Zachary Burman
Graduate Student
Columbia,MO
Summary
Graduate student looking to continue in academia by obtaining a doctorate in paleontology or paleontology-adjacent field, focusing on biomechanics. Adaptable student and researcher, with a wide range of coursework and developing proficiencies in R programming and ANSYS software.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Dept. of Geol. Sci., University of Missouri
08.2023 - Current
- Taught 2-3 introductory geology labs per semester to students with diverse backgrounds.
- Graded lab materials, assisted with exam distribution, and collaborated with professors and other teaching assistants to improve lab content.
- Mentored new teaching assistants, adopting a leadership role.
- Held office hours to assist students outside of regular lab times.
Volunteer in Natural History Department
Indiana State Museum
04.2023 - Current
- Operated, maintained, and repaired the museum's abrasion machine to prepare invertebrate fossils.
- Sorted through the museum's collected modern raptor roost material to identify bones, plants, eggshells, and other objects of interest.
- Identified Mississippian shark teeth, dermal denticles, and other anatomical parts from the museum's collections.
- Over 130 combined hours logged.
Research Assistant
EAPS Department, Purdue University
09.2019 - 08.2020
- Ran raindrop disdrometer data to produce meteograms and drop size distributions.
- Gained exposure to Anaconda distribution of Python.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
EAPS Department, Purdue University
05.2018 - 08.2018
- Used Gnuplot to plot functions.
- Used JMARS and Microsoft Excel to produce crater size frequency distributions.
- Investigated physical characteristics of the surface of Deimos.
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
EAPS Department, Purdue University
01.2018 - 05.2018
- Managed online quiz grades.
- Designed efficient system of exam distribution in the lecture hall.
- Answered student questions regarding planetary science.
Education
Master of Science - Geology
University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO 05.2001 -
Bachelor of Science - Planetary Sciences
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 05.2001 -
Skills
Dataset curation
undefinedPresentations
SICB 2025 (January 3-7, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA):
- Poster title: "Exploring the relationship between biodiversity and biotic interactions in fossil cephalopods."
- Presentation on master's research.
500 Earth Sciences Club (March 12, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA):
- Talk title: "Impact Cratering"
- Invited to present on the mechanics, geomorphology, and economic impacts of cratering events.
Affiliations
- Professional: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Paleontological Society
- Recreational: ESCONI, Indiana Society of Paleontology, Dry Dredgers
Timeline
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Dept. of Geol. Sci., University of Missouri
08.2023 - Current
Volunteer in Natural History Department
Indiana State Museum
04.2023 - Current
Research Assistant
EAPS Department, Purdue University
09.2019 - 08.2020
Undergraduate Research Assistant
EAPS Department, Purdue University
05.2018 - 08.2018
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
EAPS Department, Purdue University
01.2018 - 05.2018
Master of Science - Geology
University of Missouri - Columbia
05.2001 -
Bachelor of Science - Planetary Sciences
Purdue University
05.2001 -