Curriculum vitae

 

Education

M.S. Biology (Ecology) in progress
San Diego State University San Diego, CA
Major Advisor: Matthew S. Edwards

B.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2001
The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Teaching and Professional Experience

2005 (Jan - present) San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Research Assistant

Assist in laboratory and field research pertaining to kelp forests along California, Alaska, Baja California, Mexico, Peru and Chile. Activities include underwater algal and habitat surveys, benthic suction sampling, specimen collection, algal culturing, and operation of small boats. Project under the direction of Dr Matthew S. Edwards of the Biology Department.

2004 (Aug-Jan) San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Research Technician

Conduct nearshore underwater surveys using SCUBA of benthic habitat and marine biota within kelp forests along San Diego County and southern Orange County as part of the CRANE project for California Department of Fish and Game. Project under the direction of Dr Todd W. Anderson and Dr Matthew S. Edwards of the Biology Department.

2003-2004 (Fall, Spring, Fall) San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Teaching Assistant, Intro. to Biology (BIOL 100L)

2003 (spring) Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, Marine Discovery

2003 (Jan-June) University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Collections Technician/Research Assistant


Work in cooperation with Mexican group CONABIO to repatriate data for all vertebrate speciemens from Mexico in University of Arizona Collections. Duties include digital photography, specimen curation, and use of BIOTA database. This position is under the direction of Dr Peter Reinthal of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.

2002 (Sept-Jan) University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Collections Technician

Assist in curation of Ichthyology, Herpetology, and Ornithology collections. Duties include specimen care and maintenance, organization of specimens, cataloguing of new specimens, and use of BIOTA database. This position is under the direction of Dr Peter Reinthal of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department.

2002 (Feb-Aug) University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Research Technician

Assist in examining predatory impact of non-native fish species on native fish species in the Verde River in central Arizona. In addition, estimate population sizes of non-native species and construct bioenergetic models based on gut-content analysis. Duties include operation of raft and backpack electrofishing units, gut content collection in field and analysis in laboratory, data collection, supervision of volunteers during field work, and habitat measurement. Project under the direction of Dr Scott Bonar and Laura Leslie of the Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

2001 (fall) Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, Marine Biology

2001 (summer) U.S. Geological Survey Tucson, AZ
Student Field Technician

Assist in examining the trophic status of introduced crayfish in two Arizona streams to examine competitive and predatory impacts on native fishes using both stable isotope (SIA) and gut content analyses (GCA). Assist in estimation of population size of native-fish and crayfish, collection of samples for SIA and GCA, and obtaining habitat overlap data. Duties include specimen collection using electrofishing backpack, dip nets, and minnow traps, mark and recapture of native fishes, and preparation of samples for SIA. Project under the direction of Dr Jeanette Carpenter and sponsored by the US Geological Survey.

2001 (summer) The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Undergraduate Research Assistant/Field Technician

Assist in surveys of Arizona stream systems to determine fish and invertebrate distributions, stream morphology, riparian vegetation, and water quality. Duties include electrofishing, stream flow measurements, fish identification, water sampling, benthos and periphyton collection, and rapid habitat assessment. Project under direction of Dr Scott Bonar and Charles Schade and sponsored by the EPA and Lockheed Martin.

2000 (fall) The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Undergraduate Research Assistant/ Volunteer

Assist in PIT tagging rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) for predation study. Project under direction of David Ward.

2000 (fall) The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Undergraduate Research Assistant / Independent Study

Learn about data basing Museum Collections and to actively participate in the databasing of the Fish Collection at the University of Arizona. Goal was to have an active web site with access to the database for the Fish Collection. Project under direction of Dr Peter Reinthal.

2000 (summer) The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Assist in study of status of Speckled Dace (Rhinichthys osculus) populations in southern Arizona by making morphologic, coloration, and genetic comparisons to determine degree of differentiation among the various populations. Duties included morphometric measurements of museum specimens, electrofishing, and database entry. Project under direction of Dr Peter Reinthal and sponsored by RTG in Analysis of Biological Diversification.

1999 (summer) The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Assist in analysis of lipid, protein, and carbohydrate levels in Carpenter Ants (Camponotus festinates) using photospectroscopy as part of analytical analysis of body composition. Duties also included specimen rearing and collection. Project under direction of Dan Hahn and sponsored by RTG in Analysis of Biological Diversification and Arizona Research Labs.

Professional Memberships

Western Society of Naturalists 2003 - present

Dive Control Board, San Diego State University Graduate Student Representative 2005-2006

2003-2004 Ecology Graduate Student Association (Secretary for 2004)

Grants and Scholarships

2005 PEEF Travel Award ($250) from SDSU to present research at Western Society of Naturalists Conference in Monterey, California

Guest Lectures
2003 (spring) Guest Lecturer, University of Arizona, Marine Discovery

Publications

Matson, P.G., Edwards, M.S. 2006. Latitudinal variation in stipe hollowing of Eisenia arborea (Phaeophyceae: Laminariales). Phycologia 45(3): 343-348. PDF

Ward, D.L., Schultz, A.A., Matson, P.G. 2003. Differences in swimming ability and behavior in response to high water velocities among native and nonnative fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 68: 87-92. PDF

Presentations
2005 Western Society of Naturalists Annual Meeting in Monterey, CA. "Variation in stipe hollowing of Eisenia arborea (Phaeophyceae: Laminariales) across latitudes".

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