AUTUMN D. THORPE
Richfield,MN
Summary
Founded in zoological and field settings, my interests have been shaped by experiences collecting behavioral and environmental data on a diversity of taxa, ranging from monarch butterflies and wading birds to great apes and cetaceans.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Geographic Information Systems Tutor
Self-employed
Minneapolis, MN
08.2021 - Current
- Virtually (e.g., Zoom and Skype) mentored master's degree students in GIS for coursework and thesis assistance
- Worked closely with students on specific class struggles, closely reviewing materials and assignments to offer targeted help.
- Taught cartography principles and best practices for data (i.e., vector and raster) management and geodatabase structure
- Relayed QA/QC processes for reviewing and amending raw data in Excel and ArcGIS Pro
- Consulted on thesis study design, geoprocessing tool use, and species distribution modeling methodologies
Human Resources Assistant
Parkinson's Specialty Care
Golden Valley, MN
03.2022 - 11.2022
- Updated Human resources documents (e.g., HR onboarding packet and Job offer letter template).
- Amended company policies (e.g., employee code of conduct and cell phone policy), and wrote new policies (CCTV policy).
- Ordered weekly groceries for five group homes across the Twin Cities Metro Area.
- Assisted with staff scheduling system overhaul by sourcing and setting up new web-based software (i.e., Homebase).
- Communicated with lead personal care attendants and nurses about logistical issues (Supplies inventory, delivery scheduling, meal planning).
Marine Mammal Intern
Archipelagos Institute Of Marine Conservation
11.2020 - 08.2021
- Developed a species distribution model (SDM) of bottlenose dolphins and short-beaked common dolphins inhabiting the coastal waters of Samos, Greece
- Investigated relationships between seasonal dolphin distribution and environmental covariates through a machine learning (i.e., maximum entropy) modeling approach
- Compiled, cleaned, and validated four years of dolphin sighting data in Excel
- Generated models, maps, figures, and statistical analyses in ArcGIS Pro to elucidate patterns of dolphin space use and ecological predictors of dolphin distribution
- Model outputs were generated using SDMtoolbox Pro plugin for ArcGIS and Maxent software
- Results informed target areas for future survey and provided conservation justification to extend to Central Aegean IMMA boundaries.
Teaching Assistant
University Of Miami
08.2020 - 12.2020
- Facilitated in-person learning for two graduate courses in Marine Mammal Biology (i.e., Professor was teaching remotely).
- Moderated and led weekly discussions of peer-reviewed literature.
- Wrote and graded pop quizzes on weekly course content.
- Hosted virtual office hours for homework assistance, held exam review sessions, and provided technical support for students (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, Blackboard, Edpuzzle).
- Lectured on GIS and drone applications for marine mammal management.
Graduate Student
Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder
08.2020 - 12.2020
- Participated in a practicum graduate course (via The University of Miami) on marine mammal care and research (hybrid format- in person at DPMMR when Covid-19 case numbers dropped)
- Studied the fundamentals of learning theory and practiced positive reinforcement training techniques (e.g., signal, bridge, reinforcement) in supervised training sessions with bottlenose dolphins.
- Assisted animal care staff with body condition scoring and C-Well® assessments to monitor dolphin health and welfare.
- Conducted ethological behavioral observations on bottlenose dolphins to quantify activity budgets and discern the frequency of stereotypic, anticipatory, affiliative, and agnostic behavior.
Lead Technician and Office Manager
Simply Nitty Professional Lice Removal Specialists
11.2017 - 12.2019
- Counseled parents experiencing entomophobia and educated families on head lice life history, behavior, and misconceptions.
- Performed “strand-by-strand” head lice removal on children and adults in a clinical setting to effectively eradicate head lice infestations among families.
- Performed business analytics and head lice population modeling to improve company understanding of head lice seasonality in the state of Minnesota. Statistical analyses were conducted in Excel and SPSS.
- Designed Website (Square space), technician training protocols, company promotional materials, and educational tools (i.e., lice identification cards, life cycle fact sheets, best practice treatment guides) for community outreach.
- Managed inventory and prepared income and expense spreadsheets in google sheets for tax reporting.
Volunteer Research Assistant
The Cibolo Center For Conservation
12.2016 - 05.2017
- Collected behavioral and environmental data (e.g., ad Libitum and all-occurrence behavioral observations, nest monitoring, point counts, anemometer readings, water quality testing) for a longitudinal study on great blue heron rookery usage.
- Worked on rotating teams of four individuals to ascertain nest site location (height and proximity to water), quality (new, reclaimed, abandoned, and stage of decay), occupation (egg, chick, fledgling, and adult counts), and activity (all-occurrence behavioral observations of bird departures and arrivals, and feeding).
- Observations were made in variable weather conditions using binoculars and spotting scopes under the cover of a birding blind.
- Educated nature center visitors about the Cibolo Rookery Monitoring Project and addressed questions pertaining to great blue heron life history and behavior.
Citizen Science Team Lead
The Cibolo Center For Conservation
11.2016 - 05.2017
- Conducted prairie vegetation plots and transects to establish the presence and phenology of butterfly food sources and monarch host plant, milkweed.
- Examined monarch caterpillars' morphological development for life cycle stage classification to inform distribution and abundance metrics across historical migratory routes.
- Supervised a team of 6 individuals to ensure inter-observer reliability and sound data collection.
- Data was transcribed using established criteria and datasheets from the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project.
Volunteer Citizen Scientist
The Cibolo Center For Conservation
10.2016 - 05.2017
- Participated in citizen scientist directed wildlife research surveys. Survey results informed management practices and conservation directives of The Cibolo Preserve (e.g., invasive species management & native land restoration efforts of a 645-acre natural habitat and watershed).
- Conducted water quality assessments, small mammal relative species abundance (Sherman live capture trapping), ant species richness, incidental herpetological count, prairie vegetation plots, and riparian tree phenology surveys.
- Processed data sheets from over 150 citizen scientists, into a longitudinal database.
- Curation of data and QA/QC procedures were applied in Excel, Access, and ArcGIS Story Maps.
Research Assistant
Tonkolili Chimpanzee Project
06.2013 - 08.2016
- Worked at the field site from Jun-Aug in 2013, 2015, & 2016 (i.e., summer field seasons).
- Collected and curated data for projects pertaining to chimpanzee population density (distance sampling), non-invasive biological sampling, chimpanzee dietary evaluation, and habitat quality determination.
- Tracked wild chimpanzees, using Garmin GPS products, through riparian and forest-farm mosaic habitats in inclement weather to collect non-invasive biological samples and behavioral data.
- Placed, maintained, and coded camera traps for behavioral data on chimpanzee group composition (photo ID), reproductive activity, feeding ecology, and mammalian species diversity.
- Trained local team members on behavioral data collection and non-invasive biological sampling protocols.
- Investigated chimpanzee diet composition through an independent study that evaluated chimpanzee socioecological feeding dynamics of cultivated crops at the human-chimpanzee interface. The culmination of this project yielded multiple conference paper presentations.
Graduate Research Assistant and Co-principal Investigator
Lion Country Safari
12.2015 - 02.2016
- Designed a diet composition control study to establish the reliability of a novel, non-invasive dietary composition assay (fecal phytolith evaluation).
- Collected fecal samples and conducted behavioral observations (focal sampling) of a zoo-housed chimpanzee population to establish individual animal diet composition.
- Compared the novel fecal composition assays to the observed individual diet compositions; results informed the validity of phytolith evaluation and non-invasive fecal collection protocol at the Tonkolili Chimpanzee Project.
- Collaborated with the animal care staff to coordinate data collection with feeding and shifting schedules.
Great Ape Behavioral Research Intern
Lincoln Park Zoo
05.2014 - 05.2015
- Collected ethological data (focal, instantaneous, and scan sampling) on chimpanzees and western lowland gorillas for longitudinal studies on captive great ape behavioral repertoire, welfare, development, sociality, and spatial use
- Assisted video recording, data narration, and public education during cognitive research and enrichment sessions on tool use, token exchange, and working memory
- Aided animal care staff with daily monitoring and scoring of great ape health by noting group and/or individual, behavioral, and physical abnormalities.
- Addressed and answered visitor questions about great ape life history, behavior, and conservation.
- Transcribed field notes and video coded chimpanzee tool use for the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Student Laboratory Technician
Lynn University
11.2013 - 05.2014
- Prepared and assisted laboratory experiments for undergraduate coursework in biology, chemistry, and ecology.
- Operated basic laboratory equipment such as bench glassware, clamps, tubing, balances, thermometers, pH meter, colorimeter, autoclaves, centrifuges, heating mantels, string hotplates, NIR spectrometer, microplates, pipettes, compound microscopes, microscopy slides, etc.
- Performed routine cleaning of labs and equipment in adherence with chemical and biosafety SOPs.
- Maintained laboratory supplies and invertebrate specimen inventories.
- Aided biology faculty with data entry (excel) and literature reviews.
Education
Master of Professional Science - Marine Biology And Ecology - Marine Mammal Science
University of Miami
Miami, FL08.2021
Master of Science - Applied Psychology
Lynn University
Boca Raton, FL08.2017
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Lynn University
05.2014
Skills
- GIS: ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Story Maps, ArcGIS Insights, ModelBuilder
- Statistics: R Studio, SPSS statistical software IBM
- Acoustics: Raven Acoustic Software
- Reference Management: Zotero, Mendeley
- Programming: MATLAB, Python, and ArcPy – Basic Knowledge
- Google Workspace: Sheets, Docs, Drive, and Meet – Proficient
- Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook
Certification
- Master Scuba Diver - Rescue Diver & PADI Specialties (PADI Diver ID no. 1708AA2652)
- Small Boat Safety Operations - Florida Boating Safety ID
- Motorboat Operator - Certification Course (MOCC) National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Affiliations
Society of Marine Mammalogy, American Cetacean Society, Ecological Society of America, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, Ecological Society of America, Lynn University Zoological Society (Founding President)
Hobbies
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, canoeing, and snowshoeing with my husband. Moreover, I'm an avid traveler with a passion for scuba diving and horseback riding. When I'm not adventuring, I can be found playing with my dog or practicing the art of bonsai.
Timeline
Human Resources Assistant
Parkinson's Specialty Care
03.2022 - 11.2022
Geographic Information Systems Tutor
Self-employed
08.2021 - Current
Marine Mammal Intern
Archipelagos Institute Of Marine Conservation
11.2020 - 08.2021
Teaching Assistant
University Of Miami
08.2020 - 12.2020
Graduate Student
Dolphins Plus Marine Mammal Responder
08.2020 - 12.2020
Lead Technician and Office Manager
Simply Nitty Professional Lice Removal Specialists
11.2017 - 12.2019
Volunteer Research Assistant
The Cibolo Center For Conservation
12.2016 - 05.2017
Citizen Science Team Lead
The Cibolo Center For Conservation
11.2016 - 05.2017
Volunteer Citizen Scientist
The Cibolo Center For Conservation
10.2016 - 05.2017
Graduate Research Assistant and Co-principal Investigator
Lion Country Safari
12.2015 - 02.2016
Great Ape Behavioral Research Intern
Lincoln Park Zoo
05.2014 - 05.2015
Student Laboratory Technician
Lynn University
11.2013 - 05.2014
Research Assistant
Tonkolili Chimpanzee Project
06.2013 - 08.2016
Master of Professional Science - Marine Biology And Ecology - Marine Mammal Science
University of Miami
Master of Science - Applied Psychology
Lynn University
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Lynn University