curriculum vitae

Tiffany Lutz

Collingswood ∙ NJ 08108

Tiffany.Lutz@Rutgers.edu

Education

Rutgers University	Camden, New Jersey
MS in Biology with Emphasis in Ecology and Evolution		September 2015 – Present
Bachelors of Science in Biology Cumulative GPA: 3.56		September 2013 – August 2015
Northern Virginia Community College Associates of Science Cumulative GPA: 3.469		Alexandria, Virginia September 2011 – August 2013

Research Experience

Saddler’s Woods Conservation Association	January 2015 – May 2015
Forest Restoration Intern	Camden, NJ

• Assisted with clerical tasks including purchasing supplies, filing, and proofing documents
• Conducted amphibian and macro invertebrate surveys
• Assisted with community outreach during The Environmental Center’s open house and other events
• Maintained woods by removing litter debris
• Lead a volunteer team during Spring Stewardship Event.
• Helped with habitat restoration and removal of invasive species
• Gave presentation on “local wildlife found in Saddler’s Woods” at a community event

Rutgers University	January 2015 – May 2015
Research Advisor: Dr. Kwangwon Lee Principles and Practices of Biological Research	Camden, NJ

• Worked with a team to devise original research project to investigate if, “soil from an invasive plant species altered the below ground biotic conditions that would affect the growth of native tree seedlings”.
• Measurements of tulip poplar seedlings collected: root/shoot ratio, total plant biomass, stem collar width, percent mychorrizal colonization

University of Montana at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest	June 2014 – August 2014
Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) Research Advisor: Dr. Jon Davenport	Woodstock, NH

• Formulated and executed independent research project and assisted with long term amphibian monitoring research currently being conducted at Hubbard Brook
• Independent research project sought to answer the question, “How do fish affect the foraging and surface activity levels of two species of spring salamanders?”
• For data collection purposes spring salamanders and brook trout were weighed, measured, marked with Visible Implant Elastomer, and mapped out with QGIS software
• Field survey of population estimate of brook trout on four first order streams
• Analyzed data using R Statistical Software

Northern Virginia Community College	Spring 2012
Independent Research Project Research Advisor: Dr. Todd Tupper	Alexandria, VA

• Conducted research on amphibian ovipostion in vernal pools
• Characteristics that were studied include egg depth placement, water temperature, canopy covering, direction of placement, and attachment style.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center	September 2011 – January 2012
Volunteer Research Assistant	Edgewater, Maryland

• Sorted, counted, and identified species of mollusks and invertebrates from benthic core samples under dissecting microscope
• Dissected and removed spermthecae from female blue crabs
• Counted, measured and identified species of fish and invertebrates for long term weir and trawl studies along the Chesapeake Bay

Honors/Awards

Gerald S. Weissman Prize in Biology, Rutgers University, spring 2015

Rutgers Undergraduate Travel Grant: Association of Southeastern Biologists Conference, April 2015

Dean’s List, Rutgers University, fall 2013, 2014, and spring 2015

Dean’s List, Northern Virginia Community College, fall 2011 – spring 2013

Affiliations and Activities

Association of Southeastern Biologists- Member

Member, Rutgers University Camden Biology Club, September 2013 – Present

Member, Rutgers University Camden Chemistry Club, September 2013 – Present

Member, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, September 2011 – August 2013

Presentations and Publications

“Competitive effects of native and nonnative fish on larval salamander behavior and growth”

• Poster presentation: Association of Southeastern Biologist Annual Conference, April 2015, Chattanooga, TN
• Poster presentation: Rutgers annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, CURCA, April 2015, Camden, NJ
• Journal article in process
• Talk Presentation: Hubbard Brook Annual REU/RET conference, July 2014, Woodstock, NH