Melissa Jones
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Veterinary Assistant
Summit Veterinary Referral Hospital
01.2020 - 08.2021
- Supported board-certified veterinary neurologists and technicians with appointments, surgery, billing, radiology, MRI, anesthesia and surgery prep.
Animal Care Assistant
Feather and Fur Exotic Pet Veterinary Hospital
01.2019 - 07.2019
- Assisted general veterinary practitioners, services ranged from vaccines to minor surgeries and procedures.
Research Assistant
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
05.2018 - 08.2018
- Assisted PhD Dissertation with data collection of native Hawaiian wetland avian species.
- Conducted solo and team wetland bird surveys on nesting habitat and active nests, all on state/federal protected lands.
- Participated in banding events of stilt chicks and adult passerines in local wetlands, observational surveys for the state were also conducted for other endangered species in the wetlands.
Bartender and Server
BUHO Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
Waikiki
01.2016 - 07.2018
- Bartender and server at a high-volume rooftop cantina and restaurant in Waikiki.
Professional Soccer Referee
CalSouth Soccer
San Diego
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Refereed Men’s and Women’s soccer from youth to D1 university level matches. Refereed friendly scrimmages
for the US Women’s National U17 and U20 games at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center.
STEM Tutor
Palomar Community College
San Marcos
01.2016 - 06.2016
- Held daily tutoring sessions in chemistry and biological sciences for undergraduate students.
Laboratory Teaching Assistant
Palomar Community College
01.2016 - 06.2016
- Assisted in managing a college level chemistry lab which included guiding students with chemical equations, methodology, and general chemistry laboratory experiments (titrations and distillations).
- Held weekly review session for students.
Education
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (DVM equivalent) -
University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK05.2024
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
University of Hawai‘i At Mānoa
Honolulu, HI12-2018
Post Graduate Training
- Neurology Specialty Internship, MedVet Chicago, 2025-current position
- Rotating Internship Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, MedVet Chicago, 2024-2025
Recent Awards
- Compassion Award, MedVet Chicago, 09/25
- The Boehringer Ingelheim Neurology Award Best Final Year Student in Neurology, University of Edinburgh, 05/24
Volunteer Internship Experience
- Veterinary Student Internship, Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfield, MO, 2019, Dr. Rodney Schnellbacher DVM, Focused on zoo and wildlife rehabilitation care at an AZA accredited zoo.
- Internship, National Wildlife Health Center | USGS, Honolulu, HI, 2018, Active investigation on wildlife disease present in Hawaiian avian, reptile and marine species.
- Internship, Honolulu Zoo Veterinary Clinic, Honolulu, HI, 2018, Assisted with quarantined and injured animals in clinic and preparation of weekly medication for entire zoo population.
- Research Assistant, UH Mānoa | Hawaii Wildlife Ecology Lab, Honolulu, HI, 2017-18, Assisted multiple PhD and Master thesis projects involving endangered wildlife.
- Volunteer, Hawaii Society for Conservation Biology, Honolulu, HI, Involved with campus events that were geared towards bringing awareness to college students regarding wildlife and endangered species in Hawaii.
Research Projects
- Relationship Between Light Exposure and Cortisol Production in Chicken Embryo Neural Development, Roslin Institute University of Edinburgh, PI: Dr. Simon Meddle, Edinburgh, Scotland, 07/22-05/24
- Relationship Between Morphological Traits, Water Depths, and Foraging Behavior of the Hawaiian Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), UH Mānoa, PI: Dr. Melissa Price Laboratory, Honolulu, HI, 10/17-05/18, Recipient of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program grant to fund and complete this project.
Veterinary Externships
- VetsNow ECC, Glasgow, Winter and Spring 2023
- The Cat Clinic Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, 2022
- R(D)SVS (Lab animal medicine), 2021
- R(D)SVS Small Animal Hospital (ECC), 2021
- Summit Veterinary Referral Hospital (Neurology service), Summer 2021 & 2022, Spring 2023
Interests Skills Languages
- Bilingual communication (Spanish)
- Dick Vet Animal Behaviour Society (Vice president) (2021-2023)
- Student AVMA representative and campus communications and events coordinator (2022-2024)
- Aerial Yoga, Pilates and Dirt Bike Riding
- Architecture Enthusiast
- Bird watching
Timeline
Veterinary Assistant
Summit Veterinary Referral Hospital
01.2020 - 08.2021
Animal Care Assistant
Feather and Fur Exotic Pet Veterinary Hospital
01.2019 - 07.2019
Research Assistant
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
05.2018 - 08.2018
STEM Tutor
Palomar Community College
01.2016 - 06.2016
Bartender and Server
BUHO Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
01.2016 - 07.2018
Laboratory Teaching Assistant
Palomar Community College
01.2016 - 06.2016
Professional Soccer Referee
CalSouth Soccer
01.2014 - 01.2017
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (DVM equivalent) -
University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Bachelor of Science - Biological Sciences
University of Hawai‘i At Mānoa