Erika L. Garcia E-mail: [email protected]
Education
2018-Pres. Denver Museum of Nature and Science and University of Colorado, Denver PhD Student with Paula E. Cushing
2014-2016 San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA Masters of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation
2009- 2013 San Diego State University, San Diego, CA Bachelors of Science in Biology, Emphasis in Zoology
Publications
Garcia, E.L., Griswold, C.E., and Esposito, L.A. (In Press). Systematics and Evolution of Kibramoa Chamberlin 1924 (Araneae: Plectreuridae) from the California Floristic Province
Crews, S., Garcia. E.L., Spagna J.C., Van Dam M., Esposito, L.A. (In press). The Life Aquatic with Spiders: repeated evolution of aquatic living and accompanying morphological convergence
Honors, Scholarships, and Awards
2019 American Arachnological Student Travel Grant, $700 2019 Laudier Histology Travel Grant, $2,000 2019 International Congress of Arachnology Best Student Poster Presentation in Molecular Phylogenetics, Evolution, and Biogeography, 100$ 2018 University of Colorado, Denver Graduate School Chancellor’s Scholarship, $10,000 2018 Schlinger Foundation Travel Grant, $789 2016 American Arachnological Society Vince Roth Fund, $300 2013 Dean’s List 2013 Stan Beck Fellowship recipient, funded by the Entomological Foundation of the Entomological Society of America, $300 2012 Mini-ARTS Award from the Society of Systemic Biologists, $2,560.00 2012 Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)/ Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Program (IMSD); National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Scholar 2011 Dean’s List 2011-2012 S-STEM (NSF Funded Scholarship Program) Scholar, Scholarship nd Recipient, San Diego State University, $ 5,000/year, $6,000/ 2 year 2010 Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Scholar, Scholarship Recipient, San Diego State University, $2,800 2009-2011 Compact for Success Scholarship Recipient
Research Experience
2018-Pres. Denver Museum of Nature and Science. PI: Paula E. Cushing
North American camel spiders (Arachnida, Solifugae, Eremobatidae, Therobatinae): systematic revision and biogeography of an understudied taxon
2014-2016 California Academy of Sciences and San Francisco State University
2012-2014 NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Summer Systematics Institute, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA PI: Charles Griswold
Project Title: Cryptic sheet web-building spiders (Cyatholipus Simon, 1894): Denizens of the Afromontane regions of South Africa (Araneae, Cyatholipidae)
2012-2013 Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)/ Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Program (IMSD); National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Research Scholar; Marshal Hedin Lab
2011- 2013 Evolutionary Biology Department, Marshal Hedin Laboratory – Studies of Arachnid Diversity, Evolution, & Conservation, San Diego State University
Project Title: Multilocus species delimitation in the Bishopella laciniosa species complex (Arachnida, Opiliones) from the southern Appalachian Mountains
2011-2012 S-STEM (NSF Funded Scholarship Program) Undergraduate Researcher. PI: Marshal Hedin
2011 McNair Undergraduate Research, San Diego State University Project Funded: McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program; PI: Marshal Hedin
Teaching Experience
2018-2019 University of Colorado, Denver Basic Biology Lab Instructor 2018 Science Educator; A Life Frames Inc., San Francisco, CA 2017-2018 Genetics Professor at Summerfuel UC Berkeley Pre-College Summer Program 2017-2018 Urban Gardening and Nature Navigator Summer Camp Specialist, Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, CA 2017 Manager of Invertebrate Husbandry, SaveNature.org 2017 Insect Discovery Lab Education Specialist, SaveNature.org 2016 Molecular Lab Technician Assistant for the REU Summer Systematics Institute 2015, 2016 Teacher’s Assistant for the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Summer Systematics Institute, California Academy of Sciences 2014-2016 Graduate Student Teaching Assistant for Genetics, San Francisco State University Presentations and Conferences
2019 American Arachnological Society Meeting, 2019. Lexington, Virginia. Oral Presentation 2019 International Congress of Arachnology, Christchurch, New Zealand “Investigating the poly-paraphyly of North American camel spiders (Solifugae:Eremobatidae:Therobatinae) and their unique moveable spines” Poster Presentation 2018 American Arachnological Society Meetings, Yspilanti, MI “Systematics and Evolution of Kibramoa Gertsch 1958 from the California Floristic Province” Oral Presenation 2016 Master’s Thesis Defense, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA. Oral Presentation 2016 American Arachnological Society Meetings, Golden, CO. “Systematics and Evolution of Plectreuridae, Simon 1893. Poster Presentation 2013 American Aranchnological Society Meetings 2013, Johnson City, TN. “Phylogenetic Investigation and Species Delimitation is the South African Spider Genus Cyatholipus, Simon 1894)”. Poster Presentation 2013 Evolution Meetings 2013, Snowbird UT 2013 Student Research Symposium (SRS), San Diego State University. “Multilocus species delimitation in the Bishopella laciniosa species complex (Arachnida, Opiliones) from the southern Appalachian Mountains”. Oral Presentation 2013 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Annual Meeting. “Phylogenetic Investigation and Species Delimitation is the South African Spider Genus Cyatholipus, Simon 1894)”. Poster Presentation 2013 MBRS IMSD Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), San Diego State University. “Multilocus species delimitation in the Bishopella laciniosa species complex (Arachnida, Opiliones) from the southern Appalachian Mountains”. Oral Presentation 2012 MBRS IMSD Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), San Diego State University. “Cryptic sheet web-building spiders (Cyatholipus Simon, 1894): Denizens of the Afromontane regions of South Africa (Araneae, Cyatholipidae)”. Oral Presentation 2012 Society of the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference, Seattle, Washington. “Cryptic sheet web-building spiders (Cyatholipus Simon, 1894): Denizens of the Afromontane regions of South Africa (Araneae, Cyatholipidae)”. Poster Presentation 2012 17th Annual NSF’s REU Summer Systematics Institute Symposium, California Academy of Sciences. “Cryptic sheet web-building spiders (Cyatholipus Simon, 1894): Denizens of the Afromontane regions of South Africa (Araneae, Cyatholipidae)”. Oral Presentation 2011 35th Annual Meeting of the American Arachnological Society in Portland, Oregon 2011 Presenter for the 19th Annual Ronald E. McNair California Scholars Symposium at the University of California, Berkeley. “Transcriptome Analysis for Harvestmen Systematics”. Oral Presentation 2011 Presenter for the annual McNair Summer Research Conference at the University of California, San Diego. “Transcriptome Analysis for Harvestmen Systematics”. Oral Presentation 2011 Guest Speaker for SDSU Upward Bound’s Summer Residential Program Memberships
2018 International Congress of Arachnology 2018-Pres. American Arachnological Society 2014-2016 California Academy of Sciences 2012, 2015 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology 2012 Society of the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) 2012, 2016 American Arachnological Society 2010 Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor and Leadership Society Organizations and Service Experience
2019 STEAM Camp Guest Speaker 2018 Pine Lane Elementary Guest Speaker 2016-2018 Certified F License Soccer Coach 2016-2018 U10 Girls Soccer Coach 2016-Pres Golden Gate Women’s Premier League Soccer 2014-2016 Nightlife at California Academy of Sciences, Science Outreach 2015 Bay Area Science Festival Discovery Day at AT&T Park, Science Outreach 2013 Volunteer Gardener in San Juanico, Baja California Sur, Mexico 2012-2013 Secretary of the Natural History Club of San Diego State University 2011-2013 Member of the Natural History Club of San Diego State University 2011 Volunteer Assistant for Gary Amaral DVM, mobile Veterinarian, San Ysidro, CA 2011-2012 Volunteer for Project Wildlife for Animal Rehabilitation, San Diego, CA 2011 Volunteer at Bonita Equestrian Therapy for the Handicapped, Bonita, CA 2010-2012 Volunteer for the Chula Vista Nature Center, Chula Vista, CA 2010, 2011 Member of the San Diego State University Women’s Club Soccer Team 2008-2009 Volunteer Foster Care, Petsmart, Chula Vista, CA
Computer Software and Skills
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) • Geneious Software: A cross-platform bioinformatics software suite for manipulating, finding, sharing, and exploring biological data • MacClade: Computer program for phylogenetic analysis • Mesquite: Comparative data analysis for evolutionary biology studies • BEAST: Bayesian MCMC analysis for molecular sequences • MrBayes: Bayesian inference for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies • ArcMap: Creating map layouts using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data • R Studio: Programming language for statistical computing and graphics • MaxEnt: Maximum entropy approach of species habitat modeling • Scanning Electron Microscopy, Hitachi SU3500 • DNA extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and Sanger Sequencing Languages
English Spanish Basic French
References
Paula Cushing, Ph.D. Department of Zoology Marshal Hedin, Ph.D. Denver Museum of Nature & Science Professor of Biology Department of Biology Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado, San Diego State University Denver 5500 Campanille Drive San Diego, CA 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver Co. 80205 92182-4614 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Charles Griswold, Ph.D. Lauren Esposito, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor, University of California, Curator and Schlinger Chair Berkeley Retired Curator and Schlinger Chair Arachnology Department of Entomology Arachnology Department of Entomology California Academy of Sciences California Academy of Sciences 55 Music Concourse Drive San Francisco, 55 Music Concourse Drive San Francisco, CA94118 CA94118 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]