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    Curriculum Vitae

    Lauren Eve Simonitis

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    Simonitis CV.pdf
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    200 Seawolf Parkway | Galveston, TX 77554 | Phone: 305-321-1596| E-Mail: laureneve@tamu.edu

    http://www.tamug.edu/marshall/People.html

     

    Education

    Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX

    August 2015- May 2021, Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology

    GPA: 4.0

     

    The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, The University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

    August 2011- May 2015, Bachelor of Science with General Honors

    Double major in Marine Science and Biology, minor in Mathematics

     

    Publications

    Faulkner, P. C., Burleson, M., L.,Simonitis, L., Marshall, C., Hala, D., & Petersen, L. H. (2018). Effects of chronic exposure to 12% saltwater on the endocrine physiology of juvenile American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Journal of Experimental Biology, jeb-181172.

    ​

    Presentations

    Simonitis, L.,& Fieber, L., (2015).The response of Aplysia californica nervous cells to D-Aspartate.Poster session presented at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Undergraduate Thesis Symposium, Key Biscayne, FL

     

    Simonitis, L., Shero, M., & Burns, J., (2013). Difference in muscle fiber types in harp and hooded seals of different age classes. Poster session and oral presentation at the University of Alaska, Anchorage NSF REU Research Symposium, Anchorage, AK

    ​

    Research Experience

    Graduate Research Assistant

    Texas A&M University at Galveston

    PI: Dr. Christopher Marshall, August 2015- Present

    • Conducting research on shark chemoreception and chemically mediated defenses

    • Supervising an undergraduate researcher in a shark reproductive biology study

     

    UGalapagos Program

    Study abroad program through the University of Miami

    January- April 2014

    • Coursework in anthropology, ecology, biology, and geology on Isla Isabela in the Galapagos Islands

    • Participated in field-work intensive research projects

     

    Undergraduate Researcher

    The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami

    PI: Dr. Lynne Fieber, May 2012- May 2015

    • Conducted research on the nervous system of Aplysia californica

    • Studied cultured nerve cell growth in response neurotransmitter presence in the medium

    • Studied electrophysiological responses of neuron in situ to serotonin

     

    Research Assistant

    Florida Department of Environmental Protection & Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve

    May- July 2014

    • Assisted with intercept surveys in boating marina for a colleague’s Professional Masters thesis

    • Translated survey materials into Spanish and conducted surveys with Spanish speakers

     

    NSF REU Undergraduate Researcher 

    University of Alaska, Anchorage

    PI: Dr. Jennifer Burns, May-August 2013

    • Participant in University of Alaska, Anchorage’s NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program

    • Conducted physiological research on harp and hooded seal myosin heavy chains

     

    Lab Aide

    University of Miami Biology Department

    PI: Dr. Isaac Skromne, January- May 2012

    • Carried out zebra fish husbandry procedures

    • Prepared brine shrimp and fed fish

    • Tested water quality and maintained tanks

    ​

    Teaching Experience

    Guest Lecturer

    Natural History of Vertebrates, Texas A&M University at Galveston

    August 2015- Present

    • Guest lectured when main instructor was unavailable

    • Lectured on the topics of evolutionary history of fish, evolutionary history of amphibians, and adaptations to life in water

    ​

    Teaching Assistant

    Natural History of Vertebrates, Texas A&M University at Galveston

    August 2016- December 2016, August 2017- Present

    • Set up and guided student through weekly dissections and diversity labs

    • Wrote and graded lab practicals

    ​

    Teaching Assistant

    Marine Botany (Writing Intensive), Texas A&M University at Galveston

    January 2017- Present

    • Arranged and guided students through weekly labs dealing with phytoplankton identification, chlorophyll analysis, and marsh fieldwork

    • Graded lab reports and worked with students to improve scientific writing techniques

     

    Teaching Assistant and Community Assistant

    University of Miami’s Summer Scholars Program

    June- July 2015

    • Set up and assisted in conducting labs

    • Graded lab reports and worked with students on improving writing techniques

    • Served as a residence hall supervisor 

    • Planned educational and social programs during the three-week period including study sessions prior to exams

     

    Marine Mammal Stranding Response and Conservation Educator

    Marine Mammal Rescue Team at the University of Miami

    January 2012- May 2015

    • Led marine mammal stranding response trainings

    • Educated club members at weekly meetings on marine mammal conservation, research, and ethics

     

    Musical Theatre Instructor

    DanceWorks of Miami

    June 2011- July 2015

    • Introduced students to the basics of musical theatre including acting, singing, dancing, and improvisation

    • Assisted in directing and choreographing yearly one-act musical productions performed at the end of the five-week camp

    ​

    Stranding Experience

    Sea Turtle Nesting Patrol and Response

    Texas A&M University at Galveston

    January 2016- Present

    • Weekly UTV patrols looking for sea turtles and signs of nesting

    • Respond to stranded or nesting turtles by flipper and pit tagging them, taking blood and tissue samples, and transporting to rehab facilities if necessary

    • When nests are located, they are excavated and eggs are collected and transported

     

    Marine Mammal Rescue Team

    University of Miami

    August 2011- May 2015

    President (Fall 2014- Spring 2015), Vice President (Fall 2013), Treasurer (Spring 2012- Spring 2013)

    • Served as a liaison for the University of Miami to the South Florida Stranding Network

    • Responded to mass and single strandings

    • Performed necropsies with NOAA

    • Assisted in marine mammal rehabilitation with the Marine Mammal Conservancy

    • Coordinated field trips for club members to aquariums and rehab centers

    • Created budgets and lobbied for club funding with the University of Miami’s Student Funds Allocation Committee

    ​

    Volunteer Experience

    TAMUG Graduate Student Ambassadors

    Texas A&M University at Galveston

    Fall 2018- Present

    • Help plan campus events with Research and Graduate Studies Office

    • Volunteer to lead campus tours for prospective students

    • Represent the graduate student community 

    • Participate in panel discussion with undergraduates

    ​

    Galveston Graduate Student Association

    Texas A&M University at Galveston

    Fall 2018- Present

    • Served as secretary for the organization

    • Organized monetary grants, social events, professional development events, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising for active members

    ​

    Graduate Student Panel Member

    Texas A&M University at Galveston

    Spring 2018- Present

    • Sat on a panel to advise undergraduate club members about applying to graduate school

    • For organizations including Beta Beta Beta, LSAMP scholars, and NSF REU scholars

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    Galveston County Science Fair Judge

    Galveston, TX

    February 2016

    • Judged science projects of local middle and high school students

     

    Ocean Awareness Week

    University of Miami

    January 2012- May 2015

    Public Relations Chair (Fall 2014- Spring 2015), Treasury Chair (Fall 2013)

    • Educated the campus and local community on ocean conservation

    • Spoke at local high schools about ocean conservation

    • Planned educational events, volunteer opportunities, and fundraisers

     

    Ocean Kids

    University of Miami

    April 2012, April 2014

    • Helped coordinate this event where elementary school students from local underprivileged schools are invited to the University of Miami to learn about marine science and conservation

    • Worked with fellow volunteers at the Marine Mammal Station to teach kids about marine mammal biology and strandings

    • Worked at the Aquatic Evolution Station to teach kids about how marine bird beaks evolved

    ​

    Presentations

    Simonitis, L., & Fieber, L., (2015). The response of Aplysia californica nervous cells to D-Aspartate. Poster session presented at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Undergraduate Thesis Symposium, Key Biscayne, FL

     

    Simonitis, L., Shero, M., & Burns, J., (2013). Difference in muscle fiber types in harp and hooded seals of different age classes. Poster session and oral presentation at the University of Alaska, Anchorage NSF REU Research Symposium, Anchorage, AK

     

    Memberships and Affiliations

    American Elasmobranch Society

    January 2017- Present

    ​

    Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

    December 2017- Present

     

    Rho Rho Rho Marine Honor Society

    University of Miami

    August 2011- May 2015

     

    Grants and Awards

    The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine

    Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship- Honorable Mention (Spring 2017)

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    Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarship Program

    HSF Scholar (Fall 2018, Fall 2019)

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    American Elasmobranch Society

    Young Professional Recruitment Fund Diversity Scholarship (Spring 2017)

     

    Texas A&M University at Galveston

    MARB Mini Grant (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)

    Mooney Travel Grant (Fall 2016, 2018)

    TAMUG MARB IDP Graduate Assistantship Award (Fall 2015- Summer 2016)

     

    SeaSpace Inc.

    SeaSpace MARS Graduate Award (Fall 2016- Spring 2018)

     

    University of Miami

    Dean’s List (Spring 2015, Spring 2012, Fall 2012)

    University Scholarship (Fall 2011- Spring 2015)

    Miami Grant (Fall 2011- Spring 2015)

    Coral Grant (Fall 201- Spring 2012)

     

    Beneath the Sea

    Sea of Tomorrow Scholarship (Spring 2013)

     

    Florida Bright Futures

    Florida Academic Scholar (Fall 2011- Spring 2015)

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    Skills and Qualifications

    Marine Mammal Stranding Response Training

    Marine Mammal Conservancy

    Marine Animal Rescue Society

     

    Marine Mammal Necropsy Training

    Marine Mammal Conservancy

    Marine Animal Rescue Society

    NOAA

     

    Sea Turtle Nesting Response Training

    Padre Island National Seashore, NPS

    NOAA

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    Sea Turtle Handling Training

    NOAA

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    Radiation Training

    University of Alaska, Anchorage

     

    Fluent in Spanish

     

    PADI Advanced Open Water SCUBA Certified

     

    R, ArcGIS, SOFA Stats, SPSS

    Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

    FIJI Image J

    Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator

    ​

    References 

    Dr. Christopher D. Marshall

    Professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston

    Email: marshalc@tamug.edu / Phone: (409) 740- 4884

     

    Dr. Lene Petersen

    Instructional Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston

    Email: petersel@tamug.edu / Phone: (409) 421- 4906

     

    Dr. Gary Hitchcock

    Associate Professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami

    Email: ghitchcock@rsmas.miami.edu / Phone: (305) 421- 4926

     

    Dr. Lynne Fieber

    Associate Professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami

    Email: lfieber@rsmas.miami.edu / Phone: (305) 421- 4906

     

    Dr. Jennifer Burns

    Professor at University of Alaska, Anchorage

    Email: afhmb4@uaa.alaska.edu / Phone: (907) 786- 1527