I endeavor to remain active within local and regional communities, both at home and abroad. Because conservation cannot be accomplished alone, the involvement of students and citizen scientists, young and old alike, is vital. Thus, I routinely participate in various outreach, educational, and mentorship events at local schools, universities, and in the field. This inclusion enhances student likelihood of pursuing higher education degrees, promotes diversity in leadership, and provides a unique opportunity for in-situ conservation experiences. Involvement with villagers that live near field sites not only clarifies project goals, but cultivates relationships, forges deeper commitments to conservation, and enables projects to persist. Additional outreach with primary and high school children encourages them to interact with a "real live scientist" while introducing them to connections between global issues and personal responsibility. Some of the mentorship and outreach events I have been a part of include the ARESTY Research Center, Polar ICE Sci-I Project (NSF funded), STEM Community Outreach Symposium, Science Café, visits to John P. Stevens High School, and the training and mentorship of Indonesian undergraduate student assistants in sample collection, wildlife biology/field methods, data entry, parasite identification, and laboratory techniques.
TRAINING/MENTORSHIP
2022-2023, Laboratory for Primate Dietary Ecology and Physiology – Rutgers
Trained one doctoral candidate in laboratory safety and pipetting techniques along with radioimuno- and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
2021-present, eccePAN Laboratory – UNIGE; Bugoma Primate Conservation Project – Hoima, Uganda
Mentoring and training two master’s and one doctoral student in physiological research design, biological sample collection, laboratory techniques (e.g., pipetting, aliquoting, sample processing, sample preservation, etc.), and data collection pertaining to energetics and tool use in humans (saliva and urine samples) and wild Ugandan chimpanzees (Bugoma Forest Reserve).
2017- 2019, Laboratory for Primate Dietary Ecology and Physiology - Rutgers
Training one undergraduate student in data entry, statistical analyses, laboratory techniques and protocol, and colorimetric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
2016-2017, ARESTY Research Center, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs - Rutgers
Mentored one undergraduate student in laboratory techniques, colorimetric assays, and statistical analyses who correlated creatinine and urea concentrations in rehabilitated orangutans between different field preservation mediums (frozen urine vs. urine dried on filter paper).
2015-2017, Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Post-Release Monitoring Staff and Volunteers
Trained ten post-release monitoring staff and volunteers at the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Bukit Batikap Conservation Forest in urine and fecal sample collection and preservation, data collection, and urinary Chemstrip analysis.
2015–2017, Indonesian Student Counterparts and Assistants
Trained two undergraduate Indonesian student counterparts from Universitas Gadjah Mada in data and sample collection, wildlife biology/field methods, data entry, gastro-intestinal parasite identification, and laboratory techniques such as fecal flotation and sedimentation.
2013-2014, ARESTY Research Center, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs - Rutgers
Mentored one undergraduate student in laboratory techniques and colorimetric assays who investigated physiological effects orangutans employ under times of dietary stress.
2012-2013, ARESTY Research Center, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs - Rutgers
Mentored two undergraduates who compared the validity of urine storage field methods (frozen vs. filter papers) and investigated sample deterioration on filter paper over a six-month period.
TRAINING/MENTORSHIP
2022-2023, Laboratory for Primate Dietary Ecology and Physiology – Rutgers
Trained one doctoral candidate in laboratory safety and pipetting techniques along with radioimuno- and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
2021-present, eccePAN Laboratory – UNIGE; Bugoma Primate Conservation Project – Hoima, Uganda
Mentoring and training two master’s and one doctoral student in physiological research design, biological sample collection, laboratory techniques (e.g., pipetting, aliquoting, sample processing, sample preservation, etc.), and data collection pertaining to energetics and tool use in humans (saliva and urine samples) and wild Ugandan chimpanzees (Bugoma Forest Reserve).
2017- 2019, Laboratory for Primate Dietary Ecology and Physiology - Rutgers
Training one undergraduate student in data entry, statistical analyses, laboratory techniques and protocol, and colorimetric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
2016-2017, ARESTY Research Center, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs - Rutgers
Mentored one undergraduate student in laboratory techniques, colorimetric assays, and statistical analyses who correlated creatinine and urea concentrations in rehabilitated orangutans between different field preservation mediums (frozen urine vs. urine dried on filter paper).
2015-2017, Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Post-Release Monitoring Staff and Volunteers
Trained ten post-release monitoring staff and volunteers at the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Bukit Batikap Conservation Forest in urine and fecal sample collection and preservation, data collection, and urinary Chemstrip analysis.
2015–2017, Indonesian Student Counterparts and Assistants
Trained two undergraduate Indonesian student counterparts from Universitas Gadjah Mada in data and sample collection, wildlife biology/field methods, data entry, gastro-intestinal parasite identification, and laboratory techniques such as fecal flotation and sedimentation.
2013-2014, ARESTY Research Center, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs - Rutgers
Mentored one undergraduate student in laboratory techniques and colorimetric assays who investigated physiological effects orangutans employ under times of dietary stress.
2012-2013, ARESTY Research Center, Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs - Rutgers
Mentored two undergraduates who compared the validity of urine storage field methods (frozen vs. filter papers) and investigated sample deterioration on filter paper over a six-month period.