University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

Doctoral program: Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

Advisor: Craig Packer  

Anticipated completion date: June 2007

September 2001 - present

The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

BA Biological Sciences, specialization in Ecology and Evolution

September 1995 - June 1999

Dissertation Research, University of Minnesota

Title: Group territoriality of the African lion: behavioral adaptation in a heterogeneous landscape. My research examines the hypothesis that territorial defense is the basis of sociality in African lions.  Utilizing the 38 year dataset of the Serengeti Lion Project, I am using primarily GIS analysis to understand how the ecological constraints presented by the heterogeneous savanna landscape might yield a selective advantage associated with the mutual defense of shared territory.

September 2001 - present

Research Assistant under Dr. Jeanne Altmann

Princeton University, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton New Jersey

Management of long term database for the Amoboseli Baboon Research Project, including data and statistical analysis for presentations, grant proposals, and publications.

July 1999 –

November 2001

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Tittle: A behavioral comparison of giraffe in captive and wild environments

Carried out at Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, and in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Advisors were Dr. Mathew Leibold and Dr. Jeanne Altmann.

May 1999               

Study abroad program, Tanzania 

Organized by Associated Colleges of the Midwest.  The program included independent research field projects, which we carried out during six weeks of field work in the Serengeti National Park.  I completed a project on the distribution of raptors in the park, and collected behavioral data on giraffe, which I then used as a part of my senior thesis.

August – December 1998

Research Assistant under Dr. Jeanne Altmann

The University of Chicago, Department of Ecology and Evolution

Assisted primarily in data entry and maintenance of data records for the baboon project. I assisted in sample preparation for hormone and DNA extraction, and participated in weekly lab meetings.

October 1997 – July 1998

Research Assistant under Dr. Michael Wade

The University of Chicago, Department of Ecology and Evolution

Worked with the Triboleum beetle, studying population genetics and evolutionary mechanisms.

June – September 1997

Packer, C., R. Hilborn, A. Mosser, B. Kissui, M. Borner, G. Hopcraft, J. Wilmshurst, S. Mduma, A. Sinclair. 2005. Ecological change, group territoriality, and population dynamics in Serengeti Lions. Science. 307:390-393.

Thirgood, S., A. Mosser, S. Tham, G. Hopcraft, E. Mwangomo, T. Mlengeya, M. Kilewo, J. Fryxell, A. Sinclair and M. Borner. 2004. Can parks protect migratory ungulates? The case of the Serengeti wildebeest. Animal Conservation. 7, 113–120.

GK12 Graduate Fellow – Graduate students work 10 hours/week with a local public elementary school to bring science into the classroom, help integrate science in the current curriculum and run after school science clubs.

July 2005 – June 2006

Head Teaching assistant – University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences

General Zoology – In addition to the responsibilities listed below, I oversaw the work of three undergraduate TAs.

January – May 2005

Teaching assistant – University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences

Intro. to Animal Behavior – Led lab sessions, graded lab reports, supervised independent projects

January – May 2003

Teaching assistant – University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences

General Zoology – Led lab sessions, prepared and graded lab quizzes and practical exams

September – December 2002

·   Project advisor Fall 2005 to present: Kim VanderWaal, University of Minnesota.  Assisted in planning and analysis lion project data to address question related to lion pride fission events.

·   Mentor 2004-2005: Heidi Chun, St. Paul Acadamy, MN. Science fair project (continuing to National Science fair, May 2005). Title of project: Relating distance between prides to the need for male protection.

·   Mentor 2003-2004: Nora Morse, Orono High School, MN. Senior mentoring program.  Title of project: Natal Philopatry in the African lion, Panthera leo.

·   Coordination of 14 project volunteers, 2001-2005: directed research projects and data entry.

·   Ethics & Aesthetics Committee, Fall 2003 and 2005-6 Ac. year, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and

   Behavior, UMN

·   Environmental Sciences Career Day (ages 8-14), Bell Museum of Natural History, UMN, March 2005. 

·   College of Biological Sciences Educational Policy Committee, Fall 2004

·   Welcome Weekend co-organizer, January 2002, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, UMN

·   Dance Studio, 1997 to 1999, The University of Chicago

·   UC Dancers, 1999, The University of Chicago

·   Swahili Circle, 1999, The University of Chicago, Student organization, secretary.

·   Orientation Aide, Fall 1996, The University of Chicago

·   San Francisco Ballet Company, 1994 to 1995, San Francisco, CA

·   Graduate School Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, UMN, 2006-7

·   NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, 2006-7

·   Dissertation travel grant, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, UMN, 2005

·   Doctoral Dissertation International Research Grant, UMN, 2004

·   Dayton-Wilkie Grant, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, UMN, 2003

·   Florence Rothman Award, Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, UMN, 2002

·   Graduate School Fellowship, University of Minnesota, 2001-2002

·   Honors in the College, The University of Chicago, 1999

·   Deans list, The University of Chicago, 1996 to 1999

·   First prize, University of Chicago study abroad photo contest, 1999

·   Full tuition scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet School, 1994 to 1995