Reiss Room 406, Department of Biology
Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20057
yjt3@georgetown.edu

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Spatial patterns, mating systems, animal behavior, and conservation ecology.
 

EDUCATION:
2007-present:   Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
Biology – Ph.D.

2001-2005:   University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology – B.S. with Honors - GPA: 4.000
Studio Art – B.A. – GPA: 3.765
Cumulative GPA: 3.857 (Magna Cum Laude)

 

PUBLICATIONS:

Frère, C.H., M. Krützen, J. Mann, J.J. Watson-Capps, Y.J. Tsai, E.M. Patterson, R. Connor, L. Bejder, and W.B. Sherwin. 2010. Home range overlap, matrilineal and biparental kinship drive female associations in bottlenose dolphins. Animal Behaviour. 80(3): 481-486.

Tsai, Yi-jiun Jean, Kelsey Maloney, and A. Elizabeth Arnold. June 2007. Biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution of the Huachuca springsnail (Pyrgulopsis thompsoni).  Journal of Freshwater Ecology  22(2): 213-218.
 

ORAL PRESENTATIONS:                                                                                                                                                               

Tsai, Yi-jiun Jean, Quincy Anne Gibson, and Janet Mann. February 26-27, 2010.  Broad-scale behavioral predictors of reproductive success in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in Shark Bay, Western Australia.  Department of Biology Graduate Student Sympositum. Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.

Tsai, Yi-jiun Jean. February 21, 2009. Predictors of female reproductive failure among wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp. ) in Shark Bay, Western Austraila. Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium. Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.                                                                                                                                        

Tsai, Yi-jiun Jean. November 15, 2003.  Abiotic factors affecting the distribution of the Huachuca Springsnail, Pyrgulopsis thompsoni.  Conservation Biology Internship Symposium. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Tsai, Yi-jiun Jean, Eric M. Patterson, Jana J. Watson-Capps, Lars Bejder, and Janet Mann.  October 12-16, 2009.  Sex differences in home range pre- and post-weaning among Shark Bay bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.)   18th Biennial Conference on Biology of Marine Mammals.  Quebec City, QC, Canada.

Tsai, Yi-jiun Jean, Kelsey Maloney, and A. Elizabeth Arnold. January 25, 2003. Abiotic factors affecting the presence of the Huachuca springsnail (Pyrgulopsis thompsoni). 14th Annual Undergraduate Biology Research Conference. University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
 

WORK AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
2007 :  Danta Tropical Herpetology Course  (El Zota Biological Field Station, Costa Rica)
· Identified herpetofauna in a tropical lowland rainforest and conducted a biodiversity comparison of primary and secondary forests.

2007 : Accounting Intern (Great Falls, Virginia)
DNE and Associates – Accounting firm specializing in  non-profit organizations.
· Prepared invoices and reconciled accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and FICA.
· Experience with: Great Plains and Microsoft Excel.

2006-2007:  SeaWeb Internship (Silver Spring, Maryland)
Nonprofit organization combining science, communications, and policy expertise to raise public awareness concerning ocean conservation.
· Performed operations-based responsibilities and supported SeaWeb programs (e.g. researched contaminant levels in rainbow trout for the KidSafe Seafood Program, helped organize a two-day conference for key nonprofit groups on ecosystem-based management, etc.)
· Experience with: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Contribute, Peachtree, Microsoft Excel, and EndNote X.   

2006:   Eastern Fox Snake Internship (Erie Marsh Preserve, Michigan)
Supervisor: Brian Putman – Researches eastern fox snake (Elaphe gloydi) movement patterns and habitat use, specifically looking at preferred habitat and anthropogenic hibernacula use.
· Assisted with fieldwork capturing/trapping, assessing, and tracking fox snakes (cover boards and radio telemetry).

2005:  Stone Laboratory Research Experience for Undergraduates (Gibraltar Island, Ohio)
Supervisor: Kristin Stanford – Researches the evolution and population biology of the Lake Erie water snake, Nerodia sipedon insularum.
· Studied eastern fox snake (Elaphe gloydi) home range and population demographic (radio telemetry), cared for  a captive snake colony, and aided in Lake Erie water snake monitoring/capture.

2005:  Research Assistant (Great Exuma, Bahamas)
Supervisor: Erin Marnocha – Researches habitat alteration and human disturbance impacts on brown anoles (Anolis sagrei), particularly focusing on the role of natural selection in driving intraspecific morphological variation.
· Assisted with fieldwork noosing, measuring, and tagging lizards (visible implant elastomer).

2004-2006: Undergraduate Researcher (University of Arizona)
Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Moran – Researches the evolution of biological complexity with a special focus on aphid/bacterial symbiosis.
· Performed heat shock experimentation on pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), DNA/RNA extractions, PCRs, quantitative PCRs, and RT-PCRs.

2002-2003:  Conservation Biology Internship (University of Arizona/Fort Huachuca)
· Developed, researched, and wrote a thesis on factors affecting Huachuca springsnail (Pyrgulopsis thompsoni) distribution. Resulting work continued as honors thesis and published in the Journal of Freshwater Ecology.
· Assisted with fieldwork, including small mammal trapping, invertebrate trapping/sorting, prescribed burning, skunk tracking (radio telemetry), barking frog collecting/processing, and lemon lily surveying.

2001:  Directed Research (University of Arizona)
Supervisor: Dr. Theresa Markow – Researches  speciation mechanisms with special attention to wild Drosophila species in southwestern US and northern Mexico.
· Collected and sorted fly species (Drosophila nigrospiracula and Drosophila mettleri).
 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

2009-present:  Lead Coordinator: Marine Discovery, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
· Marine Discovery - a mobile outreach program in which graduate students teach 4th-5th graders hands-on labs about sharks, squid, anthropogenic effects on marine systems, and fish diversity in partnership with Anne Beers Elementary School.                                                                                                                                                                              · Developed and organized lab curriculum (based on  Marine Discovery at the University of Arizona), led all labs with Anne Beers, and trained graduate students to teach all labs. 

Spring 2009:  Teaching Fellow: Animal Behavior, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
· Led a discussion section.

Fall 2008: Teaching Fellow: Monkeys, Apes, and Humans, Department of Psychology, Georgetown University
· Aided in course administration.  

Spring 2008:  Teaching Fellow: Animal Behavior, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
· Led a discussion section and conducted supplemental lectures. 

Spring 2004:  Student: Marine Discovery, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
University of Arizona
· Aided in teaching 3rd-5th graders about sharks, squid, fish diversity, intertidal systems, and marine fossils during three hour weekly labs.

2002-2004:  Instructor’s Assistant: Karate
· Taught karate theory and techniques to classes of 5-10 children/adults and on a one-on-one tutoring basis.
 

AWARDS:                                                                                                                                                                                                  PADI Foundation Education Grant (Marine Discovery; 2010)                                                                                          Georgetown Biology Department Conference Travel Grant (2009)                                                                                            Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference Travel Grant (2009)                                                                               National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention (2009)                                      National Geographic Society Young Explorers Grant (2009)                                                                                                       Georgetown University Center for the Environment Grant (2008)                                                                                 Exploration Fund Grant (Explorers Club; 2008)                                                                                                                   American Society of Mammalogists Grant-in-Aid (2008)                                                                                                           Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship (2007-2009)
Georgetown Graduate School Tuition Scholarship (2007-2009)
Georgetown Biology Department Scholarship (2007-2009)                                                                                             Georgetown Graduate School Scholarship (2007-2009)                                                                                                Georgetown Teaching Assistantship (2007-2009)                                                                                                                 University of Arizona  Provost Scholarship (2001-2005)
President’s Award for Excellence (2001-2005)
Galileo Circle Scholar (Spring 2005)                                                                                                                                                     1st place - Women's Black Belt Kata at Sportsmanship Karate Invitationals (Phoenix, 2003)                                   3rd place - Women's Collegiate Black Belt Sparring at ISKF Nationals (Florida, 2002)

 

ART EXHIBITIONS                                                                                                                                                                        “Colorful Crowd” Group Art Exhibition ("Transforming from Behind", Freemont House, 2005, oil painting)              Steinhart Aquarium Exhibit ("Corallus annulatus", California Academy of Sciences, 2008, photograph) 

 

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS                                                                                                                                        Society for Marine Mammalogy (2008-2009)                                                                                                                          Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (2008-2009)                                                                                          American Society of Mammalogists (2008-2009)                                                                                                                          Animal Behavior Society (2007-2009)                                                                                                                                              Phi Kappa Phi Member (2005)

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE                                                                                                                                                          Biology Organization for Graduate Students (BOGS) President (2009-2010)

 

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