Curriculum vitae: Jeremy B. Yoder

Up to date as of 18 December 2009. For a hardcopy version, test scores, transcripts, or references, please email me: jbyoder AT gmail DOT com. My scientific publications to date are listed on a separate page.

Education

University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. Doctoral student in the Department of Biological Sciences, studying evolutionary biology as part of Dr. Olle Pellmyr's lab.

Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA. Major in environmental science, minor in chemistry. Graduated magna cum laude (cumulative GPA 3.82/4.0) April 2004.

Experience

Research

August 2005 - present: Doctoral research in Dr. Olle Pellmyr's lab, involved in field collections, ecological experiments, population genetic and phylogenetic analysis of DNA samples and plant morphological data for NSF-funded study of coevolutionary divergence in Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and its pollinator moths (Tegeticula spp.).

October 2004 - July 2005: Intern with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy; involved with GIS data collection, management, and analysis; lab work processing vernal pool invertebrate samples; and field work in plant community ecology. Supervised by Charles Bier.

June - August 2004: Intern with the Friends of the North Fork Shenandoah River (as part of the Virginia STEP Program); completed a summer project involving data mining, sample collection and laboratory analysis of well samples, and development of a long-term plan for groundwater monitoring in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Supervised by Alan Raflo.

January - April 2004: Volunteer intern, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Valley Regional Office; assisting with office work. Supervised by Don Kain.

Teaching

August - December 2009: Tutor, University of Idaho Tutoring and Academic Assistance Program. Provided one-on-one tutoring for students in a range of biology classes. Supervised by Mickey Lingholm.

August - December 2009 Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho Department of Biological Sciences. Led two sections of ~20 students in planned laboratory activities for Biology 483 (Mammalogy), covering the anatomy, taxonomy, and identification of mammals, with emphasis on Idaho native species. Supervised by David Roon.

January - May 2009: Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho Department of Biological Sciences. Led two sections of ~25 students in planned laboratory activities for Biology 314 (Ecology and Population Biology), a course for biology majors focusing on population dynamics, genetics, and evolution. Supervised by Scott Nuismer.

August - December 2008: Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho Department of Biological Sciences. Led one section of ~25 students in planned laboratory activities for Biology 212 (Cellular and Molecular Biology), a course for biology majors focusing on cellular structure and function, with reference to scientific and clinical methods. Supervised by Kristin Simokat.

August - December 2005: Teaching Assistant, University of Idaho Department of Biological Sciences. Led three sections of ~25 students in planned laboratory activities for Biology 102 (Biology and Society), an introductory survey course intended for non-biology majors. Supervised by Margaret Ricci.

Skills and training

Molecular biology and phylogenetics. Experienced in nucleic acid extraction, PCR optimization and primer design, and DNA sequencing; DNA sequence processing and alignment; use of analysis software including PAUP, MrBayes, and Mesquite. Graduate-level classes in systematics (audited), and population genetic methods.

Mathematical modeling and statistical analysis. Use of Mathematica, R, and SAS. Graduate-level classes in probability theory, experimental design, and evolutionary theory.

GIS data collection and analysis. Use of professional and recreational GPS units for data collection in the field, and use of the ArcGIS software suite for geographic data management and analysis.

Publication design and production. Use of professional layout and graphic design software (Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Quark); experience in HTML and CSS scripting for web design; news writing and copy editing.

Funding recieved

2009: "Coevolution and co-divergence in a classical obligate mutualism between Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and its pollinators (Tegeticula spp.)." National Science Foundation doctoral dissertation improvement grant, $15,000.

2009: University of Idaho Student Grant Program dissemination grant, for travel to give invited lecture for the Joshua Tree National Park Association Desert Institute in La Quinta, California, $607.

2008: University of Idaho Student Grant Program dissemination grant, for travel to the Evolution 2008 conference at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, $1075.

2007: A new approach to testing for coevolution. University of Idaho Student Grant Program, $1500.

2007: A genetic approach to determine the effects of range fragmentation on the future of Joshua tree (Agavaceae: Yucca brevifolia). Joshua Tree National Park Graduate Student Research Grant Program, $4,000.

2006: University of Idaho Graduate and Professional Student Association travel grant, for travel to the Evolution 2006 conference, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, $400.

Synergistic activities

December 2007 - present: Blogging: web design, research, and writing for a general audience on scientific topics relating to evolution and ecology, with specific reference to new results in the scientific literature, at Denim and Tweed, as part of the Research Blogging online community and content aggregator.

January 2009 - present: Developed and managed the website for the Evolution 2009 meetings at the University of Idaho.

August 2006 - June 2007: Biological Sciences delegate to the University of Idaho Graduate and Professional Students Association Senate. Developing and presenting Senate actions and resolutions, and representing the interests of graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Awards recieved

2009. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center conference travel fellowship for best evolution-themed blog in 2009. ($750 toward travel and lodging expenses for the ScienceOnline 2010 conference)

2004. C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Competition binational-level competition, first place.

2000. National Merit Scholarship finalist.

2000. Eastern Mennonite University Honors Scholarship (half tuition).