2018, 2020, 2021 | NRI 7350 Study design and quantitative methods for resource and environmental management (Sessional Co-Instructor) University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) |
2017 | SOIL 7240 Preparing Data in R (Module Instructor) University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) |
2014 | STAT 473/673 Experimental Design and Analysis (Substitute Instructor) University of Northern BC (Prince George, BC) |
Academic Activities & CV
I was honoured to receive the Society of Canadian Ornithologists/Société des ornithologistes du Canada’s inaugural Early Career Research Award for 2017
Academic Activities
Positions
2018-Present Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, Brandon University
MSc Committees
2019-Present Department of Geography & Environment, Brandon University
2019-Present Department of Biology, Brandon University
2019-2020 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba
Education
PhD (2010 – 2015) University of Northern BC, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
Supervisor: Dr. Ken A. Otter
Thesis: Chickadee vocalizations in human-altered environments
MSc (2007 – 2010) McGill University, Biology
Supervisor: Dr. Don L. Kramer
Thesis: Using thermosensitive telemetry to measure activity in eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus)
BSc (2003 – 2007) University of Toronto, Honours Zoology, Behaviour Specialist
Supervisor: Dr. Allan Baker
Independent Project: Genomic scan using AFLPs reveals that red knot subspecies are genetically differentiated
Post-Docs
Post-Doc (2016 – 2017) Thompson Rivers University, Geography and Environmental Studies
Supervisor: Dr. David J. Hill
Details: Developing citizen science tools, in particular an open system for the web-based visualization and analysis of animal movement data
Post-Doc (2015 – 2016) University of Northern BC, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
Supervisor: Dr. Ken A. Otter
Details: Tracking gap-crossing in small birds through automated RFID feeders.
Post-Doc (2015) University of Northern BC, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
Supervisor: Dr. Ken A. Otter
Details: A follow up study to playback studies conducted during my PhD looking at audibility of different vocalizations in noisy environments.
Publications
Presentations
Teaching
R University Teaching
R Workshops
2019-2024 | Two-day Introduction to R (Instructor) Brandon University (Online, Brandon, MB) |
2024 | Introduction to using R Shiny Apps (Instructor) BC Government (Online) |
2024 | Two-day Introduction to R (Instructor) BC Government (Online) |
2019, 2020, 2023 | Intro to R through Figures (Instructor) The Wildlife Society (Online, Winnipeg, MB) |
2023 | Introduction to Rmarkdown/Quarto for Reproducibility (Instructor) Birds Canada (Online) |
2022 | Introduction to Rmarkdown/Quarto for Reproducibility (Instructor) Society of Canadian Ornithologists / Société des ornithologistes du Canada (Online) |
2021 | Intro to R through Figures (Instructor) University of Northern BC (Online) |
2020 | Two-day Introduction to R (Instructor) University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB) |
R Volunteering
2012 | Present | One-on-one assistance - University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB - Brandon University, Brandon, MB - University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB - Wilfrid Laurier, Waterloo, ON - University of Northern BC, Prince George, BC |
2012 | 2017 | Organized R Help Groups - R Group (2016-2017) University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB - R Coffee Hour (2012-2016) University of Northern BC, Prince George, BC |
Other University Teaching
2018 | Animal Behaviour 15:375 (Guest Lecture) Brandon University (Brandon, MB) |
2018 | Evolution 15:350 (Guest Lecture) Brandon University (Brandon, MB) |
2017 | Global Environmental Change 38:290 (Guest Lecture) Brandon University (Brandon, MB) |
2014, 2016 | Drainage Basin Geomorphology GEOG 311 (Guest Lecture) University of Northern BC (Prince George, BC) |
2014-2016 | Animal Behaviour BIOL 420 (Guest Lecture) University of Northern BC (Prince George, BC) |
2015 | Animal Behaviour BIOL 3101 (Guest Lecture) Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, BC) |
2015 | BIOL 323 Evolutionary Biology (Sessional Instructor) University of Northern BC (Prince George, BC) |
2014 | Stat 240 Basic Statistics (Teaching Assistant) University of Northern BC (Prince George, BC) |
2011 | Biol 102 Introductory Biology II (Teaching Assistant) University of Northern BC (Prince George, BC) |
2010 | Biol 308 Ornithology and Mammalogy (Teaching Assistant) University of Northern BC (Prince George, BC) |
2009 | Biol 111 Principles: Organismal Biology (Teaching Assistant) McGill University (Montreal, QC) |
2008 | Biol 205 Biology of Organisms (Teaching Assistant) McGill University (Montreal, QC) |
Large events
- 2015 UNBC Discovery Centre
This centre was a 3-day event held in November 2015. I was one of three coordinators and organized events, volunteers and panelists, and supervised on all event days.
Attendance at Teaching Conferences and Workshops
2018-08 | Brandon University Teaching Excellence Conference (Brandon, MB) |
2011–2016 | UNBC and CNC Annual Teaching and Learning Conference (Prince George, BC) |
2014-09 | Teaching Dossier Workshop (Prince George, BC) |
2011-08 | Instructional Skills Workshop (Prince George, BC) |
2011-01 | UNBC Teaching Assistant Workshop (Prince George, BC) |
2008-03 | McGill Professional development workshop: Learning to Teach (Montreal, QC) |
2008-01 | Teaching Workshop – McGill Tomlinson Project in University-Level Science Education (Montreal, QC) |
Community presentations and outreach
2015-01 | Prince George Naturalists Club Guest speaker (Prince George, BC) Singing through the noise: How birds compensate for effects urbanization on communication |
2013-11 | Williams Lake Naturalists Club Guest speaker (Williams Lake, BC) Singing through the noise: How birds compensate for effects urbanization on communication |
2014-05 | Prince George Young Naturalists Club Guest speaker (Prince George, BC) Come learn all about Chickadees! |
2014-03 | Immaculate Conception School Science Fair Judge (Prince George, BC) |
2013-11 | Lake City Secondary School Science 8 and 9 Guest Educator (Williams Lake, BC) Early bird gets the worm! |
2013-10 | UNBC Northern Research Group Trail Talks Guest Guide (Prince George, BC) Birds and Glacial Lakes |
2013-09 | Quesnel River Research Centre High School Salmon Day Guest Scientist (Likely, BC) Chickadee communication and sound transmission activities |
2012/09 & 2013/09 | Kelowna Kokanee Salmon Festival Exhibitor (Kelowna, BC) |
Awards and Scholarships
- SCO-SOC Early Career Researcher Award (2017/08)
- NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS) Doctoral (2011/05 – 2014/05)
- Society of Canadian Ornithologists (SCO-SOC) First Place Student Presentation (2013/08)
- Society of Canadian Ornithologists (SCO-SOC) James L. Baillie Award (2012)
- NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) Masters (2008/04 – 2009/04)
- NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (2006)
Media
Over the years several projects I’ve been involved with have been fortunate enough to attract some media attention.
Chickadees and Noise
2016/07 Media attention surrounding publication of “Learning to cope: Vocal adjustment to urban noise is correlated with prior experience in black-capped chickadees”
- TV: CKPG (watch)
- Radio: CBC Daybreak North (listen)
- Newspaper: Prince George Citizen (read)
- Newsite: 250news.org (read)
2013/09 SCO award for best student presentation highlighted by Ducks Unlimited – Ducks Unlimited facebook post
2012/04 Sharing relevant findings with the Stanley Park Ecological Society – Stanley Park Ecological Society (read)
White-throated Sparrows Citizen Science
- 2016/03 Start of the citizen science study – CKPG (watch)
- 2016/05 Geolocators and tracking movements – CKPG (watch)