Curriculum Vitae

2017 — Ph. D., Geology

University of Kansas Department of Geology, Lawrence, Kansas
Advisors: Hans-Peter Schultze and Paul Selden
Dissertation: Biodiversity and Evolutionary Relationships of Early Mesozoic Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii)

2012 — M. S., Geology

University of Kansas Department of Geology, Lawrence, Kansas
Advisors: Hans-Peter Schultze and Bruce Lieberman
Thesis: Investigating the Diversity of Semionotid Fishes (Neopterygii: Semionotiformes) in the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, Southern Utah

2006 — B. S., Geology (Summa cum Laude)

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah
Advisor: C. Frederick Lohrengel, III

2004 — A. S., Geology

College of Eastern Utah, Price, Utah
Advisor: Michelle Fleck

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Professional Experience

2018–Present — Assistant Professor of Geology, Department of Atmospheric and Earth Sciences, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Courses include:

• Natural Hazards and Human Society (AHS 106) – 3 credits
• Geology of the National Parks (AHS 295) – 3 credits
• Physical Geology (AHS 220) – 4 credits 
• Introduction to Physical Hydrology (AHS 230) – 4 credits
• Historical Geology (AHS 305) – 3 credits
• Field Geology (AHS 307) – 3 credits
• Surficial and Glacial Geology (AHS 322) – 3 credits
• Rocks and Minerals (AHS 325) – 4 credits
• Sedimentation and Stratigraphy (AHS 423) – 3 credits
• Senior Thesis 1 (AHS 491) – 2 credits
• The Living World (BIOL 102) – 3 credits
• Paleobiology (BIOL 414/514) – 4 credits

2018 — Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

2015–2019 — Paleontology Community Blog Editor, Public Library of Science (PLOS), http://blogs.plos.org/paleocomm (archived at sarahzgibson.com)

• Wrote blog posts highlighting paleontological research published in PLOS ONE and other Open Access journals
• Solicited contributors and writers to the PLOS Paleo Community blog; edited and moderated posts
• Maintained social media presence on X (Twitter), Reddit, and Facebook for the PLOS Paleo Community, produced a monthly email newsletter to members of the PLOS Paleo Community
• Arranged social and online activities promoting the PLOS Paleo Community, such as Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) events featuring researchers discussing their work with the public
• Promoted PLOS, paleontology, and open access at a national scientific conference, such as the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting

2010–2015 — Graduate Teaching Assistant, Peer-Led Undergraduate Supplements (PLUS) Program, University of Kansas, Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity, NIH Grant #R25GM62232 from the National Institute of General Medical Science, Lawrence, KS

Duties as a graduate teaching assistant for PLUS included:

• Designed and enhanced supplemental curricula to complement lecture material
• Created “packets” for PLUS attendees with activities related to lecture material
• Hired and organized teams of undergraduate “Peer Leaders” that have taken and succeeded in the course to lead PLUS sessions
• Calculated exam and grade performance of PLUS attendees versus non-attendees
  (On average, students who attended PLUS sessions performed a letter grade higher than those who did not attend PLUS)
• Worked with the professors of each respective course to incorporate PLUS into lecture and encourage students to attend PLUS sessions
• Taught and facilitated PLUS sessions
  • Courses taught in PLUS sessions include:
    • Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIOL 150)
    • Principles of Organismal Biology (BIOL 152)
    • Principles of Genetics (BIOL 350)
    • Fundamentals of Microbiology (BIOL 400)

2012, 2013 — Fossil Preparator (Employed), The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois

• Cleaned and prepared fossil specimens of Permian-age amphibians from Brazil and Jurassic-age dinosaurs from Antarctica
• Worked while on public display in the McDonald Fossil Preparation Lab, answered questions from the public about fossils and paleontology
• Gave tours of lab space to visitors and museum donors
• Oversaw preparation work by volunteers and student interns

2010–2011 — Bridges to the Baccalaureate (Bridge) Program Assistant, University of Kansas (KU) and Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU), Lawrence, KS.

• Duties as Bridge Program Assistant included:
  • Identified mentors from KU science faculty to work with HINU undergraduates
  • Placed and monitored Bridge students’ progress in their research laboratories at KU
  • Assigned relevant reading and writing assignments to improve Bridge students’ experiences and success in the sciences

2011 — Assistant Instructor, Student Professional Development Seminar (BIOL 420), University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University.

2009 — Graduate Teaching Assistant, Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory (BIOL 150), University of Kansas.

2008–2009 — Graduate Curatorial Assistant, University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence, KS.

• Herpetology Fluid Collection: systematically monitored specimen condition and preservation
• Entomology Fluid Collection: organized collection by taxa, created labels and rehoused specimens based on importance and/or sensitivity, culled excess specimens from the Kansas Biological Survey donation.

2008–2009 — Volunteer Coordinator (Employed), University of Kansas Natural History Museum Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory.

• Oversaw volunteer work on KU fossil specimens
• Cleaned and prepared specimens

2006–2008 — Preparation Lab and Collections Manager, St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, St. George, Utah.

• Organized and managed fossil collections, catalog and database specimens
• Maintained the fossil preparation laboratory
• Organized and monitored volunteer preparators in the lab
• Prepared specimens for display and research
• Incoming and outgoing loan requests
• Planning and construction of exhibits

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Field Experience

2008–2010, 2015    San Juan County, Utah

2006–2008  Washington County, Utah

Survey and Excavation of Mesozoic and Cenozoic paleontological localities

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Grants and Awards

2024

2023

• Hruska, A. Gibson, S. Z. Novel dentition in the extinct actinopterygian family Coccolepidae. St. Cloud State University Student Mentor Collaboration Grant – $998.99.
• Gibson, S. Z. Investigating the Diversity and Evolutionary Relationships of Early Mesozoic Redfieldiiform Fishes. St. Cloud State University Early Career Grant – $6,440.

2022

• Ott, S. M, Gibson, S. Z. An Expansion of our Investigation of Fish Biodiversity from the Upper Triassic Dockum Group, southwestern United States. St. Cloud State University Student Mentor Collaboration Grant – $400.

2021

• Ott, S. M., Gibson, S. Z. New Insights into Fish Biodiversity from the Dockum Group of Western Texas. St. Cloud State University Undergraduate Student Research Grant – $999.
• Gibson, S.Z. Discovery of new fishes of the extinct order Semionotiformes in southeastern Utah, and discerning their evolutionary relationships. St. Cloud State University Faculty Improvement Grant—Research — $9,488.19.

2020

2019

• Evolutionary Relationships of the Early Mesozoic Ray-Finned Fishes in the Order Redfieldiiformes. St. Cloud State University Faculty Improvement Grant—Research — $9,452

2016

• Albert E. Wood Student Research Grant — $1,200.00
• Jackson School of Geosciences Student Travel Grant — $400.00
• Raymond and Lillian Moore Scholarship — $1200.00
• Ernst Mayr Travel Grant in Animal Systematics — $1,500.00

2015

• Frederick H. Stoye Award for best student oral presentation at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Reno, Nevada — $300.00
• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Graduate Student Travel Grant to the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Reno, Nevada — $600.00
• KU Department of Geology Summer Support – $2,500.00
• Geological Society of America Student Research Grant — $1,875.00
• NSF DEB-1502005. Gibson, S. Z. DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Evolution of Specialized Teeth and Jaws in Early Mesozoic Ray-Finned Fishes and Their Impact on Widespread Niche Differentiation. — $19,434.00. Awarded 7/1/15-6/30/18.

2014

• Award for Best Student Paper, Ichthyology, in the 2013 volume of Copeia (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists)
• Lloyd Henbest Scholarship (University of Kansas Department of Geology) — $1,500.00
• Roger L. Kaesler Memorial Fund Scholarship (University of Kansas Department of Geology) — $1,000.00
• Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute) — $800.00

2013

• Raymond C. and Lillian B. Moore Scholarship (University of Kansas Department of Geology) — $2,750.00
• Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute) — $1,000.00
• Kansas Academy of Science 145^th Annual Meeting, Award for Best PhD Oral Presentation — $200.00

2012

• Graduate Scholarly Presentation Fund (University of Kansas) — $500.00
• Association of Women Geoscientists Osage Chapter Chevron Graduate Student Research Scholarship — $500.00
• Field Museum of Natural History Visiting Scholarship — $1,500.00

2011

• G-Hawker Student Symposium Award, 1st place for Graduate Oral Presentation (University of Kansas) — $700.00
• Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute) — $900.00

2010

• Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute) — $700.00
• 2009 Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute) — $800.00
• Kansas Geological Foundation Scholarship (University of Kansas) — $1,000.00
• KU Endowment Fund Summer Research Grant (University of Kansas) — $1,500.00
• PaleoResource Consultants Grant — $280.00
• Utah Friends of Paleontology Grant — $250.00

2008

• G-Hawker Student Symposium Award, 3rd place for Graduate Oral Presentation (University of Kansas) — $200.00

2007

• Dinosaur Ah!Torium Foundation Grant – $400.00

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Publications

Peer-reviewed Publications

[6] Gibson, S. Z. 2018. A new species of Lasalichthys (Actinopterygii, Redfieldiiformes) from the Upper Triassic Dockum Group of Howard County, Texas, with revisions to the genera Lasalichthys and Synorichthys. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. doi.:10.1080/02724634.2018.1513009.

[5] Smith, W.L., Buck, C. A., Ornay, G. S., Davis, M. P., Martin, R. P., Gibson, S. Z., and Girard, M. G. 2018. Improving Vertebrate Skeleton Images: Fluorescence and the Non-Permanent Mounting of Cleared-and-Stained Specimens. Copeia 106(3): 427–435. doi:10.1643/CG-18-047

[4] Gibson, S. Z. 2016. Redescription and Phylogenetic Placement of †Hemicalypterus weiri Schaeffer, 1967 (Actinopterygii, Neopterygii) from the Triassic Chinle Formation, Southwestern United States: New Insights into Morphology, Ecological Niche, and Phylogeny. PLoS ONE 11(9): e0163657. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0163657

[3] Gibson, S. Z. 2015. Evidence of a specialized feeding niche in a Late Triassic ray-finned fish: Evolution of multidenticulate teeth and benthic scraping in †Hemicalypterus. The Nature of Science — Naturwissenschaften 102:10. doi:10.1007/s00114-015-1262-y

[2] Gibson, S. Z. 2013. Biodiversity and evolutionary history of †Lophionotus (Neopterygii: †Semionotiformes) from the western United States. Copeia 2013: 582–603.

[1] Gibson, S. Z. 2013. A new hump-backed ginglymodian fish (Neopterygii: †Semionotiformes) from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of southeastern Utah. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33: 1037–1050.

Guidebooks and Other Publications

[4] Milner, A. R. C., Birthisel, T., Kirkland, J. I., Breithaupt, B., Matthews, N., Lockley, M. G., Santucci, V. L., Gibson, S. Z., DeBlieux, D., Hurlbut, M., Harris, J. D., and Olsen, P. E. 2014. Tracking Early Jurassic dinosaurs in southwestern Utah and the Triassic-Jurassic Transition. Nevada State Museum Paleontological Papers 1: 1–107.

[3] Davis, M. P., and Gibson, S. Z. 2011. Book Review for The Rise of Fishes: 500 Million Years of Evolution (Second Edition). Copeia 2011: 470–471.

[2] Milner, A. R. C., Spears, S. Z., Foss, S. E., Ferris-Rowley, D., and Kirkland, J. I. 2009. Urban Interface Paleontology in Washington County, Utah. Proceedings of the Eighth Conference on Fossil Resources: 131–151.

[1] Milner, A. R. C. and Spears, S. Z. 2007. Mesozoic and Cenozoic paleoichnology of southwestern Utah. Utah Geological Association Publication 35: 1–85.

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Professional Presentations (Presenter in Bold)

2024

Apenteng, H., Lai, F., Blinnikov, M. and Gibson, S. Z. Mapping Plutonic Rock in a Complex Urban environment based on Sentinel-2 Imagery: a Comparison of Machine Learning Algorithms. American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI, April 2024. Oral Presentation.

2023

Gibson, S. Z. and Ott, S. M. Newly discovered Fish Fauna in the Upper Triassic Dockum Group of Western Texas Society of Vertbrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, October 2023. Virtual Poster Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z. and Ott, S. M. Previously unidentified biodiversity of fish fauna in the Upper Triassic Dockum Group of Western Texas. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, July 2023, Norfolk, Virginia. Poster Presentation.

2021

Gibson, S. Z., Gammel, N., Julius, M., Simons, A. New discovery of Pleistocene-age fossil fishes (Ostariophysi: Cypriniformes) from southwestern Minnesota. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, October 2021. Virtual Poster Presentation.

Ott, S. M., Gibson, S. Z. A mass death assemblage of juvenile semionotiform fishes (Neopterygii: Holostei) from the Redonda Formation, Dockum Group, New Mexico. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, October 2021. Virtual Poster Presentation.

2020

Westgaard, J., Hanks, H. D. and Gibson, S. Z. A re-examination of the fossil evidence for the presence of fish species within the Late Cretaceous Coleraine Formation of Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range. Geological Society of America North-Central Section Annual Meeting, May 2020. Virtual Oral Presentation.

2019

Gibson, S. Z. Revisiting †Tanaocrossus kalliokoskii: An Enigmatic Fish from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, southwestern United States. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, July 2019, Snowbird, Utah. Oral Presentation.

2018

Gibson, S. Z. The Evolutionary Relationships of the Order †Redfieldiiformes (Osteichthyes, Actinopterygii). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, July 2018, Rochester, New York. Oral Presentation.

2017

Smith, W. L., Buck, C., Gibson, S. Z., Davis, M. P., Martin, R. L., Girard, M. Techniques for the Improved Visualization of Vertebrate Anatomy. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, July 2017, Austin, Texas. Poster Presentation.

2016

Gibson, S. Z. Three-dimensional fish fossils from a Triassic Texas pond: Novel anatomical insights and systematic placement of a new species of redfieldiid fish (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii). Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, October, 2016, Salt Lake City, Utah. Poster Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z. Three-Dimensional Fish Fossils from a Triassic Texas Pond: Novel Anatomical Insights and Systematic Placement of a New Species of Redfieldiid Fish (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, July 2016, New Orleans, Louisiana. Poster Presentation.

2015

Gibson, S. Z. Multidenticulate teeth in Triassic fish Hemicalypterus weiri (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii): Evidence for a specialized feeding niche in the Mesozoic. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Dallas, Texas, October 2015. Oral presentation.

Gibson, S. Z. Multidentictulate Teeth in the lower actinopterygian fish †Hemicalypterus: evidence for a specialized feeding niche in the Late Triassic. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Reno, Nevada, July 2015. Oral presentation. Stoye Award for best student oral presentation.

2014

Gibson, S. Z. Redescribing the enigmatic taxon †Hemicalypterus weiri (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii) from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of southeastern Utah. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Chattanooga, Tennessee, July–August 2014. Oral presentation.

Gibson, S. Z. The actinopterygian fishes of the Newark Supergroup and Chinle Formation, North America: New discoveries and comments on the diversity of fishes from the Early Mesozoic. Geological Society of American Southeastern Section Meeting, Blacksburg, Virginia, April 2014. Invited Oral Presentation for the symposium Contextualizing the Importance of the Newark Supergroup to Understanding the Biotic Change in the Early Mesozoic.

2013

Newbrey, M. G., Gibson, S. Z., Brinkman, D. G., and Neuman, A. G. A new semionotiform from the Upper Cretaceous Scollard Formation (Maastrichtian), Alberta, Canada. Mesozoic Fishes VI, Vienna, Austria, August 2013. Oral Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z. Semionotid fishes (Neopterygii: Semionotiformes) from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation: New species and comments on the relationships of semionotiform fishes. Kansas Academy of Science, Paleontology Symposium. Overland Park, Kansas, April 2013. Oral Presentation.

2012

Gibson, S. Z. Semionotiform fishes (Neopterygii: Ginglymodi) from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of southern Utah: New species and comments on the relationships of semionotiform fishes from the western United States. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Raleigh, North Carolina, October 2012. Poster Presentation.

2011

Gibson, S. Z. A new species of semionotid (Neopterygii: Semionotiformes) fish from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, southern Utah. University of Kansas Department of Geology G-Hawker Student Symposium, Lawrence, Kansas, September 2011. Oral Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z. A new species of semionotid (Neopterygii: Semionotiformes) fish from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, southern Utah. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 2011. Oral Presentation.

2010

Gibson, S. Z. Late Triassic semionotiform fishes from southern Utah, United States. Mesozoic Fishes V, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, August, 2010. Poster Presentation.

2009

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A.R.C., Ferris-Rowley, D. Establishing the nation’s first paleontological site stewardship program in Washington County, Utah. University of Kansas Department of Geology G-Hawker Student Symposium, Lawrence, Kansas, October 2009. Oral Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A.R.C., Ferris-Rowley, D., Foss, S.E., Kirkland, J.I. The nation’s first BLM Paleontological Site Stewardship Program established in Washington County, Utah. Eighth Conference on Fossil Resources, St. George, Utah, May 2009. Oral Presentation.

Milner, A. R. C., Gibson, S. Z., and Harris, J.D. An overview of paleontological resources on federal and state lands in Washington County, Utah. Eighth Conference on Fossil Resources, St. George, Utah, May 2009. Oral Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A. R. C., Ferris-Rowley, D. Establishing the nation’s first paleontological site stewardship program in Washington County, Utah. Kansas Academy of Science, Topeka, Kansas, March 2009. Oral Presentation.

2008

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A. R. C., Ferris-Rowley, D., Foss, S. E., and Kirkland, J. I. The nation’s first BLM Paleontological Site Stewardship Program established in Washington County, Utah. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Cleveland, Ohio, October 2008. Poster Presentation.

Milner, A. R. C., Gibson, S. Z., Olsen, P. E. New specimens of Tanaocrossus (Actinopterygii, Perleidiformes) from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of the western United States. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Cleveland, Ohio, October 2008. Poster Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A. R. C, and Kirkland, J. I. Fossil semionotid fish from the Owl Rock Member, Chinle Formation (Late Triassic), San Juan County, Utah. Meeting of the Western Association of Vertebrate Paleontologists, Flagstaff, Arizona, February 2008. Oral Presentation.

2007

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A. R. C., Kirkland, J. I. Fossil fishes from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian) Moenave Formation in southern Utah. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Austin, Texas, October 2007. Poster Presentation.

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A. R. C., And Kirkland, J. I. The significance of fossil semionotid fish from the Chinle Formation (Late Triassic), San Juan County, Utah. Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, St. George, Utah, May 2007. Oral Presentation.

2006

Gibson, S. Z., Milner, A. R. C., Lohrengel, C. F., and Kirkland, J. I. The significance of fossil semionotid fish from the Owl Rock Member, Chinle Formation (Late Triassic), San Juan County, Utah. Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Gunnison, Colorado, May 2006. Poster Presentation.

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Invited Seminars

2021

Gibson, S.Z. Fishes in the Dawn of the Mesozoic: recent discoveries from the Southwestern United States. University of Northern Iowa Department of Biology Graduate Colloquium Seminar, virtual.

2019

Gibson, S. Z. Fishes of the Early Mesozoic: New discoveries in North America. Soft Rock Seminar Series, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Gibson, S. Z. Fishy Finds in a Turbulent Time: New discoveries of early Mesozoic fossil fishes in the southwestern United States. PaleoFest, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Rockford, Illinois.

2016

Gibson, S. Z. Just Keep Swimming: A Look at the Fossil Fishes of the Triassic Southwest. Utah Friends of Paleontology Southwest Chapter Meeting, Dixie State College, St. George, Utah.

2015

Gibson, S. Z. Fossil fishes of the Chinle Formation: snapshot of a Late Triassic ecosystem. Saint Cloud State University Department of Biology Seminar Series, Saint Cloud, Minnesota.

2014

Gibson, S. Z. Fossil fishes of the Chinle Formation: snapshot of a Late Triassic ecosystem. Regis University Department of Biology Seminar Series, Denver, Colorado.

2013

Gibson, S. Z. Exploring the diversity of fishes in the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, southern Utah, USA. Royal Tyrrell Museum Speaker Series, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada.

2008

Gibson, S. Z. Tracking Elusive Beasts: Significant Discoveries by the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm. Utah Friends of Paleontology Southwest Chapter Meeting, Dixie State College, St. George, Utah.

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Synergistic Activities, Professional Service, and Outreach

2023–2024

• Participated in Skype A Scientist, an educational outreach program that connects scientists of all disciplines with K-12 classrooms to answer questions and engage students with STEM. Connected with four classrooms to-date:
  • 6th Grade class in Arkansas, 11/28/23 (Contact, Blair Nutt)
  • 1–3rd Grade Montessori class in Michigan, 1/19/24 (Contact, Benjamin Music)
  • 6th Grade class in Wisconsin, 1/26/24 (Contact, Martha Van Orsdel)
  • 9–12th grade class in Kentucky, 2/2/24 (Contact, Brianna Greenhill)

2023–Present

• Partner with St. Cloud, Minnesota Park and Recreation Department to offer a “Dino Dig” event for youth ages 4–6, and “Fossil Explorers” event for youth ages 7–10. These events educate children about different fossils and dinosaurs, and provide age-appropriate hands-on activities related to paleontology.

2022

• Workshop Presenter, Spark STEM conference. Provided a hands-on workshop about fossils and fossil types for middle-school aged children from central Minnesota. Hosted by St. Cloud State University.

2020–Present

• Board of Governors, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

2019–Present

• Auction Committee, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

2020

• Interviewed for Scientific American regarding radiometric dating. The article can be found at the following link: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-scientists-determine-the-ages-of-human-ancestors-fossilized-dinosaurs-and-other-organisms/

2019

• Workshop Presenter, Tech Savvy Conference for girls in fifth to ninth grade focused on STEM. Hosted by American Association of University Women.
• Volunteered for the 1st annual DinoFest at the Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. Provided paleontological outreach to the public, displayed and discussed fossils.
• Participated as a faculty advisor for the St. Cloud State University Hydrology/Geology Club’s annual field trip to examine geologic sites of interest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

2018–Present

• Editorial Board, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

2018

• Workshop Presenter, Tech Savvy Conference for girls in fifth to ninth grade focused on STEM. Hosted by American Association of University Women.
• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Resolutions Committee for the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, July 2018, Rochester, New York.
• Volunteered in the Division of Fishes at the Field Museum’s Annual Members’ Night, providing scientific outreach to the public and teaching museum members about fishes, fish biology, and paleontology.

2017–Present

• Assist with online promotion of the National Fossil Day, a celebration of the U.S.’s fossil heritage hosted by the National Park Service [Archived here]

2016–2017

• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Best Papers in Copeia Committee.

2015

• Ambassador for the inaugural Kansas DNA Day. Assisted in planning and implementing DNA Day activities, designed modules for presentation, visited a Kansas City-area high school and taught freshman about DNA, pharmacogenomics, and pursuing a career in science.
• Volunteered in the Division of Fishes at the Field Museum’s Annual Members’ Night, providing scientific outreach to the public and teaching museum members about fishes, fish biology, and paleontology.

2012

• Special Guest on The Field Museum’s “What the Fish?” podcast series. [Archived here]

2009–2015

• Involved with the development of PLUS (Peer Led Undergraduate Supplements), a program aimed at improving student performance in biology, microbiology, genetics and chemistry. This program is part of the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity Grant at the University of Kansas (NIH Grant #R25GM62232 from the National Institute of General Medical Science).

2010–2014

• Assisting in improving the Bridges to the Baccalaureate (Bridge) Program at Haskell Indian Nations University. Updating methods and resources for identifying mentors and research labs for Bridge participants, working closely with Bridge participants to ensure retention, evaluating the program for grant renewal support (also funded under the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity Grant (NIH #R25GM060182).

2006–2010

• Volunteer for the Washington County Paleontological Site Stewardship Program for the Bureau of Land Management.  Assist in establishing sites for monitoring, and compile data packets for each site, assign and train volunteers for participation in the program, public outreach.

2009

• Field Trip Co-Leader to paleontological localities in Washington County, Utah, Eighth Conference on Fossil Resources, St. George, Utah.
• Conference Host Committee Member, Eighth Conference on Fossil Resources, St. George, Utah.

2006–2008

• Developed curriculum and was the instructor for the Junior Paleontology Camp (summer only, ages 5–12) and Junior Paleontology Club (school year extracurricular group, ages 10–12), St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm, St. George, Utah.
• Vice President, Southwest Chapter of the Utah Friends of Paleontology.
• Invited to participate in the Colorado Plateau Coring Project workshop to discuss potential sites for coring to study the Triassic/Jurassic boundary, strata, paleontology, etc. Field trip Co-Leader as part of workshop to sites of geological and paleontological interest in Washington County, Utah.
• Field Trip Co-Leader to paleontological and geological localities in southern Utah, Geological Society of America Rocky Mountain Section annual meeting, St. George, Utah.SaveSave