alanna_durkin_cv.pdf |
Curriculum Vitae
Alanna Durkin
Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
Temple University, Ph.D. (May 2018)
Dissertation: The ecology of deep-sea chemosynthetic habitats, from populations to metacommunities
Advisor: Dr. Erik E. Cordes
Cornell University (May 2012 graduate)
B.A. in Biological Sciences
Minor in East Asian Studies
HONORS AND AWARDS
Temple University Dissertation Completion Grant (2017)
A fully-funded semester during which the doctoral dissertation is to be completed.
Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student (2016)
Awarded to select graduate students in Temple University’s College of Science and Technology who have demonstrated excellence in their teaching assistant positions.
Ernest F. Hollings Scholar (2010-2012)
Awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to outstanding undergraduates studying a related field of science to complete a summer research opportunity with NOAA.
PUBLICATIONS
Demopoulos, A.W.J., Bourque, J.R., Durkin, A., Cordes, E. (2018) The influence of seep habitats on sediment macrofaunal biodiversity and functional traits. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2018.10.004
Durkin, A., Fisher, C.R., Cordes, E.E. (2017). Extreme longevity in a deep-sea vestimentiferan tubeworm and its implications for the evolution of life-history strategies. The Science of Nature 104:63. doi: 10.1007/s00114-017-1479-z
Georgian, S.E., DeLeo, D., Durkin, A., Gomez, C.E., Kurman, M., Lunden, J.J., Cordes, E.E. (2015) Oceanographic patterns and carbonate chemistry in the vicinity of cold-water coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico: implications for resilience in a changing ocean. Limnology and Oceanography. doi: 10.1002/lno.10242
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
Durkin, A., Levin, L.A., Cordes, E.E. 2017. Community ecology of methane seeps along the Costa Rica margin.
Oral presentation for 6th International Chemosynthesis-Based Ecosystems Symposium, Woods Hole, MA.
Durkin, A., Fisher, C.R., Cordes, E.E. 2017. Evolution of extreme longevity in a deep-sea tubeworm.
Oral presentation for Evolution in Philadelphia Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2016. Spatial analysis of cold-water coral and cold seep distributions in the Gulf of Mexico.
Poster presentation for the 6th International Deep-Sea Coral Symposium, Boston, MA.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2016. Evolution of longevity and population dynamics in the centuries-old deep-sea tubeworm Escarpia laminata.
Poster presentation for the Computational Research on Owl’s Nest Symposium, Temple University.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2015. Population dynamics of the long-lived tubeworm Escarpia laminata at Gulf of Mexico cold seeps.
Oral presentation for 14th Deep Sea Biology Symposium, Aveiro, Portugal.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2015. Population dynamics of the tubeworm Escarpia laminata at Gulf of Mexico cold seeps.
Oral presentation for 44th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, Quebec City, Canada.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2013. Population dynamics of Escarpia laminata in Gulf of Mexico cold seeps.
Oral presentation for 42nd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, Savannah, GA.
RESEARCH CRUISES
2017 - DEEP SEARCH - NOAA Ship Pisces and AUV Sentry, US Atlantic margin, Chief Scientist: Dr. Amanda Demopoulos. 18 days
2017 - ROC HITS - R/V Atlantis, DSV Alvin and AUV Sentry, Costa Rica, Chief Scientist: Dr. Erik Cordes. 21 days
2014 - Acid Horizon - R/V Atlantis, DSV Alvin and AUV Sentry, Gulf of Mexico, Chief Scientist: Dr. Erik Cordes. 19 days
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Life Epigenetics, Data Science Consultant (November 2018 – March 2019)
Helped develop Python-based software package for analyzing DNA methylation array data, and assisted with R-based statistical analysis for other company side projects. Used Amazon Web Services, including SageMaker Jupyter notebooks, for cloud computing and practiced GitHub-based version control.
Cordes Lab, PhD Researcher (2012-2018)
Participated in oceanographic research cruises where my duties included sorting community collections, assisting with water chemistry, and creating fine-scale habitat maps using AUV Sentry’s photo and environmental data on board. Performed data analysis to answer ecological questions about chemosynthetic ecosystems from the population dynamics of a species of seep tubeworm to the extent of seep influence on background species in the deep Gulf of Mexico how a novel hydrothermal seep hybrid fits into the global biogeography of vents and seeps.
Hairston Ecology Lab, Lab Assistant (2010-2012)
Collected and processed Cayuga Lake plankton samples, maintained Daphnia cultures, and assisted in data management.
NOAA James J. Howard Lab, Hollings Scholar/Intern (Summer 2011)
Participated in a research cruise between New Jersey and Long Island, processed and sorted the collected plankton samples, and modeled collected statistical data using R to complete and presented a 9-week project: “Larval summer flounder distributions with respect to oceanographic features and possible connections to spawning grounds.”
Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Intern (Summer 2009)
Collected and catalogued water quality data on local rivers to update acid mine drainage database for Schuylkill County, helped to maintain acid mine drainage treatment systems, and assisted other branches of the Schuylkill Conservation District with outreach and education.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching in Higher Education Certificate
Received upon completing year-long program with Temple’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching that taught principles of inclusive teaching, course design, student development, and technology.
Adjunct Faculty (Spring 2019)
Montgomery County Community College, BIO 121 General Biology
Adjunct Lab Instructor (Spring 2019)
Temple University, BIOL 2241 Invertebrate Biology
Facilitator for Temple University TA Orientation (2016 and 2017)
Invited to lead a session titled “Captivating Classes: Improving Lectures and Presentations” to prepare new graduate student TAs for their first semester of teaching at Temple.
Teaching Assistant (Spring 2017)
Temple University, BIOL 2227 Principles of Ecology
Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer (Summers 2013, 2014, 2016)
Temple University, BIOL 3244 Experimental Marine Bio
Lectures: “Intro to Marine Bio” and “The Ocean Floor”
Guest Lecturer (Fall 2015)
Temple University, BIOL 3245 Marine Ecology
Lecture: “Deep-Sea Hot Spots”
Teaching Assistant (Spring 2015)
Temple University, BIOL 8250 Programming for Biologists
Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer (Spring 2015)
Temple University, BIOL 1911 Honors Intro to Biology
Lectures: “Introduction to Animals” and “Population Ecology”
Teaching Assistant (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2016)
Temple University, BIOL 1001 Human Biology
GRE Instructor (2014-Present)
Leading classes and tutoring students one-on-one on the Math and Verbal sections of the GRE through Kaplan Test Prep
Cornell Learning Strategies Center, Biology Tutor (2010-2012)
Tutored undergraduate students in general biology electives, evolution, and genetics
COMPUTER SKILLS
Blackboard and Canvas LMS, R, Python, Java, ArcGIS 10, Windows batch scripting, Unix shell scripting, Primer, LaTeX, Arduino
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Book processor and archivist (September 2018 - Present)
Assisted with cataloguing of new books at Pottsville Free Public Library and digitized minutes from board meetings more than 100 years ago among other general volunteer services.
Science Fair Judge (March 2018)
Evaluated Philadelphia high school zoology projects at the George Washington Carver Science Fair.
Start Talking Science (September 2016)
Presented a science communication poster about deep sea exploration and dissertation research to a broad audience including other scientists and the general public of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Science Leadership Academy Shark Week Panel (June 2016)
Delivered an invited talk about deep-sea sharks to a class of high school students who organized the panel.
Philadelphia Area Girls Enjoying Science (PAGES) (April 2016 and November 2017 and April 2018)
Led a hands-on water chemistry activity as part of a one-day event dedicated to encouraging 6th grade girls to explore and pursue science.
iPraxis Scienteer (Fall 2015 and Fall 2016)
Spent an hour a week with 6th and 8th graders through the fall semester to mentor them in designing and carrying out their science fair projects.
Letters to a Pre-Scientist (September 2015 – April 2016)
Exchanged letters with a 5th grader interested in oceans to give them an idea of life as a scientist and how they could enter a science career themselves.
Reviewer for a manuscript submitted to Biogeosciences
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Temple Society for Women in Science, Webmaster (2017)
Association of Women in Science, junior member (2016 – Present)
Deep Sea Biology Society, student member (2015 – Present)
Temple Biology Graduate Student Society, Historian and Webmaster (2012 – 2017)
Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
Temple University, Ph.D. (May 2018)
Dissertation: The ecology of deep-sea chemosynthetic habitats, from populations to metacommunities
Advisor: Dr. Erik E. Cordes
Cornell University (May 2012 graduate)
B.A. in Biological Sciences
Minor in East Asian Studies
HONORS AND AWARDS
Temple University Dissertation Completion Grant (2017)
A fully-funded semester during which the doctoral dissertation is to be completed.
Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student (2016)
Awarded to select graduate students in Temple University’s College of Science and Technology who have demonstrated excellence in their teaching assistant positions.
Ernest F. Hollings Scholar (2010-2012)
Awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to outstanding undergraduates studying a related field of science to complete a summer research opportunity with NOAA.
PUBLICATIONS
Demopoulos, A.W.J., Bourque, J.R., Durkin, A., Cordes, E. (2018) The influence of seep habitats on sediment macrofaunal biodiversity and functional traits. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2018.10.004
Durkin, A., Fisher, C.R., Cordes, E.E. (2017). Extreme longevity in a deep-sea vestimentiferan tubeworm and its implications for the evolution of life-history strategies. The Science of Nature 104:63. doi: 10.1007/s00114-017-1479-z
Georgian, S.E., DeLeo, D., Durkin, A., Gomez, C.E., Kurman, M., Lunden, J.J., Cordes, E.E. (2015) Oceanographic patterns and carbonate chemistry in the vicinity of cold-water coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico: implications for resilience in a changing ocean. Limnology and Oceanography. doi: 10.1002/lno.10242
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
Durkin, A., Levin, L.A., Cordes, E.E. 2017. Community ecology of methane seeps along the Costa Rica margin.
Oral presentation for 6th International Chemosynthesis-Based Ecosystems Symposium, Woods Hole, MA.
Durkin, A., Fisher, C.R., Cordes, E.E. 2017. Evolution of extreme longevity in a deep-sea tubeworm.
Oral presentation for Evolution in Philadelphia Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2016. Spatial analysis of cold-water coral and cold seep distributions in the Gulf of Mexico.
Poster presentation for the 6th International Deep-Sea Coral Symposium, Boston, MA.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2016. Evolution of longevity and population dynamics in the centuries-old deep-sea tubeworm Escarpia laminata.
Poster presentation for the Computational Research on Owl’s Nest Symposium, Temple University.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2015. Population dynamics of the long-lived tubeworm Escarpia laminata at Gulf of Mexico cold seeps.
Oral presentation for 14th Deep Sea Biology Symposium, Aveiro, Portugal.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2015. Population dynamics of the tubeworm Escarpia laminata at Gulf of Mexico cold seeps.
Oral presentation for 44th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, Quebec City, Canada.
Durkin, A., Cordes, E.E. 2013. Population dynamics of Escarpia laminata in Gulf of Mexico cold seeps.
Oral presentation for 42nd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, Savannah, GA.
RESEARCH CRUISES
2017 - DEEP SEARCH - NOAA Ship Pisces and AUV Sentry, US Atlantic margin, Chief Scientist: Dr. Amanda Demopoulos. 18 days
2017 - ROC HITS - R/V Atlantis, DSV Alvin and AUV Sentry, Costa Rica, Chief Scientist: Dr. Erik Cordes. 21 days
2014 - Acid Horizon - R/V Atlantis, DSV Alvin and AUV Sentry, Gulf of Mexico, Chief Scientist: Dr. Erik Cordes. 19 days
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Life Epigenetics, Data Science Consultant (November 2018 – March 2019)
Helped develop Python-based software package for analyzing DNA methylation array data, and assisted with R-based statistical analysis for other company side projects. Used Amazon Web Services, including SageMaker Jupyter notebooks, for cloud computing and practiced GitHub-based version control.
Cordes Lab, PhD Researcher (2012-2018)
Participated in oceanographic research cruises where my duties included sorting community collections, assisting with water chemistry, and creating fine-scale habitat maps using AUV Sentry’s photo and environmental data on board. Performed data analysis to answer ecological questions about chemosynthetic ecosystems from the population dynamics of a species of seep tubeworm to the extent of seep influence on background species in the deep Gulf of Mexico how a novel hydrothermal seep hybrid fits into the global biogeography of vents and seeps.
Hairston Ecology Lab, Lab Assistant (2010-2012)
Collected and processed Cayuga Lake plankton samples, maintained Daphnia cultures, and assisted in data management.
NOAA James J. Howard Lab, Hollings Scholar/Intern (Summer 2011)
Participated in a research cruise between New Jersey and Long Island, processed and sorted the collected plankton samples, and modeled collected statistical data using R to complete and presented a 9-week project: “Larval summer flounder distributions with respect to oceanographic features and possible connections to spawning grounds.”
Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Intern (Summer 2009)
Collected and catalogued water quality data on local rivers to update acid mine drainage database for Schuylkill County, helped to maintain acid mine drainage treatment systems, and assisted other branches of the Schuylkill Conservation District with outreach and education.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching in Higher Education Certificate
Received upon completing year-long program with Temple’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching that taught principles of inclusive teaching, course design, student development, and technology.
Adjunct Faculty (Spring 2019)
Montgomery County Community College, BIO 121 General Biology
Adjunct Lab Instructor (Spring 2019)
Temple University, BIOL 2241 Invertebrate Biology
Facilitator for Temple University TA Orientation (2016 and 2017)
Invited to lead a session titled “Captivating Classes: Improving Lectures and Presentations” to prepare new graduate student TAs for their first semester of teaching at Temple.
Teaching Assistant (Spring 2017)
Temple University, BIOL 2227 Principles of Ecology
Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer (Summers 2013, 2014, 2016)
Temple University, BIOL 3244 Experimental Marine Bio
Lectures: “Intro to Marine Bio” and “The Ocean Floor”
Guest Lecturer (Fall 2015)
Temple University, BIOL 3245 Marine Ecology
Lecture: “Deep-Sea Hot Spots”
Teaching Assistant (Spring 2015)
Temple University, BIOL 8250 Programming for Biologists
Teaching Assistant and Guest Lecturer (Spring 2015)
Temple University, BIOL 1911 Honors Intro to Biology
Lectures: “Introduction to Animals” and “Population Ecology”
Teaching Assistant (Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2016)
Temple University, BIOL 1001 Human Biology
GRE Instructor (2014-Present)
Leading classes and tutoring students one-on-one on the Math and Verbal sections of the GRE through Kaplan Test Prep
Cornell Learning Strategies Center, Biology Tutor (2010-2012)
Tutored undergraduate students in general biology electives, evolution, and genetics
COMPUTER SKILLS
Blackboard and Canvas LMS, R, Python, Java, ArcGIS 10, Windows batch scripting, Unix shell scripting, Primer, LaTeX, Arduino
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS
- Ocean Observatories Early Career Data Workshop: Chemistry at Rutgers University (July 30th - August 3rd, 2018)
- Produced data quality report on ASHES Vent Field temperature sensor data
- Using Open Textbooks in the Classroom at the Temple University Digital Scholarship Center (March 15th, 2018)
- Faculty workshops at Temple University’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching including:
- “Online Teaching Institute” – July 25th-26th, 2018
- "Canvas: Promoting Learning with Assignments and Quizzes" – April 10th, 2018
- "Canvas: Organizing and Delivering Effective Content" – April 2nd, 2018
- “Welcome to Canvas” – March 8th, 2018
- “Inclusive Teaching Institute” – February 19th – 28th, 2018
- “Life at a Community College: A Workshop for Teaching Assistants” – February 23rd, 2018
- “Teaching and Learning STEM: A Practical Guide Book Discussion” – February 7th & 14th, 2018
- Assistive and Accessible Technology and Universal Design for Learning Workshop at Temple University (February 24th, 2017)
- Second Annual Graduate Workshop on Environmental Data Analytics at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (July 27th - 31st, 2015)
- Parallel Programming and Optimization for High-Performance Computing Workshop at Temple University (July 7th -11th, 2014)
- Deep Submergence Science Committee’s Early Career Scientist Workshop in San Francisco (December 7th, 2013)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Book processor and archivist (September 2018 - Present)
Assisted with cataloguing of new books at Pottsville Free Public Library and digitized minutes from board meetings more than 100 years ago among other general volunteer services.
Science Fair Judge (March 2018)
Evaluated Philadelphia high school zoology projects at the George Washington Carver Science Fair.
Start Talking Science (September 2016)
Presented a science communication poster about deep sea exploration and dissertation research to a broad audience including other scientists and the general public of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Science Leadership Academy Shark Week Panel (June 2016)
Delivered an invited talk about deep-sea sharks to a class of high school students who organized the panel.
Philadelphia Area Girls Enjoying Science (PAGES) (April 2016 and November 2017 and April 2018)
Led a hands-on water chemistry activity as part of a one-day event dedicated to encouraging 6th grade girls to explore and pursue science.
iPraxis Scienteer (Fall 2015 and Fall 2016)
Spent an hour a week with 6th and 8th graders through the fall semester to mentor them in designing and carrying out their science fair projects.
Letters to a Pre-Scientist (September 2015 – April 2016)
Exchanged letters with a 5th grader interested in oceans to give them an idea of life as a scientist and how they could enter a science career themselves.
Reviewer for a manuscript submitted to Biogeosciences
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Temple Society for Women in Science, Webmaster (2017)
Association of Women in Science, junior member (2016 – Present)
Deep Sea Biology Society, student member (2015 – Present)
Temple Biology Graduate Student Society, Historian and Webmaster (2012 – 2017)