Alexandra B. Barth
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Middle Years and High School Science Teacher
Ohana Institute
07.2021 - Current
- Manage Ohana Institute’s Vireo Living Lab hydroponic garden, which is capable of growing 99 individual food crops simultaneously
- Teach students from kindergarten through 8th Grade how to grow a variety of food crops, and maintain optimal water chemistry parameters, within the Vireo Living Lab hydroponic garden
- Mentored 7th and 8th Grade students who presented the results of their hydroponic gardening experiences to attendees of the 2023 and 2024 Ohana Institute Global Education Conferences
- Collaborate with co-teachers and students on the maintenance of Ohana Institute’s outdoor garden
- Develop 7th and 8th Grade Comprehensive Science curricula, which include units in chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, and plant and animal biology
- Develop 9th-12th Grade Marine Science curriculum, which includes units in marine chemistry, physical oceanography, marine ecosystems, organismal biology, and marine conservation
- Instructed Kindergarten-6th Grade Spanish elective classes
Environmental Science Teacher
Camp Live Oak
04.2018 - 04.2021
- Developed day-by-day curriculum encompassing a range of environmental science and conservation-related topics for each 9-week summer camp season
- Instructed groups of 16-25, 5-13-year-old campers about Florida’s terrestrial and marine ecology through hands-on field and laboratory activities
- Maintained a saltwater invertebrate aquarium to use as an educational aid and touch tank during the camp season
- Lead campers on canoeing and kayaking excursions in Birch State Park and the Whiskey Creek mangrove estuary in Dr. Von D Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
- Plan field trips by creating trip schedules and communicating with outside institutions
Lead Field Environmental Educator
Build-A-Field Trip
10.2017 - 04.2020
- Lead groups of 30-85 elementary, middle and high school students on environmentally oriented field trips through Florida’s state and national parks and natural areas
- Identified the medicinal and edible plant species of Central and South Florida and instructed field trip attendees about their historical and current uses
- Taught students about the wildlife, ecology, and history specific to the region of interest during each trip
- Explained scientific skills such as water quality testing and allow students to perform each test (including pH, salinity, temperature, turbidity, and detection of phosphate, nitrate/nitrite, and ammonia concentrations)
- Demonstrated canoeing/kayaking skills and safety procedures, and lead students on canoeing/kayaking excursions in freshwater springs and rivers, as well as mangrove estuaries
- Demonstrated snorkeling skills and safety procedures, and lead snorkeling trips on the Florida Reef Tract in the Florida Keys
- Performed lifeguard duties while students canoed, kayaked, swam and snorkeled
- Ensured sufficient amounts and quality of educational supplies and equipment needed for each trip
- Trained new employees on the curriculum, instruction, safety, and field skills needed for each field trip
Shark Conservation Outreach Coordinator
Self-Employed
03.2018 - 04.2021
- Prepared and lead lessons about shark biology and conservation issues via Skype with kindergarten students in Maryland and 3rd grade students in Honduras
- Prepared and distributed educational materials about shark conservation to the public at environmental events in South Florida
- Collaborated with the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts (WMODA) in Dania Beach, FL to educate members of the public on marine conservation issues and fine arts
Marine Science Consultant
Marine Science Eco Experience (MSEE)
07.2018 - 01.2020
- Conducted presentations for groups of 50 hotel guests on sea turtle conservation, shark conservation, shark ecology and conservation, ocean pollution and recycling, coral reef restoration, mangrove ecology, and coastal marine species of Florida
- Maintained a saltwater invertebrate aquarium to use as an educational aid and touch tank during public presentations
Coral Husbandry Intern
Pacific East Aquaculture
08.2014 - 05.2015
- Organized feeding schedules for marine livestock
- Cleaned aquaria to ensure stable water parameters and health of resident organisms
- Grew coral fragments from existing coral colonies to reduce wild harvesting
- Prevented irritation/bleaching of corals by removing flatworm parasites and algal growth
Education
Master of Science - Marine Science
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL05-2023
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD05.2017
Skills
Hydroponic & Traditional Gardening
Plant Propagation
Field & Laboratory Research
Data Collection & Analysis
Spanish Language
Research
Graduate Research Student January 2018 to April 2023
Conservation, Movement and Ecosystem Dynamics (CMED) Laboratory, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, FL
- Dehydrated shark fin samples collected from 10 different species using a drying oven
- Homogenized dried shark fin samples using a mortar and pestle
- Prepared homogenized shark fin samples for carbon and nitrogen dual analysis at UC Davis by weighing on a microbalance
- Maintained database of current Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) certifications for all lab members
Shark Tagging Crew Volunteer October 2017 to April 2021
Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, FL
- Entered morphometric and meristic data collected from tagged sharks into online database
- Labeled shark fin samples for stable isotope analysis and store in 100% ethanol
- Conducted field research as part of a team with other Shark Tagging Crew members
- Assisted school groups in performing all aspects of field research, including preparing bait, setting/hauling in drumlines, and handling/tagging sharks
- Identified shark species caught offshore and recorded pertinent data about each individual
Chief Scientist June to July 2014/June to July 2015
Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy (CMERA), Clearwater, FL
- Identified elasmobranch species as they were caught offshore with gillnets and longlines and recorded pertinent morphometric and meristic data
- Tagged sharks with dart tags and stingrays with T-bar anchor tags
- Evaluated sea turtles for potential disease and injuries and transported afflicted animals to Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s sea turtle stranding team
- Conducted all aspects of field research with fellow interns
Research Student/Intern August to December 2015
Salisbury University Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury, MD
- Participated in surf fishing surveys on Assateague Island, MD for 15-25 hours per week from August to October
- Handled/released 25 individual elasmobranchs from 6 distinct species (sharks, sting rays, skates)
- Equipped sharks with M-tags and recorded morphometric and meristic data
- Logged meristic data, entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and wrote manuscript-style final report on the results of my study
Laboratory/Research Assistant April 2016-May 2017
Salisbury University Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury, MD
- Preserved avian brains within sucrose solution and gelatin
- Mounted brain sections onto gelatinized microscope slides
- Conducted immunohistochemistry using anti-tyrosine hydroxylase and Diaminobenzidine, as well as heavy metal amplification, to mark dopamine receptors
- Became proficient in use of AmScope microscope and associated software by capturing digital images of individual brain sections
Certification
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
NAUI Nitrox Diver
PADI Aquarium Diver Specialty Certification
PADI Shark Conservation Specialty Certification
HSI First Aid/CPR/AED
Conferences
Ohana Institute Global Education Conference- 2022-2024
- Powering the Future: Alternative Energy
- Growing with the Flow: Hydroponic Gardening
- Cultivating Connections: Bringing Core Curriculum to Life
Salisbury University Student Research Conference- April 2017
- Alexandra Barth and Dr. Jeremy Corfield. Is an Enlargement of the Nidopallium Caudolaterale (NCL) Associated with Increased Cognitive Capacities in Birds? (Poster Presentation)
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
GIS Foundations October 2024 to Present
- University of Alaska: Fairbanks via edX.org
- Differentiate between vector and raster data sets
- Become familiarized with ArcGIS Pro software
- Learn how to create charts and map layouts using ArcGIS Pro
Study Abroad: Tropical Marine Ecology December 2016 to January 2017
- Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy (CMERA), Playas del Coco and Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Participated in lectures about the ecology of Costa Rica’s marine and cloud forest ecosystems
- Partook in 3 days of diving off the coast of Playas del Coco to experience rocky and artificial reef ecosystems firsthand
- Experienced the cloud forest ecosystem of Monteverde from a variety of perspectives via night hikes, ziplining, and horseback riding
“Sharks: Global Biodiversity, Biology, and Conservation” Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) July 2016
- Cornell University and University of Queensland via edX.org
- Learned about elasmobranch evolution; phylogeny; physiology; neurobiology and behavior; ecology; shark-human interactions; and conservation concerns
- Immersed in pertinent readings and video lectures presented by Cornell and University of Queensland faculty
- Engaged in forum discussions with other students
- Tracked satellite-tagged sharks on OCEARCH’s online database
Volunteer Work
South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA)- Board Member
October 2022 to Present
- Develop and implement local marine conservation projects alongside fellow board members
- Conduct periodic survey dives to assess the health of artificial reef structures off the coast of Walton County, Florida
- Capture digital photographs and video footage to document the condition of local artificial reef structures
Timeline
Middle Years and High School Science Teacher
Ohana Institute
07.2021 - Current
Marine Science Consultant
Marine Science Eco Experience (MSEE)
07.2018 - 01.2020
Environmental Science Teacher
Camp Live Oak
04.2018 - 04.2021
Shark Conservation Outreach Coordinator
Self-Employed
03.2018 - 04.2021
Lead Field Environmental Educator
Build-A-Field Trip
10.2017 - 04.2020
Coral Husbandry Intern
Pacific East Aquaculture
08.2014 - 05.2015
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Salisbury University
Master of Science - Marine Science
Nova Southeastern University