Robert Stang
Trenton,OH
Summary
My goal is to continue to improve my career as an excellent animal caregiver and public educator so that I can continue to promote best practice animal wellbeing, and promote public interest in wildlife, zoos, and conservation efforts.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
FULL TIME ANIMAL KEEPER
Boonshoft Museum Of Discovery
03.2022 - 03.2024
- Engaged in daily husbandry practices for all animals in care, including observation of physical conditions and environmental conditions to ensure optimal wellbeing
- Training and maintenance of behaviors using operant conditioning for vulture, owls, sandcat, rabbits, lorikeets, meerkats, and opossum
- Daily medication and record keeping for all animals that required medication or extra physical care
- Daily record keeping both in paper and on ZIMS
- Frequent interaction with the public through education programming, and random animal encounters or events at the museum
- Fabrication of enrichment or perching for habitats
- Research and collaboration with other team members or zoos to update and maximize care of various species
- Supervision and training of interns and volunteers.
WORLD OF THE INSECT VOLUNTEER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
08.2021 - 03.2022
- Engaged in regular cleaning and husbandry for arthropods, reptiles, aquatics, and naked mole rates
- Trained in handling/restraint of various species of arthropod and reptile
- Worked following all guidelines as set for a USDA-APHIS-PPQ facility
- Engaged in safety protocols for working around venomous species, and flighted species
- Helped in husbandry and identification of newly acquired Mantid specimens from US Fish and Wildlife
- Helped in feeding and care of endangered American Burying Beetles.
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
04.2018 - 03.2022
- Regularly perform animal husbandry for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods
- Maintenance of and training new behaviors using operant conditioning
- Detailed and concise record keeping
- Lead encounters and tours about zoo animals and engage with the public about the zoo's animals and conservation messages
- Supervising and training new interns on husbandry practices and helping complete projects.
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT KEEPER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
06.2021 - 02.2022
- Engaged in daily husbandry practices for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods
- Continuous observation of animals and their behaviors to ensure optimal wellbeing
- Maintained trained behaviors using operant conditioning for mammals and birds
- Operant Conditioning training for Uromastyx and Sudan Plated Lizards
- Assisted in animal restraint or handling for veterinary and other purposes
- Daily enrichment of animals and their habitats
- Kept daily records for animal health, behavior, habitats, and other concerns
- Frequently engaged with public for interpretive activities such as Sloth chat, Random Animal Encounters, and Zoo Shows
- Effectively worked across several buildings with team members to ensure goals were met
- Engaged in regular team building and collaborations to better develop team ideals, practices and stay up to date on department conditions
- Frequently helped identify maintenance issues and fix or repaired them as appropriate
- Daily preparation of animal diets and ensuring animals were fed correctly
- Helped with training and supervision of new interns and volunteers with correct methods.
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT KEEPER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
04.2019 - 01.2020
- Engaged in daily husbandry practices for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods
- Continuous observation of animals and their behaviors to ensure optimal wellbeing
- Maintained trained behaviors using operant conditioning for mammals and birds
- Operant Conditioning training for Uromastyx and Sudan Plated Lizards
- Assisted in animal restraint or handling for veterinary and other purposes
- Daily enrichment of animals and their habitats
- Kept daily records for animal health, behavior, habitats, and other concerns
- Frequently engaged with public for interpretive activities such as Sloth chat, Random Animal Encounters, and Zoo Shows
- Effectively worked across several buildings with team members to ensure goals were met
- Engaged in regular team building and collaborations to better develop team ideals, practices and stay up to date on department conditions
- Frequently helped identify maintenance issues and fix or repaired them as appropriate
- Daily preparation of animal diets and ensuring animals were fed correctly
- Helped with training and supervision of new interns and volunteers with correct methods.
ELEPHANT HOUSE VOLUNTEER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
10.2018 - 04.2019
- Engaged in routine cleaning and husbandry assistance for elephant keepers
- Helped with unloading and organizing supplies and diet preparations
- Trained and engaged in strict safety protocols to ensure the safety of guests, other staff, and myself while in elephant building
- Observed and helped with training routines with Elephants when appropriate and safe.
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT INTERN
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
01.2018 - 04.2019
- Trained in animal husbandry, handling, and restraint of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods
- Observed and maintained trained behaviors using operant conditioning
- Trained in the reading, and use of natural history documents for zoo collection species
- Updated several natural history documents for use across departments
- Taught proper record keeping for department
- Learned about, and how to engage in the use of enrichment daily for animal wellbeing
- Engaged with the public by leading or assisting with keeper chats and encounters about the zoo's animals and conservation messages.
Education
BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE IN ZOOLOGY - Animal biologyBiological sciencesConservationLaboratory practices
MIAMI UNIVERSITY
12.2017
Skills
- Works well independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility
- Proven ability to learn and adapt to new situations quickly
- Proficient with record keeping programs such as Microsoft Office, Google docs, and ZIMS
- Best science attitude towards animal care and public education
- Strong public speaking skills
- Always educating myself on new animal wellbeing practices and ideologies
- Physically fit and able to lift 75 pounds
- Open minded, respectful and friendly Able to work with people of all backgrounds
- Good sense of time management, and consistent with routines
- Task oriented but flexible and always willing to help others when needed
- Good problem solving skills
Certification
Certified in Environmental Education through Miami and the state of Ohio
Timeline
FULL TIME ANIMAL KEEPER
Boonshoft Museum Of Discovery
03.2022 - 03.2024
WORLD OF THE INSECT VOLUNTEER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
08.2021 - 03.2022
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT KEEPER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
06.2021 - 02.2022
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT KEEPER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
04.2019 - 01.2020
ELEPHANT HOUSE VOLUNTEER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
10.2018 - 04.2019
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEER
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
04.2018 - 03.2022
INTERPRETIVE DEPARTMENT INTERN
CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
01.2018 - 04.2019
BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE IN ZOOLOGY - Animal biologyBiological sciencesConservationLaboratory practices
MIAMI UNIVERSITY