Curriculum vitae: Jeremy B. Yoder

Up to date as of 11 May 2008. 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

August 2005 - present: Graduate Research Assistant in Dr. Olle Pellmyr's lab, involved in field collections, processing and analysis of DNA samples and plant morphological data for a National Science Foundation-funded study of 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.

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.

Grants

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.

Awards recieved

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

2000. National Merit Scholarship finalist.

2000. Eastern Mennonite University Honors Scholarship.

Cross-Cultural experience and skills

Study abroad semester. Three months in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Greece, and Italy with the Eastern Mennonite University cross-cultural program: curriculum included current politics, Near-Eastern history and archaeology, and religious/cultural studies. August-December 2002.

French language studies. Four years at Lancaster Mennonite High School.