CHRISTIAN BROWN 5705 ½ N. Seminole Ave cbrown43@mail.usf.edu Tampa, FL 33604 502.693.2958 SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

- Experienced researcher, confident collecting and analyzing data and publishing descriptive manuscripts - Talented teacher, recognized for skills displayed as a lab instructor and avid undergraduate mentor - Outreach extraordinaire, bringing science to local schools and counseling scouts for science merit badges

EDUCATION University of South Florida (USF); Tampa, FL

PhD, Integrative Biology; expected May 2022 - GPA: 4.0 - Advisor: Dr. Stephen Deban

Humboldt State University (HSU); Arcata, CA Master of Science, Biological Sciences; May 2017

- GPA: 3.45 - Advisor: Dr. John Reiss

Murray State University (MSU); Murray, KY Bachelor of Science, Wildlife & Conservation Biology; May 2014

- GPA: 3.82 (Summa Cum Laude) - Advisor: Dr. Howard Whiteman

Kentucky Institute for International Studies; Caen, France - Study Abroad; Jan 2011 – May 2011

PUBLICATIONS Brown, C.E. 2020. Aneides vagrans – oviposition. Herp Review IN PRESS (March 2020 issue). Brown, C.E., and S.M. Deban. 2019. Jumping in arboreal salamanders: a possible trade-off between takeoff velocity and in-air posture. Zoology IN PRESS. Brown, C.E., J.C. Spickler, S.B. Marks, and J.O. Reiss. 2018. Aneides vagrans is absent from angiosperm crowns in an old-growth redwood forest. Herp Con Bio 13(3): 533-538. GRANTS & AWARDS STEM Academy Mentor 2019; HHMI - $3,000 1st Place, 3-Minute Thesis; USF Competition - $500 3rd Place, 3-Minute Thesis; SE Regional Competition - $250 Fellowship Graduate Student Travel; SICB - $2,000 Materials Grant (x2); Porter Family Foundation - $1000 Research Grant; Save the Redwoods League - $3,000 HSU Master’s Grant; Humboldt State - $500 Milton J. Boyd TA of the Year; Humboldt State - $1,000 MSU Undergraduate Research Grant; URSA - $500 BioMaPS II Research Fellow; NSF - $3,500

C. BROWN P. 2 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE UC Berkeley, Department of Integrative Biology; Berkeley, CA PhD Research – USF Departmental Travel Grant - $500 - Collaborated with graduate students and faculty from other universities to study directed descent - Networked with scientists in my field of interest and learned to navigate inter-university territory - Used vertical wind tunnel to film simulated endless descents in highly arboreal salamanders - Worked with campus media to publicize our work in a way that average citizens understand USF, Department of Integrative Biology; Tampa, FL PhD Research –FGST - $2,000, Porter Foundation Grant (x2) - $1,000 - Trained to use high speed cameras, imaging software, and calculate kinematics from position data - Jumping kinematics and biomechanics of over 10 plethodontid salamander species were described - Aerial maneuvering in salamanders was detected for the first time and analyzed in a wind tunnel - Presented findings in publications above and at national SICB meetings 2018, 2019, and 2020 HSU, Department of Biological Sciences; Arcata, CA Master’s Thesis Research – Save the Redwoods League Grant - $3,000; HSU Master’s Grant - $500 - Trained to climb by world-renowned canopy scientists and to implant PIT tags - Trained to acquire and care for captive vertebrates in the lab for experimental purposes - Ongoing, multi-year mark-recapture study in old growth redwood forest using PIT telemetry - Presented findings in publications above and at regional herpetology meetings in California Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory; Gothic, CO Head Field Technician; Jun 2015 – Aug 2015, Assistant Field Tech; Jun 2013 – Aug 2014 - Trained and assisted a new field crew at a TNC nature preserve (Mexican Cut) - Safely captured hundreds of Arizona tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum) - Collected demographic data on salamanders for population-level analyses - Single-handedly collected data for entire nature preserve towards end of the season MSU, Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarly Activity; Murray, KY URSA Grant Recipient - $500; Nov 2013 – May 2014 - Wrote independent research proposal for grant funding - Balanced budget, ordered supplies and equipment, and created a timetable - Learned to surgically implant focal amphibians - Presented findings at Murray State Scholars Week and national NIMBioS conference (2013) MSU, Department of Biological Sciences; Murray, KY BioMaPS Fellow - $3500; Mar 2013 – Dec 2013 - Cooperated with professional staff and colleagues to carry-out undergraduate research project - Proposed, completed, and presented collaborative ecological research at the intersection of statistics - Experienced field research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory - Presented findings at Posters at the Capitol and NIMBioS national research conference

C. BROWN P. 3 TEACHING, MENTORING USF, Integrative Biology; Tampa, FL Lab Instructor (Vertebrate Natural History) – Jan 2018 - Present - Independently designed a fifteen-week lab using evidence-based teaching practices - Incorporated ample field trips and field experiences for hands-on learning and inspiring students - Created and maintained a Canvas page where assignments were given and submitted - Made new connection with Hillsborough County Parks and my students collaborate with them - Started multiple ongoing, long-term datasets based on standardized vertebrate field observations Graduate Teaching Assistant (BIOL 1005); Jan 2018 – Present - Led two discussion sections a week (50 students) on current topics in Biology - Taught students to find and interpret scientific evidence before making decisions Undergraduate Mentoring – Jan 2018 - Present - Guide undergraduates as they read research papers, propose projects, collect data, and present - Overseeing at least two undergraduate projects at all times via weekly meetings and lab work ATLE (STEER) Training – Aug 2017 - STEER = Systematic Transformation of Education through Evidence-Based Reforms - Four-day training program on cutting edge teaching techniques based on empirical research HSU, Department of Biological Sciences; Arcata, CA Milton J Boyd Outstanding TA in Biology Award - $1000, ’14-’15 academic year Graduate Teaching Assistant (BIO 330); Jan 2016 – May 2017 - Led three lab sections a week (75 students) in the field to collect ecological data - Illustrated the use of quadrats, DBH tape, GPS units, topographic maps, and more - Discussed basic ecological concepts such as species richness, diversity, and evenness - Advised, critiqued, and evaluated students via a collaborative, semester-long ecological study Graduate Teaching Assistant (BIO 105); Aug 2014 – Dec 2015 - Independently prepped, instructed, and oversaw three lab sections of introductory biology - Give 45-minute lectures each week on a variety of biological concepts and phenomena - Conducted lab experiments highlighting PCR, horizontal gene transfer, and more - Independently set-up and maintained a class webpage with regular updates for students Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory; Gothic, CO Guest Speaker - RMBL Kids Camp; Jul 2015 & Jul 2016 - Gave hands-on presentations about salamander ecology for a youth nature camp - Captured, transported, and returned tiger salamanders for demonstration and display - Potentially inspired tomorrow’s greatest ecologists! MSU, Department of Biological Sciences; Murray, KY Teaching Assistant (BIO 216 – Scientific Inquiry & Analysis); Jan 2014 – May 2014 Teaching Assistant (BIO 101 – Intro to Biology); Jan 2013 – May 2014 Teaching Assistant (BIO 222 – General Botany); Aug 2011 – Dec 2013

C. BROWN P. 4 PUBLIC OUTREACH Discovery Canada, Daily Planet (episode aired Jan 18, 2018) BBC, Wild West: America’s Great Frontier, Episode 3: Restless Shores (aired Oct 2017) Nat Geo Wild, North America, Season 1 Episodes 2 and 3 (aired May 2018) - Assisted on the set of documentaries about wildlife in the United States, primarily amphibians - Captured, cared for, and handled multiple wandering and giant salamanders, tailed frogs, banana slugs - Animals were housed, well-fed, and filmed on rotation to minimize individual stress and discomfort Outreach Instructor, Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa FL; Oct 2017 – Feb 2019 - Used interactive demonstrations to teach basic scientific principles to elementary school classes - Merit badge counselor of Boy & Girl Scouts for science-related badges including overnight programs Poster Presentations: SICB Annual Conference, Jan 2018 & 2019 MSU, Scholar’s Week 2014 Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Annual Poster Session 2014 Posters at the Capitol, Frankfort KY 2014 NIMBioS, UT Knoxville, Annual Undergraduate Research Conference 2013 OTHER EXPERIENCE President – Biological Graduate Student Association (HSU); Jun 2015 – Jun 2016 - Organized and coordinated biological seminar series for two semesters - Managed coffee/breakfast table to raise funds for travel, room and board of guest speakers - Hosted experts from the field (everything from microbiology to community ecology) Biological Consulting (EARC); Jan 2015 – June 2016 - Independent contractor for Eco-Ascension Research Consultants - Implemented entirely new salamander tagging system in the canopy allowing for remote detection - Climbing assistance, camera placement, wildlife video reviewer and database entry - Research assistance on projects involving spruce allometry, marbled murrelet conservation, and more Field Skills - Ability to locate and safely capture wildlife for the purpose of scientific study - Ample experience with simple scientific tools such as transects, quadrats, microscopes, and more - Skills in experimental design, data collection, construction, and quantitative analysis - Proficient in basic climbing techniques such as top-rope/belaying, ascenders, etc. - Intuitive knowledge of freshwater systems, especially vernal pools and other amphibian habitats General Software - Proficient in Microsoft Word, Publisher, Access, Excel, and PowerPoint - Experienced with high speed camera equipment and image-analysis software - Basic skills in R and RMARC, GIS and ArcMap Supplemental Employment - Animal caretaker – Humboldt State University - Assistant to the vertebrate museum curator – Humboldt State University - Wildlife footage/publication reviewer – Eco Ascension Research Consultants

C. BROWN P. 5 VOLUNTEER WORK/PERSONAL LIFE - Fostering dogs with FARR (Florida All Retriever Rescue) - Backpacking, kayaking, and photography - Family and my dog, Blue