(Role also known as Volunteer Lead, Museum Education Specialist, or Gallery Interpreter Lead)- I oversee the scheduling, training/coaching, and management of interpretive volunteers at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles as well as the La Brea Tar Pits- I help to develop training materials and educational materials based on content covered in the museums and incorporating recent research- I provide additional support to our team of Museum Educators, as an informational resource and as an interpretive guide on the museum floor- Through this position and Certified Interpretive Guide training, I have developed (and continue to hone) skills in interpretation, engaging in purposeful themed conversations with museum visitors to connect our exhibition spaces to their experiences and everyday livesWhat is "Interpretation"?The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) defines interpretation as "a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us." In short, our approach is to do less "infodumping" and more interactive interpretive conversations to better help visitors understand and connect with what they see in our museums.

Responsibilities:- Collaborated with zoo manager and other zookeepers to ensure proper maintenance and daily operation of the zoo (includes feeding, watering, and enclosure maintenance)- Entry and upkeep of animal health data spreadsheets- Developed curriculum, educational materials, and activities for the education department, as well as vital infrastructure for educators- Served as an after-school educator which entailed bringing live animals from the zoo to (typically) K-6 schools and running extracurricular classes focused on wildlife education - Scheduling and daily coordination of other after-school educators regarding lesson plans, live animal presentations, and educational materials to bring to classes - Developed training modules and procedures for new hiresThe skills I developed while working at Critter Squad include:- Animal husbandry (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and birds) e.g. feeding, watering, misting, and enclosure maintenance- Animal handling (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, arthropods, and birds)- Curriculum development (lesson plans and materials)- Training program development and mentorship of educators- Public speaking and interpretation, particularly to a K-6 student audience- Leadership (coordinating with team members, overseeing daily operation of education dept, making executive decisions with regards to the direction of the education department)

As an education intern, I was responsible for the following:- Assisted with data entry, development of water quality database, and statistical analyses- Facilitated outreach events, including the mobile “Windows to Our Wetlands” Program, to educate K-12 classrooms and the public about wetland ecology, wildlife, and conservation - Provided staff support for running educational summer camp programs for K-12 students with an ecology-focused curriculum, fostering scientific curiosity, and promoting stewardship of our ecosystems

Undergraduate Field Assistant (May 2016-May 2017)Graduate Student Researcher (May 2017-June 2021)- For my thesis research, I investigated the influence of contrast intensity and pattern structure on predator avoidance learning of aposematic prey, studying the response of coyotes (Canis latrans) to artificial models of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis)- Conducted citizen science survey to determine whether characteristics like color contrast, time spent outdoors, and size in pet dogs and cats may predispose them to coyote attacks.Before becoming an MS student in the Mammal Lab in Fall 2017, I was an undergraduate research assistant and helped out on the following graduate student projects:- Assisted on a longitudinal study surveying local skunk populations. Acquired skills in taking body measurements, taking vital signs, data collection, and small mammal trapping.- Assisted on a project investigating the movement patterns and dietary habits of coyotes in urban areas. Acquired skills in trail camera maintenance and scat identification & collection along transects.

In Fall 2020, I joined the newly established student group "Masters of Biology for Diverse Scientists" (MBDS), started by fellow Biology MS student Alexis Diaz. The mission of MBDS is to increase diversity in biology graduate programs and academia by reaching out to our local student community at an early age. Throughout the fall 2020 semester, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we have virtually visited over a dozen junior high and high school classes to discuss our academic journeys, experiences, and research.As of January 2021, this group is now officially a student organization, called "Researchers for Diverse Scientists". As secretary, I was responsible for communicating with our volunteers and reaching out to classrooms. Through my involvement in this organization, I served as a role model to students in overcoming academic challenges, inspire students to explore opportunities in scientific research, and contribute to making science more accessible to everyone.

The CSULB BUILD (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) Program provides financial and academic support to undergraduate student researchers from groups that are underrepresented in academia. This support includes mentorship, conference travel coverage and tuition coverage for some cohorts, and a rigorous curriculum designed to help students become better researchers, as well as prepare them to apply for graduate school. As a GM, I served as a near-peer mentor for BUILD trainees in the Fellows cohort, with the following responsibilities:- Grading assignments, providing constructive feedback to students to help improve writing skills- Serving as liaison between trainees and training directors within the program - Serving as a trustworthy and supportive advocate to the trainees- Assisting trainees in developing personally, academically, and professionally through individual mentorship (i.e. keeping track of student progress towards goals, offering academic and career advice based on personal experience, etc.)I fulfilled the role of Graduate Mentor for the one-year Fellows cohort from May 2019 through May 2020, then took on the role of Graduate Mentor for Fellows 2 and Scholars 3 trainees (i.e. students who had completed their BUILD training applying for graduate programs in the fall) from July 2020 through December 2020. From January 2021, I assisted with updating the BUILD faculty database as a Grad Tech.

Responsible for running a lab section for the Biostatistics course which entails teaching undergraduate biology students basic statistical concepts and applications, as well as teaching them how to use Microsoft Excel and R to perform statistical analyses (particularly in a biological context).

Assisted in various aspects of museum specimen curation including specimen preparation (skinning, stuffing, preserving, etc.) and documentation

Assisted on a project with a graduate student examining the effects of different selection regimes on evolvability in Drosophila melanogaster. Developed skills in fruit fly sexing and fly wing imaging.Conducted a project investigating the effects of dietary chemical stress (lead nitrate, copper chloride) on mate choice preference in male and female Drosophila melanogaster. Developed skills in experimental design, team management, fruit fly population maintenance, fruit fly media preparation, and virgin fly collection.

Responsible for communicating with members via newsletters and designing promotional materials, as well as collaborating with other executive officers in organizing regular club meetings and events.CSULB Biology Student Association is a student organization that serves as a network and community for students majoring or simply interested in the biological sciences. We strive to provide resources and opportunities for our members to help them succeed in reaching their career goals.

Responsible for designing graphics for promotional materials and club T-shirts as well as collaborating with other executive officers in organizing regular club meetings and events.CSULB Zoology Club is a student organization that serves to bring together animal lovers and students hoping to enter career fields related to animals (e.g. animal husbandry, veterinary school, etc.). Our goal is to unite our members as a family of sorts. In doing so, we hope to seek out volunteering opportunities together as a group and bond over shared experiences at our club's events.

Responsible for taking care of the animals, maintaining the exhibits, and leading tours. The Science Learning Center (and the affiliated Mobile Science Museum) is a collection of interactive science exhibits and serves as a fantastic educational resource to students. Some of our exhibits include our very own weather station, a 1000-gallon aquarium, live animals (including two ball pythons, two green iguanas, poison dart frogs, tarantulas, newts, and more), and physics displays.

As a member of the X Makers team, I was responsible for helping create an interactive experience as well as creative content in preparation for TEDxCSULB. Additionally, I provided consultative services in collaboration with other teams within the organization and helped facilitate operations on the day of the conference.TEDxCSULB is a collaborative endeavor that hopes to foster new discussions, bring together the CSULB community, and encourage the sharing of ideas. The inaugural TEDxCSULB conference was held on April 9, 2016.