Derek Coss Email & Phone Number

Wakayama, Japan

I carried out the following duties:• Designed and gave interpretive educational programs on natural resource management for kids and adults.• Restored natural wetland ecology and wildlife habitat through planting 300+ plants of native species and removing invasive species with Chesapeake and Costal Services.• Researched bird diversity and conservation using soundscapes, developing an interactive map to encourage park patrons to explore bird diversity hotspots.• Trained in emergency medical response, wildland firefighting, trail work, educational interpretation programming, carpentry, and roofing.• Acquired red card for wildland firefighting, training daily to meet physical standards.• Performed chainsaw bucking, tree limb removal, hazardous tree felling, and maintenance.• Managed multiple Maryland Conservation Corps groups to fix over 18 miles of trail at Cedarville State Park.• Communicated and coordinated with team members to finish tasks in a timely manner.• Treated over 1,000 hemlock trees for invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid at New Germany State Park.• Organized materials and logistics needed for the summer Fishing Derby at Assateague State Park and requested and acquired donations from local businesses.• Assisted in capturing and banding eastern screech owls at Flag Ponds and saw whet owls at Assateague Island National Seashore.• Replaced and installed 40 eastern bluebird boxes and 5 wood duck boxes, coordinating with volunteers to assemble boxes.• Constructed three bridges for trails for St. Mary’s and Smallwood.• Installed dune fences at Assateague State Park.• Performed basic terrarium and aquarium maintenance for several aquatic turtle species and snakes.• Maintained accurate logs of feedings, health checks, and changes in diet for animals.• Assisted the National Aquarium Conservation Team in cleaning up the Baltimore Inner Harbor at Fort McHenry.

Thurmont, Maryland, United States

As part of this position, I monitored and cared for over 200 reptiles and amphibians. I handled snakes, alligators, aquatic turtles, and lizards for education. I responded to medical emergencies and provided necessary life support based on veterinarian advice. Occasionally, I captured and relocated wild snakes from the zoo. On a daily basis, I kept accurate records of diet and health, as well as sanitized and cleaned enclosures.

Salisbury, Maryland

Taught multiple sections of Anatomy Physiology I and II labs, providing lectures and hands-on experience to undergraduate students. Also assisted with Genetic Analysis lab sections, training students on ddRADseq and population structure analysis (using STRUCTURE and statistical analyses like AMOVA and DAPC in R).

Salisbury, Maryland

Researched the impact of multimodal (visual and vocal) noise on female tungara frog mate choice. Using soundscape technology, I analyzed the structure of sounds in frog choruses to understand how both conspecifics and heterospecifics could be affecting mate choice and how the complexity of the soundscape varies across location. I conducted phonotaxis experiments with calls from different species to reflect natural choruses (vocal noise) and realistic tungara frog models with inflatable vocal sacs (visual noise). This study provided a better understanding of how the complexity of the environment influences mate choice and sexual selection.

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Recording and analyzing bluebird vocalization to understand the evolutionary history and practical applications of bluebird vocalizations. Trained to use Raven, Syrinx, and Signal bioacoustics software for analyzing bluebird song.

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Summer position involved in assisting with conference setup, check-ins, room cleaning, and guest satisfaction.

Master'S Degree, Applied Biology, 4.0

Activities and Societies: Graduate Student Council (Treasurer), Seminar Planning Committee

Bachelor’S Degree, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, 3.94

Activities and Societies: Phi Theta Kappa, UMBC Honors College, Fencing Club, Student Events Board (seb) Member

Associate’S Degree, Biology, General, 3.915

Activities and Societies: Phi Theta Kappa, STEM club