Susannah Lerman

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Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

Post Doctoral Research Associate

USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station

University of Massachusetts

Amherst, MA 01003

USA

aboqjs@r.postjobfree.com

Education

2005 - 2011 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Ph.D., Graduate Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

20022005 Antioch University New England

M.S., Conservation Biology

19901994 University of Delaware

B.A., American History, minor Psychology

Professional Experience

June 2011 - presentPost Doctoral Research Associate: USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station,

University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA

Lead the Urban Wildlife and Biodiversity Initiative for the USDA Forest Service Northern

Research Station (NRS). Projects include the development and integration of a wildlife

habitat component for the NRS iTree urban forest modeling software program. The project

involves modeling bird habitat suitability indices for urban and suburban areas in the New

England and New York region, using vegetation datasets from iTree projects.

May 2008May 2011Research Assistant: University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA

Assist with establishing Urban Long Term Research Area in Boston, MA. Study ecological

function of urban open spaces and urban greeening projects. Create biodiversity maps and

areas of rapid development. Research impact of canopy loss and urban greening on

biodiversity.

February 2006May 2011Research Assistant: Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Project (CAP

LTER); Tempe, AZ

Dissertation Research. Research the conservation value of different residential landscape

designs and how they influence bird community structure using quantitative landscape

measurements and behavioral experiments.

May 2005October 2007Field Project Manager: University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA

Assisted with study design and implementation of researching the impact of tree removal

on cavity nesting birds at Quabbin Reservoir, MA, and residential areas of Hampshire

County, MA, using bird surveys and a vegetation inventory.

May 2003May 2005Principle Investigator: Antioch University New England; Israel

Master s Thesis Research. Designed and conducted study on distribution and winter ecology

of Striated Scops Owl Otus brucei in the Arava Valley of southern Israel. Created a

habitat suitability model. Analyzed and presented results.

August 2003December 2004Research Assistant: Center for Biological Diversity; San Diego, CA

Prepared documents for petitioning USFWS to list coastal population of Cactus Wren

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus under the Endangered Species Act. Create distribution

database from recent sightings and museum specimens, prepared draft.

May 2004August 2004Research Associate: Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory; Keene, NH

Managed two MAPS (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) stations to document

annual survivorship at a long-term monitoring site. Recorded biometrics from birds

captured from mistnets and trained volunteers.

June 2003September 2003Research Technician: Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences; Woodstock, VT

Assisted in long-term monitoring project of population dynamics of Bicknell s Thrush

Catharus bicknelli in VT and NH to help guide a conservation plan. Recorded biometrics

from birds captured from mistnets and monitored nests. Conducted point counts and a

vegetation inventory of habitat in sub-alpine zones.

September 2001August 2002Field Technician: Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Project; Tempe,

AZ Monitored long-term impacts of urbanization and human settlement on bird populations

and the natural environment through bird point counts and behavioral experiments.

October 2001July 2002Environmental Consultant: Southwest Center for Education and the Natural Environment;

Tempe, AZ

Created, designed and implemented native wildlife habitats for schoolyards. Developed

curriculum activities and provided students with hands-on experiences in creating

habitats, birdwatching and environmental studies.

May 1998- March 2004Bird Tour Leader: Speyside Wildlife, Wildwings, Birdfinders; UK

Lead birdwatching tours in Israel, New England, Arizona, Texas, Spain, and Greece.

Located, identified and explained key features of migrant and resident birds and mammals

of particular areas. Planned and developed tours.

August 1996 - June 2001Ecological Volunteer: Kibbutz Lotan Centre for Birdwatching; ISRAEL

Assisted with the establishment and maintenance of ecological projects in small desert

community. Established, managed and maintained 100 square meter award winning organic

garden and ecological demonstration center. Initiated community based recycling program.

Conducted census and banded birds to evaluate the health and populations of migrant and

resident birds. Planned and constructed desert bird reserve. Educated tourists in

identification and location of birds and natural history.

Publications

Switzer Leadership Grant, 2012, $25,000 Declined

Switzer Leadership Grant, 2011, $40,000

Switzer Environmental Fellowship, 2010, $15,000

Middle East Conservation Fellow, Quebec Labrador Foundation, 2010

Graduate Student Travel Award, Applied Ecology Section of Ecological Society of America,

2009, $500

Graduate Student Travel Award, The Wildlife Society, 2009, $175

Graduate Student Summer Research grant, CAP LTER, 2009, $5000

Graduate Student Travel Award, American Ornithologist Union. Travel Grant, 2006, $400.

Graduate Student Summer Research grant, CAP LTER, 2006, $5000

Teaching Experience

Spring 2010 University of Massachusetts: Research Methods, Co-Instructor

Fall 2008, 2009 University of Massachusetts: Environment and Society, Teaching Assistant

Fall 2006 University of Massachusetts: Animal Behavior, Teaching Assistant

Fall 2005-06 University of Massachusetts: Urban Ecology, Teaching Assistant

Fall 2005 University of Massachusetts: Intro Biology Lab, Lab Instructor

Spring 2005 Franklin Pierce College: Integrated Science, Lab Instructor

Fall 2003-04 Antioch University New England: Ornithology, Teaching Assistant

Service

Ecology Explorers. Regular participant in the K-12 environmental education

group with CAP LTER (http://caplter.asu.edu/explorers/) including bird identification,

classroom presentations, assisting student research projects and guidance with teacher

training workshops.

Urban Ecology Institute http://www.urbaneco.org/ Assist student research projects and

guidance with teacher

training program for underserved Boston high schools. Designed and presented seminar on

urban behavioral ecology.

Symposium Organizer for International Urban Wildlife Conference, 2009, University of

Massachusetts. Symposium

Title: Managing Residential Landscapes for Wildlife.

Student Representative Seminar speaker selection committee for the Organismic and

Evolutionary

Biology program, University of Massachusetts. 2009.

Peer Reviewer. Ecology and Society, Landscape and Urban Planning, Studies in Avian

Biology, Journal of Biogeography, Urban Ecosystems, Trends in Ecology and Evolution,

Landscape Ecology, Oecologia and The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, Environmental

Management.

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