Michael I. Sitvarin Department of Entomology University of Kentucky 513-461-3049 Lexington, KY 40503 [email protected] ______
EDUCATION
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania 2002 – 2006 B.S. in Biology, minor in Philosophy
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 2008 – 2014 Ph.D. in Zoology
Dissertation title: Behavioral and ecological consequences of multiple intraguild predators and connections between predators, prey, and ecosystem function
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 2015 – present Postdoctoral scholar
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Course instructor: Environmental Biology. Spring 2013 Sole responsibility for one lecture section, including syllabus construction, gradebook, development of quizzes, assignments, and exams. Produced and presented all lecture materials independently.
Teaching assistant and guest lecturer: Animal Behavior. Spring 2011, 2012 Taught one laboratory section per semester. Developed new laboratory materials and activities. Gave three lectures while primary instructor attended professional meetings.
Head teaching assistant: Biological Concepts: Ecology, Evolution, and Genetics. Fall 2010, 2011, 2012 Coordinated graduate students responsible for teaching the laboratory sections and preparing the laboratory supplies. Created new teaching materials (quizzes, exams, rubrics, powerpoint presentations), co-instructed undergraduate teaching assistants, and contributed revisions for the laboratory manual.
Teaching assistant: Biological Concepts: Structure and Function. Spring 2010 Taught two laboratory sections.
Teaching assistant: Biological Concepts: Ecology, Evolution, and Genetics. Fall 2009 Taught two laboratory sections.
Teaching assistant: Principles of Human Physiology. Fall 2008, Spring 2009 Taught two laboratory sections per semester.
Core member: Graduate Student Teaching Enhancement Program. Fall 2008, Fall 2013 Completed a series of workshops designed to improve graduate student teaching, culminating with a presentation of an independently developed teaching-related project.
Research mentor: Undergraduates working on various aspects of spider biology. Advised and assisted numerous undergraduates: many received grants and presented at professional meetings.
AWARDS (* indicates undergraduate co-author)
Miami University, Graduate Student Achievement Award. 2014
Miami University, Dissertation Scholar. 2013
Miami University, College of Arts and Science Graduate Student Teaching Award. 2013
Miami University, Graduate Student Achievement Award. 2012
Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, 1st place poster presentation. 2012 (co-author with Hoffman*)
Miami University, Top presenter at Graduate Research Forum. 2011
Miami University, Passed comprehensive exams “with distinction”. 2011
Miami University, Graduate Student Achievement Award. 2010
st American Arachnological Society, 1 place poster presentation. 2010
American Arachnological Society, 2nd place poster presentation. 2010 (co-author with Breen*)
GRANTS (* indicates undergraduate co-author)
Miami University, Doctoral-Undergraduate Opportunity for Scholarship. 2012 (co-author with Romanchek*) $400
American Arachnological Society, Arachnological Research Fund. 2012. $190
Miami University, Undergraduate Research Award. 2011 (co-author with Breen*) $484
Miami University, Doctoral-Undergraduate Opportunity for Scholarship. 2010 (co-author with Breen*) $900
Sigma Xi, Grants-in-Aid of Research. 2010 $400
Miami University, Zoology Field Study and Research Workshop. 2009 $1,595
GRANTS (APPLIED FOR, UNFUNDED)
Sigma Xi, Grants in-Aid of Research. 2013
National Science Foundation, Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant. 2012
Animal Behavior Society, Student Research Grant. 2012 (co-author with Showalter)
Sigma Xi, Grants-in-Aid of Research. 2009
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (* indicates undergraduate co-author)
Athey, K.J., Sitvarin, M.I., Harwrood, J.D. In review. Stage specific aggregation mediates density dependent prey responses to non-consumptive predator effects. Insect Science.
Sitvarin M.I., Gordon S.D., Uetz G.W., Rypstra A.L. In review. The wolf spider Pardosa milvina detects predator threat level using only vibratory cues. Behaviour.
Youngquist M.B. & Sitvarin M.I. 2015. Interactions between metamorphic frogs and spider predators: exploring an understudied aspect of amphibian life history. Ethology 121: 601-608.
Sitvarin M.I., Breen K.*, Rypstra A.L. 2015. Predator cues have contrasting effects on lifespan of Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology 43: 107-110.
Sitvarin M.I., Romanchek C.*, Rypstra A.L. 2015. Nonconsumptive predator-prey interactions: sensitivity of the detritivore Sinella curviseta (Collembola: Entomobryidae) to cues of predation risk from the spider Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae). Environmental Entomology 44: 349-355.
Sitvarin M.I. & Rypstra A.L. 2014. The importance of intraguild predation in predicting emergent multiple predator effects. Ecology 95: 2936-2945.
Sitvarin M.I. & Rypstra A.L. 2014. Fear of predation alters soil carbon dioxide flux and nitrogen content. Biology Letters 10: 20140366.
Sitvarin M.I. & Rypstra A.L. 2012. Sex-specific response of Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae) to experience with a chemotactile predation cue. Ethology 118: 1230-1239.
Crowder D.W., Sitvarin M.I., Carriere Y. 2010. Mate discrimination in invasive whitefly species. Journal of Insect Behavior 23(5): 364-380.
Crowder D.W., Sitvarin M.I., Carriere Y. 2010. Plasticity in mating behavior drives asymmetric reproductive interference in whiteflies. Animal Behaviour 79(3): 579-587.
Iyengar E.V., Sitvarin M.I., Cataldo M. 2008. Function of the flexible periostracal hairs in Trichotropis cancellata (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Invertebrate Biology 127(3): 299-313.
Edwards M.J., Faivre A.E., Crist R.C. III, Sitvarin M.I., Zyla J. 2005. Distribution of the 2004 emergence of seventeen-year periodical cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae: Magicicada spp., brood X) in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Entomological News 116(5): 273-282.
NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS
Hickey R.J., Schussler E.E., Solomon N. G., Sitvarin M.I. eds. 2013. Laboratory experiences for biological concepts: ecology, evolution, genetics, and diversity. Hayden-McNeill Publishing, Plymouth, MI.
PRESENTATIONS (presenting author(s) in bold, *indicates undergraduate co-author)
Sitvarin & Rypstra. “Density- and trait-mediated impacts of predator-prey interactions on soil properties”. Gordon Research Conference, Poster, 2014
Sitvarin & Rypstra. “Density- and trait-mediated impacts of predators on prey and soil properties”. Ecological Society of America, Poster, 2013
Romanchek*, Sitvarin, Rypstra. “Associative learning in the soil arthropod Sinella curviseta in response to necromones and predator cues”. American Arachnological Society, Poster, 2013
Rypstra, Hoffman*, Sitvarin. “Foraging flocks of spiders: producers tolerate scrounging by kin”. Winter Animal Behavior Conference, Oral Presentation, 2013
Rypstra, Hoffman*, Sitvarin. “Association with relatives reduces foraging: evidence for altruism in a solitary cannibalistic spider”. International Society for Behavioral Ecology, Oral Presentation, 2012
Breen*, Sitvarin, Rypstra. “Patchy and mismatched cues: Pardosa milvina activity and survival influenced by two predators”. American Arachnological Society, Oral Presentation, 2012
Sitvarin & Rypstra. “Lack of trait-mediated effects of predators on detritivore activity”. American Arachnological Society, Poster, 2012
Hoffman*, Sitvarin, Rypstra. “Kinship and familiarity affect recognition and foraging in Pardosa milvina”. Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Poster, 2012
Sitvarin & Rypstra. “Multiple predator effects on the survival of Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae)”. American Arachnological Society; Miami University's Graduate Research Forum, Oral Presentation, 2011
Breen*, Sitvarin, Rypstra. “The effect of chemotactile cues from multiple predators on the feeding success and survival of the wolf spider Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae)”. American Arachnological Society, Poster, 2011
Sitvarin & Rypstra. “Effect of experience with a predation cue on the behavior of Pardosa milvina”. Animal Behavior Society; American Arachnological Society, Poster, 2010
Breen*, Sitvarin, Rypstra. “Predator coexistence: the role of chemical cues in the interactions between Hogna helluo and Scarites quadriceps and between Hogna helluo and Rabidosa spp.”. American Arachnological Society, Poster, 2010
Sitvarin, Gordon, Uetz, Rypstra. “Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae) does not use vibratory cues to detect predators or prey”. American Arachnological Society, Poster, 2009
Sitvarin & Iyengar. “Functional morphology of flexible periostracal hairs in the marine snail Trichotropis cancellata”. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Poster, 2006
Sitvarin, Crist, Edwards. “Geographic distribution of 17 year brood X periodical cicadas in Pennsylvania”. Lehigh Valley Evolution and Ecology Symposium, Oral Presentation and Poster, 2005
SERVICE
Member of Steering Committee for Biology Graduate Student Association. Fall 2013 Created the Biology Graduate Student Organization to unify graduate students from the former Departments of Botany and Zoology as members in the newly formed Department of Biology. Co- authored BioGSA Governance Document.
Member of Search Committee for Chair of Department of Biology. Spring 2013 Reviewed application material and statements from faculty. Made recommendation to the Dean.
Member of American Arachnological Society's Education Committee. 2011 – present Contributed to educational outreach program of the Society. Provided feedback for NSF grant.
Member of Chair's Graduate Student Advisory Committee. Fall 2010 – present Met with Department Chair to review and discuss feedback forms completed by graduate students. Organized a meeting of all graduate students to address questions and concerns.
Coordinator for Eco-lunch, informal brown bag research presentation forum. Spring 2010 Recruited and coordinated with speakers, distributed information about Eco-lunch, and moderated presentations.
Coordinator for Science Week, elementary school outreach event. Summer 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Developed and presented interactive demonstrations about arachnids for students in grades 1 – 5.
Graduate Student Representative to the Faculty. Spring 2009 – 2012 Attended regular meetings of faculty from the Department of Zoology. Voted on relevant issues and relayed information to fellow graduate students.
Representative for Department of Zoology at Graduate Student Association meetings. 2010 – present Attended regular meetings of the Graduate Student Association. Voted on relevant issues and relayed information to fellow graduate students.
Reviewer for manuscripts in: Ecology, Oikos, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal of Insect Behavior, Ecological Entomology, Biological Control, PLoS ONE
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
American Arachnological Society Animal Behavior Society Ecological Society of America Entomological Society of America Sigma Xi
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Undergraduate: entomology, ecology, physiological and behavioral ecology
Graduate: population and community ecology, ecosystem and global ecology, animal behavior, applied multiple regression and experimental design, numerous discussion-based seminars covering topics in ecology, evolution, and behavior
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
Editor and Question Writer, United States Academic Decathlon. 2007 – 2008 Reviewed, edited, and created numerous test questions for U.S.A.D. Super Quiz event focused on evolution and the life of Charles Darwin.
Research Assistant, University of Arizona, Department of Entomology. 2007 Assisted a graduate student with doctoral research. Developed and completed study investigating behavioral mechanisms underlying reproductive isolation and invasiveness in whiteflies. Maintained colonies, conducted laboratory assays, and recorded mating behaviors.
Research Apprentice, University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories. 2006 Conducted a group project examining anti-predator behavior and population genetic structure of intertidal snails. Behavioral ecology was examined using a combination of field and laboratory experiments. Genetic structure was analyzed using PCR and sequencing technologies. Research Assistant, University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories. 2005 Completed an independent research project on the functional morphology of marine snails. Designed and carried out various laboratory-based experiments and assisted in ecological field surveys in the intertidal and subtidal zones.
Research Assistant, Muhlenberg College. 2004 Worked with undergraduate co-researcher to collect specimens and GPS-referenced data on the emergence of brood X periodical cicadas throughout Pennsylvania. Field work included collection and identification of cicadas by species and sex. Cicadas and numerous other insects preserved and labeled for later genetic work or inclusion in museum insect collection. Spatial data were used to create the first geo-referenced map of an emergence.