, players, and the television crew for commercials breaks during RIT Men's Hockey games at Ritter Arena. Make sure commercial breaks are taken in accordance with NCAA and AHA rules. Ensure all parties know within what time intervals breaks are scheduled and when a break is being taken, provide officials with a countdown to the end of commercial breaks, and update on-ice officials if a break is missed so they can update the coaches.
Classroom Organization and Management Program (October, 2010 - February, 2011): Program of Peabody College at Vanderbilt University validated by the National Diffusion Network and approved by the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration. Learned multiple classroom behavior management techniques and organizational methodologies to facilitate learning and successfully completed initial and follow up workshops.
Project WILD Aquatic: Professional Development through Warner Park Nature Center for K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide emphasizing aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. Participated in hands on activities designed for integration into existing courses of study and integrated them into my instruction.
Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Delta Alpha Chapter: Member, January 2005-present; Historian, 2006-07; Parliamentarian, Fall 2007. Spent 20 hours per academic quarter assisting the American Red Cross, Karen Decker Cardiomyopathy Fund and Strong Memorial Hospital, Adopt-A-Highway, and Teach for America organizations through Phi Sigma Pi activities, January 2005-May 2010.
Yearbook Editor-in-Chief: Pittsford Mendon High School, Pittsford NY. (July 2003-June 2004): Attended a summer program at Gettysburg College on yearbook planning, layouts, theme development, and cover design. Oversaw a staff of 9 other students during the academic year to create the 232 page book. Time was spent overseeing and assisting the staff, which was divided among 8 different sections. Took pictures at sporting events, homecoming float building, and around school to supplement other student photos, edited pages before submitting them for printing, delegated assignments, met with faculty and Herff Jones supervisors, and ensured the quality of the finished book and that deadlines were met. Final production cost was $52,800 with $10,560 raised from ads and the rest covered by the sale cost of the book. Faculty Supervisor: Mr Keith Boardman. Herff Jones Representative: Ms. Diana Danielson
Seneca Park Zoo Explorers Program (Summers 2002 and 2003): The program was for high school students to work at the zoo and learn about the different career opportunities there including: keeper, educator, animal trainer, enrichment specialist, exhibit designer, veterinarian, and conservationist. The first summer was spent working with the veterinarian and the second summer focused on work with the keepers and educators. Program Supervisor: Jeff Wyatt, DVM, Zoo Veterinarian.
Caitlin’s Animal Care, Pittsford, NY (1999-present): More than 1000 hours of part-time pet care for vacationing pet owners. Care provided for dogs, cats, birds, lizards, snakes, hamsters, guinea pigs, tortoises, and gerbils; including care for a cat with renal failure that required subcutaneous fluid injections twice daily. Equine care (grooming and exercising) also provided twice weekly for a horse owned by an elderly woman, from 1999-2004.
References
Dr F Harvey Pough, Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. fhpsbi@rit.edu
Denise Weyer, Director Shelby Bottoms Nature Center. denise.weyer@nashville.gov
Thaisa Bell, School Programs Manager Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. tbell@nashvillezoo.org
Alexander Sleeman, Associate Director – NCAA Compliance. atsped@rit.edu