Andrés Felipe Barón López 1905 Caroline Street, Apartment D, Bainbridge, GA, 39819 Telephone: 352-871-2984 e-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Spoken and written languages: Spanish (native) and English
During my early formation as a biologist, I was strongly influenced by the use of plant physiology and plant ecology as powerful, practical and interesting tools to establish a good approach for the understanding natural process. Since then, I have been focusing on learning new concepts and techniques, improving my field and lab skills as well as my ability to recognize patterns and observe, on an analytical way, natural processes on different ecosystems.
Academic Formation M.S. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Ecosystem Dynamics and Ecosystem Ecology Laboratories. August 2012 Thesis title: Thermokarst slump effects on ecosystem C and N dynamics in upland arctic tundra
• Coordination of personnel during three field seasons • Planning and proper execution of field and laboratory activities • Achievment of objectives during an establish time frame • Resourceful problem solving skills. • Multidisciplinary / multicultural team working • Management and analysis of large data sets (QA/QC)
B.Sc. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. Major: Biology, February 2006 Thesis title: Evaluation of Catalase and Peroxidase activity as a possible mechanism of desiccation tolerance in the moss Racomitrium crispipilum (Grimmiaceae) during dry time in Páramo de Chingaza, Colombia.
• Execution of a research project from concept through testing to completion • Implementation of applied ecophysiological techniques • Standardization of field sampling and laboratory protocols
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 2001-2006 • Research assistant in plant physiology and bryophytes morph-anatomical adaptations. • Standardization and handling of culture techniques of Páramo mosses. • Handling of equipment and techniques for the biochemical study of plant species (HPLC, TLC and spectrophotometer). • Formation in LM (Light Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy).
Work Experience • Lead Technician, Forest Ecology Laboratory Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway (Newton, GA, USA) May 2012 - present
Research Experience • Research Assistant / Field Coordinator University of Florida (Gainesville, FL, USA) Jun. 2009- May 2012 Spatial and temporal influences of thermokarst failures on surface processes in arctic landscapes (Toolik Field Station, Noatak National Preserve, AK). Characterization of physical and chemical properties of arctic soils and vegetation inside and outside different thermo-erosional features. Collection of moss and shrub samples in order to age different retrogressive thaw slumps. Collection of deep soil samples (using deep soil coring techniques) in order to determine carbon and nitrogen stocks in permafrost.
• Field Research Assistant University of Florida (Gainesville, FL, USA) Jun. 2008 - June 2011 Tundra ecosystem gas exchange and its response to warming and permafrost thawing (Eight mile lake tundra ecosystem, Healy, AK). Maintenance of a permanent automatic system for CO2 fluxes. Maintenance of a permanent gradient site for permafrost thawing measurements (weather stations, active layer and water table measurements and water shed measurements). Establishment of a new ecosystem warming experiment to test the effect of permafrost thawing on tundra carbon balance.
• Lab Assistant Universidad Nacional de Colombia Dec. 2007 - Feb. 2008 Quantification of sacarose synthase and sacarose phosphate synthase in cotton tissues growing under different potassium concentrations.
• Field Research Assistant Univ. of New Brunswick Saint John Campus (Canada) Jul. 2007 - Sep. 2007 Correlation between coarse woody debris and bryophyte population in a core reserve area inside Irvine’s Black Brooke District plantation (northern New Brunswick). Establishment of linear interception transects in 10 permanent sampling plots. Using of certain ecological techniques (Log’s – downed wood- decay classification, point center quarter and spherical densiometer) to evaluate the correlation between coarse woody debris and bryophyte populations.
• Research Assistant / Field Coordinator International Center of Physics (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) / University of Florida (Gainesville, FL, USA) Mar. 2006 - May 2007 Control of the net primary production by the rain in a tropical rain forest in Chocó Biogeográfico (Gorgona island-Colombia). Establishment and maintenance of a permanent plot (1ha) for net primary productivity measurements.
• Laboratory Assistant Universidad Nacional de Colombia Nov. 2005 - Jan. 2006 Extraction and quantification of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin of 400 varieties of Capsicum sp. from the seed bank of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Palmira, Valle del Cauca.
• Research Assistant Universidad Nacional de Colombia Jun. 2004 - Oct. 2004 Comparison of the content of total sugars and chlorophylls in the mosses Breutelia trianae (Bartramiaceae) and Pleurozium schreberi (Hylocomiaceae). Water regulation and desiccation tolerance in the mosses Breutelia trianae (Bartramiaceae), Pleurozium schreberi (Hylocomiaceae) and Macromitrium longifolium (Orthotrichaceae).
• Research Assistant Universidad Nacional de Colombia Jan. 2002 - Sep. 2004 Some aspects of the water regulation in mosses of Páramo de Chingaza (East Mountain Range of Colombian Andes). As part of the investigation group: “Ecology of High Mountain Tropical Organisms”. Field collections of bryophytes and lichens for posterior ecological, physiological and biochemical characterization.
Undergraduate fieldwork trips • May 2005. Taganga Bay, Atlantic Ocean, Colombia. Marine Ecology Fieldtrip. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. • September 2005. Chicamocha Canyon, Santander, Colombia. Ecophysiological characterization of aromatic plant species from an arid region. Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) / Universidad Nacional de Colombia. • September 2004. Colombian savanna ecosystem. Terrestrial Ecology Fieldtrip. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. • September 2003. Tropical Rain Forest, Leticia, Colombia. Animal Systematic fieldtrip. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. • May 2003. Low Mountain Forest, Santander, Colombia. Plant Systematic fieldtrip. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. • April 2003. Geographic recognition of the East Landscape (savanna ecosystem) of Meta Department, Colombia. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
• September 2002. Geological recognition of a fraction of the Center Mountain Range of Colombia, Tolima Department, Colombia. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Teaching Experience • University of Florida, Gainesville. Spring 2012. PCB4043 (General Ecology) undergraduate course. Laboratory teacher assistant. • University of Florida, Gainesville. Spring 2010, Spring 2011. BSC2011 (Introduction to Biology II) undergraduate course. Laboratory teacher assistant. • Universidad Nacional de Colombia. 2004 – 2005. Non-vascular plants undergraduate course. Laboratory teacher assistant.
Other Experience • LabScientific, Inc. (www.labscient.com). April 2008 – May 2008. Sealer assistant in Bogotá, Colombia.
Extracurricular Courses • Tower Climbing Safety & Rescue. Com Train,Texas, LLC, 3409, Executive Center Dr. #202, Austin, Texas 78731, Phone 512 275-6600, Fax 512 758-7878. June 2012 • Bryophytes and Lichens of the Boreal Forest. Université Laval/ Centre for Forest Research (CFR), Montmorency Forest, Province of Québec, Canada. June 2007 st • 1 Symposium of Clinic Toxicology “César Gómez Villegas”: Ophidic and Arachnid risk of accident. PROBIOL Laboratory / San Martin University, Bogotá, Colombia. May 2006 nd • 2 International Course in Ecophysiology of Tropical Plants. CORPOICA, Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. October 2005
Publications • Barón, A., García, W., Melgarejo, L. M. and Montenegro, L. C. Physiological aspects of Racomitrium crispipilum Taylor A. (Jaeger) during Dry season in Páramo de Chingaza, Colombia. Tropical Bryology 30:1-9, 2008.(ISSN 0935- 5626).
• Natali, S. M, Schuur, E. A. G, Trucco, C., Hicks Pries, C. Crummer, K and Baron Lopez, A. F. Effects of experimental warming of air, soil and permafrost on carbon balance in Alaskan tundra. Global Change Biology (2010), doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02303.x • Chaparro de Valencia, M., Barón, A. y Montenegro Ruiz, L. C. Regulación hídrica en cinco musgos del páramo de Chingaza. En: Estrategias adaptativas de plantas del páramo y del bosque altoandino en la cordillera Oriental de Colombia. 1 edición. Bogotá, UNIBIBLOS. 2005.
Scientific Meetings • Baron, A. Mack, M. C. and Schuur, E. A. G. How much carbon and nitrogen are inside a thermokarst?. Arctic LTER Meeting, Woods Hole, MA. February 2011 • Baron, A. Mack, M. C. and Schuur, E. A. G. Thermokarst effects on ecosystem dynamics in arctic landscapes. Arctic LTER Meeting, Woods Hole, th th MA. March 5 to 8 , 2010. • Barón, A., Posada, J. and Schuur, E. Seasonal Patterns of Net Primary Production, Decomposition and Resource Availability in a High Rainfall Everwet Tropical Forest. ESA / SER Joint Meeting. San-Jose McEnery th th Convention Center, San-Jose, California. August 5 to 10 , 2007. • Barón, A., Melgarejo, L. M. and Montenegro, L. C. Evaluation of Catalase and Peroxidase activity as a possible mechanism of desiccation tolerance in the moss Racomitrium crispipilum (Grimmiaceae) during dry time in Páramo de th Chingaza, Colombia. 4 Colombian Congress of Botany. Medellin, Colombia. th th April 22 to 27 , 2007. • Barón, A., Melgarejo, L. M. and Montenegro, L. C. Evaluation of Catalase and Peroxidase activity as a possible mechanism of desiccation tolerance in the moss Racomitrium crispipilum (Grimmiaceae) during dry time in Páramo de th Chingaza, Colombia. 9 Latinamerican Congress of Botany. Santo Domingo th th (República Dominicana). June 19 to 25 , 2006. • Barón, A., García, W., González, A., Melgarejo, L. M. and Montenegro, L. C. Regulación hídrica y Tolerancia a la desecación en Breutelia trianae (Bartramiaceae), Pleurozium schreberi (Hylocomiaceae) y Macromitrium rd longifolium (Orthotrichaceae). 3 Colombian Congress of Botany. Popayán, th th Colombia. November 7 to 12 , 2004. • Barón, A., García, W., González, A., Melgarejo, L. M. and Montenegro, L. C. Comparación del Contenido de Azúcares totales y Clorofilas en Breutelia rd trianae (Bartramiaceae) y Pleurozium schereberi (Hylocomiaceae). 3
th th Colombian Congress of Botany. Popayán, Colombia. November 7 to 12 , 2004. • Chaparro de Valencia, M., Barón, A., Pinzón, A. and Montenegro, L. C. Some aspects of the water regulation in five mosses in Lagunas de Buitrago, th Páramo de Chingaza, Colombia. 15 World Congress of the International th th Association of Bryologist (IAB) Mérida, Venezuela. January 12 to 16 , 2004. • Barón, A., García, W., Hoyos, M., Palacios, C., Chaparro de Valencia, M and Montenegro, L. C. Some aspects of the water regulation in four mosses in th Monteredondo, Páramo de Chingaza, Colombia. 15 World Congress of the th International Association of Bryologist (IAB) Mérida, Venezuela. January 12 th to 16 , 2004. • Chaparro de Valencia, M., Montenegro, L. C., Barón, A., García, W. and Verdugo, M. Algunos aspectos de la regulación hídrica en musgos del páramo th nd de Chingaza (Colombia). 8 Latin American Congress and 2 Colombian th th Congress of Botany. Cartagena, Colombia. October 13 to 18 , 2002.
Professional Societies • Arctic LTER (Toolik Field Station, north slope, AK) • IAB. International Association of Bryologist. • Stress Physiology and Biodiversity of Plants and Microorganisms. Investigation Group approved by COLCIENCIAS (Colombian Institute for the development of the Science and Technology). Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Personal References • Dr. Edward (Ted) Schuur Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Ecology Department of Botany. 220 Bartram Hall, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, 32611 Tel: 352-392-7913 [email protected]
• Dr. Michelle C. Mack Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Ecology Department of Botany. 220 Bartram Hall, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, 32611 Tel: 352-275-1565 [email protected]
• Dr. Juan Posada Ecology unit director, Biology Department Mathematics and Natural Science Faculty Universidad del Rosario Carrera 24 No. 63C-69 Bogotá, D.C., 111221, Colombia Tel: +57-1-347-4570 ext. 218. Fax: +57-1-347-4570 ext. 286
• Dr. Luz Marina Melgarejo Muñoz Assistant Professor of Plant Physiology and Plant Biochemistry. Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biologia Universidad Nacional de Colombia Tel: +57-1-316-5000 ext 11334, 11339, 11305 Fax +57-1-3165310 [email protected]