Kirsten Bjornson
630-***-**** ● *******.********@*****.***
Current Address Permanent Address
**** *. **** **., ***. 15 7435 Warren St.
Radford, VA 24141 Forest Park, IL 60130
RELEVANT SKILLS
Communication and Interpersonal
• Advanced writing, proofreading, and communication skills
• Strong research team skills including interacting and cooperating with a research team to successfully
complete projects
• Excellent customer service skills
Computer
• Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Access)
• SPSS statistical analysis software
• Noldus Ethovision video tracking software
EDUCATION
Radford University: May 2014, expected graduation
• Masters of Arts Candidate in Experimental Psychology
• GPA: 3.81
Augustana College: Class of 2011
• Bachelor of Arts Double Major in Psychology and Biology
Academic Honors
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (2013-present)
• Sigma Xi, The Research Society (2011)
• Dean’s Scholar (2009-2011)
• Presidential Scholar (2007-2009)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Compliance Graduate Assistantship: Radford University, Aug. 2012-May 2014
• Extensive review and proofreading of IRB research protocols.
• Provides customer service to faculty and students with regards to the IRB submission process,
regulations, and electronic submission and website use.
• Manages Excel and Access databases, along with other electronic and file record-keeping.
• Assists in developing online research compliance training modules
• Assists in maintaining IRB website
• Trained second graduate assistant in the regulations, processes, procedures, and maintenance of
Research Compliance Office.
Wildlife Internship: Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC, Oct. 2011-May 2012
Assisted wildlife biologist, D.J. Schubert in preservation of wild horses.
Collected literature, contacted Bureau of Land Management officials, input and organized data into
Excel spreadsheets.
Participated in various projects and attended governmental meetings related to animal welfare.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Thesis- Exogenous Corticosterone Administration vs. an Environmental Stressor: Approach
Behaviors in Passer Domesticus, expected defense May 2014
Supervised by Dr. Jason Davis, Radford University, Jan. 2013-Present
Conducted thorough scholarly literature review, developed an empirically-based hypothesis and
procedures to examine stress physiology and behaviors.
Independently collected and statistically analyzed data.
Utilized bird handling and blood sample collection techniques.
Current results were presented at the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology conference in Jan.
2014, Austin, TX.
Graduate Research Assistant- Dr. Jason Davis, Radford University, Nov. 2012-Present
Attend weekly Ecophysiology Lab meetings to critically review literature in the field.
Monitor house sparrow well-being through participating feeding and cleaning of the aviary.
Assist in capture of wild house sparrows, including implementing bird banding techniques and housing
in the aviary for future use in research.
Graduate Research Assistant- Dr. Dayna Hayes, Radford University, Jan. 2014-Present
Attend weekly Neuropharmacology Lab meetings to present and discuss relevant literature.
Assist with research projects involving rat treatment, care, breeding, behavioral tasks, drug
administration, tissue preparation, neurology and immunochemistry techniques.
Results to be presented at Radford University Forum in May 2014, along with Society for Neuroscience
conference in May, 2014, Seattle, WA.
Test Development- Validation of the PIASR Scale: Wild-born and Lab-bred Animals
Supervised by Dr. Jared Caughron, Radford University, Fall 2013-Present
As part of a research team, developed a novel scale, The Perceptions Inventory of Animal Samples in
Research (PIASR) to compare perceptions of animal model use in research.
Survey was presented to over 400 freshmen and participated in conducting statistical analyses.
Presented at the Radford University Research Forum, Nov. 2013.
Participating in further developing the PIASR to survey a more generalizable population.
Psychology Senior Inquiry Project- Dog Personality in Object-Choice Tasks
Supervised by Dr. Daniel Corts, Augustana College, Aug., 2011-May 2011
Investigated object-choice task (following human pointing cues) performance in dogs with independent
hypotheses and methodology development.
Trained assistants to carry out procedures.
Results were presented at the Augustana Psychology Senior Forum in May 2011.
Research Assistant- Dr. Steve Hager, Augustana College, Summer 2010
Surveyed buildings for bird species in the Quad Cities region of IL.
Participated in paper discussions relevant to Dr. Hager’s bird field research.
Biology Senior Inquiry Project- Determining Red-Winged Blackbird Territory Size
Supervised by Dr. Kevin C. Geedey, Augustana College, Summer 2010
Observed territorial behaviors for a week at Augustana College’s conservancy in Northwestern IL.
Extensive data analysis performed through an Excel spreadsheet.
Results were shared at a poster presentation for fellow Sigma Xi members.