LINDSAY CURTIS
104-1918 Haro Street
Vancouver BC V6G 1H6
lindsay-curtis@hotmail.com
778.689.4265
OBJECTIVE
To gain experience leading to a career goal in biology or ecology focussing on conservation, marine ecosystems and terrestrial/marine interactions
QUALIFICATIONS
Over eight years of employment experience with progressively increasing responsibility and expertise in:
- Assisting in preparation of an assessment of Canada’s ecosystems.
- Preparing food for marine mammals
- Monitoring of beluga pregnancy and calf growth
- Coordinating and training volunteers for overnight calf watch shifts
- Tracking and recording the behaviour of humpback whales using a theodolite and the CYCLOPES program.
- Catching, tagging and releasing various marine animals including loggerhead turtles, green turtles, tiger sharks and species of stingray
- Photo identification and cataloguing of Humpback Whales in the Pacific Northwest
- Data input regarding the sightings on North Pacific cetaceans
- Computer programs including Reference Manager 12, Microsoft Excel, Word and Access
SELECTIVE ACHIEVEMENTS
Research Assistant for preparation of the Ecosystem Status and Trends Report with Environment Canada. Duties included database management (reference manager), report formatting, coordination of an internal review process, team member.
Fish House Assistant for Marine Mammal Department at the Vancouver Aquarium. Duties included preparation of food for marine mammals under diverse conditions as well as maintaining sanitary health levels for marine mammal food preparation room and storage area.
Beluga Watch Assistant for Marine Mammal Department at the Vancouver Aquarium. Duties included observing beluga pregnancy, birth and calf growth as well as recording various behaviours of mother and calf during first three months after birth and supervising other staff members and volunteers.
Research Assistant for the East Coast Humpback Observational Survey for Dr. Michael Noad, University of Queensland in Point Lookout, Queensland. Tasks included observing, tracking and recording humpbacks from both a land based lookout and aerial surveys as well as recording the individuals and their behaviours in the CYCLOPES program and taking shots of them from a theodolite.
Field Research Assistant with the Shark Bay Ecosystem Research Project in Monkey Mia, Western Australia. Duties included catching, processing, tagging and releasing various marine animals as well as data entry, surveys of wild animals and other field duties including maintenance of sea grass exclosures, focal follows of animals and radio telemetry.
EXPERIENCE
British Columbia Conservation Foundation
Research Assistant for Enivronment Canada July-Dec 2009
- Database management for references (Reference Manager)
- Coordinated jurisdictional review of documents
- Organized incoming comments on documents
- Team member assisting in technical and research aspects of an ecosystem assessment for Canada
Vancouver Aquarium
Fish House Assistant Feb 2008-July 2009
- Preparation of the food for marine mammals
- Sanitization of the food preparation area throughout the day
- Oversaw and trained volunteers and work experience students
- Team member assisting the marine mammal trainers in various activities
Beluga Watch June-Sept 2008
- Monitored beluga whale pregnancy, labour and calf growth
- Observed and recorded various behaviours of both mother and calf during last week of pregnancy, labour and the first three months after birth
- Supervised and directed volunteers and other staff members during watches
East Coast Humpback Observational Survey July 2007
Volunteer
- Identifying and tracking humpback whales with both binoculars and a theodolite
- Using the CYCLOPES program
- Interacting with the public, answering questions regarding the marine life and research
Shark Bay Ecosystem Research Project
Field Research Assistant Feb-May 2007
- Handling various marine animals
- Tracking animals using radio telemetry
- Working under diverse weather conditions
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre’s Volunteer Program 2000 - present
Ten Years and 1000 Hours Recognition Awards 2010
Marine Mammal Food Preparation 2002 - 2007
- Assisting staff with animal husbandry and care.
- Monitoring of marine mammals, and food preparation
British Columbia Cetaceans Sighting Network 2001-present
- Data entry regarding cetacean sightings in the Pacific Northeast using Microsoft Access and Nobletec
- Filing, organizing, completing incoming sightings
Beaty Biodiversity Museum Volunteer Program March 2010-present
- Unpacking and filing of delicate marine invertebrate collections.
- Interacting with guests, presenting educational material regarding blue whales and marine ecosystems
EDUCATION
Simon Fraser University BSc. Biology 2002 – 2007
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
Biology of Marine Mammals 2006
- Six weeks of hands-on learning including necropsies and species identification.
- Individual humpback whales were photographed, identified, and presented in an identification catalogue
- Trained in research protocol, camera use and photo identification techniques
Biology of Marine Fishes 2005
- Six weeks of hands-on learning including specimen collection and identification.
- Personal research project in which data was collected, analysized and presented.
- Trained in research protocol, statistical analysis as well as basic boat operations and safety
Pleasure Craft Operator Card 2005
PADI Open Water SCUBA Diver 2002
REFERENCES
Risa Smith
Manager, Biodiversity Assessments and Reporting
Environment Canada
Risa.Smith@ec.gc.ca
604.664.9303
Brian Sheehan
Curator of Marine Mammals
Vancouver Aquarium
Brian.Sheehan@vanaqua.org
604.659.3437
Résumés Details
