Resume

Education

Cal Poly Humboldt

Master of Science
Aug. 2024 - Apr. 2026 (expected)

Overall GPA: 3.9/4.0

Department of Biological Sciences

• Humboldt Fish & Game Advisory Commission, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, for $2,500

• Veralto Scholarship for LGBTQ+ Excellence in STEM, Out in STEM, for $5,000

• Edward C. Raney Fund Award, American Society for Ichthyology & Herpetology, for $960

• Malcolm Oliphant Marine Science Scholarship, Cal Poly Humboldt, for $2,500

• Stephen Hillenburg Marine Science Research Award, Cal Poly Humboldt, $1,200

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University of Oregon

Bachelor of Science
Sep. 2021 - Dec. 2023 

Major GPA: 3.5/4.0

Marine biology major, environmental studies minor

• Dean's list Winter 2023 & Spring 2023

• Knight Library Tiny Galleries, art fellowship for $1500

• Neil Richmond Memorial Scholarship through Oregon Sea Grant, for $1000

• Laura Bickerstaff Scholarship, for $500

• CURE Undergraduate Funding, for $500

Relevant Work

Graduate Research Assistant

Nov. 2024 - present 

Bjorkstedt Lab, Telonicher Marine Lab, Cal Poly Humboldt

I work with Dr. Eric Bjorkstedt (NOAA) on identification of ichthyoplankton along the Trinidad Head Line. After monthly field work cruises, I return to the lab to use morphological characters to identify larval fish down to the lowest possible taxon.

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Graduate Teaching Assistant

Aug. 2024 - present

Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Humboldt

I teach lab sections of 25 students in subjects inlcuding General Botany (BOT 105), Principles of Biology (BIOL 105), and Introduction to Zoology (ZOOL 110). I prepare and grade quizzes, answer questions, give lectures, and provide support inside and outside of lab. 

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Biology of Fishes Co-instructor/Teaching Assistant

Jun. 2024 - Aug. 2024

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon

Over the summer, I helped teach an eight-week-long introductory course in fish biology at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. I practiced animal husbandy by keeping live fishes in-lab, prepared lecture and lab materials, provided office hours, graded, and more. 

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REU Intern Liaison

Jun. 2024 - Aug. 2024

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon

As REU Liaison, I planned cohort bonding activities for the visiting REU interns to the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology and served as the primary point of contact and support for them.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

Apr. 2023 - Aug. 2023

Ichthyology Collection, Oregon State University 

For four months as an undergraduate, I sorted through preserved plankton tow samples collected from the Red Sea and identified them to the lowest possible classifications. Additionally, I served as a Teaching Assistant for the week-long graduate level Ichthyoplankton Identification Laboratory class.

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Research Assistant

Nov. 2022 - Jan. 2024

Sutherland Lab, University of Oregon

I analyzed multi-angle video footage gathering 3D measurements of length, speed, and size of various species of salp colonies. As a research assistant, I also participated in two research cruises along the Oregon coast.

Publications

Damian-Serrano, A., Walton, K.A., Bishop-Perdue, A.,     Bagoye, S., Du Clos, K.T., Gemmell, B.J., Colin, S.P., Costello, J.H., & Sutherland, K.R. (2025). Colonial architecture modulates the speed and efficiency of multi-jet swimming in salp colonies. Journal of Experimental Biology, 228(6). https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.249465. 

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In-preparation

Ramirez, D., Conser, E., De Thomas, Walton, K., Bobay, L., R., Royer, C., Clardy, T., & Konstantinidis, P. Three tinselfish larvae (Grammicolepis brachiusculus; Grammicolepididae; Zeiformes) from the Straits of Florida. Target Journal: Ichthyological Research.

Presentations

Poster presentations

Walton, K., Bishop-Perdue, A., Damian Serrano, A. “How does propeller size and effort impact multi-jet propulsion in salp colonies? Speed and mobility of colonial salps by species.” National Diversity in STEM (2023), Out in STEM (2023), and University of Oregon Undergraduate Research Symposium (2024).

Walton, K. “Massachusetts Man-Eaters: How Shark Week’s Monsters of the Cape impacts shark conservation and research.” University of Oregon Undergraduate Research Symposium (2023). 

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Oral presentations

Walton, K., Bronson, A. "A comparative history of ichthyoplankton of Humboldt Bay." Gilbert Ichthyological Society (2025). 

Walton, K. “Why larvae matter: the significance of planktonic larvae in marine teleosts.” Invited talk, Spring 2025 Biology of Fishes. Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon.

Ramirez, D., Conser, E., De Thomas, Walton, K., Bobay, L., R., Royer, C., Clardy, T., & Konstantinidis, P. “New larval stage of Thorny Tinselfish, Grammicolepis sp.” Gilbert Ichthyological Society (2023).

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