Toby Liss [email protected]

EDUCATION

State University of College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY PhD, Conservation Biology Expected completion: May 2020

University of Honors College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution, Chemistry minor, 2007 Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, 2007

HONORS AND AWARDS

Garden Club of Allegheny County Paula Sculley Scholar, 2017 Phipps in Action Fellowship, $5000, 2017 Edna Bailey Sussman Foundation Graduate Internship, Special Merit award, $8350, 2016 NY State Green Buildings Conference, best poster, $100, 2016 KIPP Houston Emerging Leaders, 2010 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, $9472, 2007-2010 Graduated magna cum laude, with Program Honors in Linguistics, 2007 Phi Beta Kappa, 2007 Finalist for Chancellor's Scholarship, University of Pittsburgh, 2003 University Scholar Award, award from University of Pittsburgh, $8000 over 4 years, 2003-2007

PUBLICATIONS

Mandel, L., McCoy, E., & Liss, T. (2016). Reference community: adapting native plants to North American green roofs. Journal of Green Building 11(4):15-36. DOI: 10.3992/jgb.11.4.15.1

Tonsor, S.J., C. Scott, I. Boumaza, T.R. Liss, J.L. Brodsky, and E. Vierling (2008). Heat shock protein 101 effects in A. thaliana: genetic variation, fitness and pleiotropy in controlled temperature conditions. Molecular Ecology 17:1614-1626. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03690.x

PRESENTATIONS

Annual Meeting, Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Wilmington, DE. “Reference Community: The Role of Research and Design in Shaping a University Campus.” Co-presented with Marin Braco (Andropogon Associates) and Timothy Toland (SUNY- ESF). April 22, 2017.

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Lab Manager, University of Houston, 2011—2012 Lab of Anthony Frankino, PhD: Use of altered nutritional regiments to create variation in body size and determine correlated effects on morphological variation in wings of fruit flies (); equipment maintenance, inventory, management of undergrad researchers; edited manuscript and map for publication

Research Assistant, Rice University, 2011—2012 Lab of Jennifer Rudgers, PhD and Ken Whitney, PhD: Quantification of effects of proximity to crop sunflowers on flower morphology in wild sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)

Wildlife Technician, USDA Forest Service, Sierra National Forest, 2007 Non-invasive sampling by track plates and hair snags of Pacific fishers (Martes pennanti) and American marten (Martes Americana) in southern Sierra Nevada to assess changes in distribution, abundance, and

Research Assistant, , 2006 Lab of Daniel Chamovitz, PhD: Using molecular techniques to assess the role of the COP9 signalosome protein complex in the development of the plant

Undergraduate Researcher, University of Pittsburgh, 2005—2006 Lab of Stephen Tonsor, PhD: Molecular analysis of expression of heat shock thermal tolerance protein HSP101 in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana; assessment of fitness effects of expression and trade-offs of thermal tolerance expression

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Co-developer, integrated biology and chemistry lab exercises, 2017 Worked with Dr. Gregory McGee and Dr. Neal Abrams to develop and implement hybrid biology- chemistry lab exercises for freshman students

Teaching Assistant, SUNY-ESF, 2015—2016 General Biology Laboratory Instructor, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017 Diversity of Life Laboratory Instructor, Fall 2016

Environmental Educator, Audubon Pennsylvania, 2015 Designed and led formal and informal programs and field trips for school-aged children about local endangered bird species and watersheds; created a Google Earth flight path to demonstrate to students how the water from their local creek travels to the Chesapeake Bay

Environmental Education Specialist, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Kings Gap State Park, 2014 Presented life and earth sciences curriculum to school and community groups, led guided nature walks and public programs

Professional Tutor, Harrisburg Area Community College, 2013—2014 Tutored college students in developmental math, algebra, chemistry, and biology; tutored high school students enrolled in pre-college math courses

Residence Life Director, Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences, 2013—2014 Managed teaching assistants and oversaw counselors in preparing all residential and social programming, responsible for health, safety, and disciplinary matters; participated in large effort to document program policies and procedures for posterity

STEM Coordinator, KIPP Houston Public Schools, 2010—2011 Developed curriculum, organized and documented events, supported science and math teachers, managed resource and equipment libraries

Teach for America 2008 Corps Member, 5th Grade Science Teacher, KIPP Academy Middle School, 2008—2010 Taught rigorous science curriculum at a college-preparatory Title I public charter school, significantly closed achievement gap between KIPP 5th graders and high-income peers both years of service, as measured by proficiency and advanced status on state science exams; led students in conducting independent science fair projects

Teaching Assistant, Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Sciences, 2006 Tutored high school students in biology lecture and laboratory; led team project to detect presence of genetically modified soy in ‘GMO-free’ labeled baby foods, guided students in writing and editing of manuscript, and coached students in presentation of their findings in a scientific symposium

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Co-op Intern, Parsons Corporation, 2017 Performed QA and monitoring on lakeshore habitat remediation as part of the Onondaga Lake Clean-up, including plant identification and GIS work

Horticulture Technician, The Houston Zoo, Inc., 2012—2013 Responsible for maintaining landscaping inside animal enclosures and on zoo grounds, presented occasional public interpretive programming

LANGUAGES AND SKILLS

Spanish Fluent in reading and writing; intermediate fluency in speaking and listening

ArcGIS Advanced user: developed a user-friendly model that analyzes LiDAR input to identify and score flat-roofed buildings based on suitability for green roofs

CAMPUS SERVICE

Applied Tree Ecophysiologist Search Committee, 2016 Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND OUTREACH

SUNY-ESF Campus Mighty Movers, welcoming and assisting with move-in for incoming freshmen, 6 hours, 2016

Guest Blog Post “Small but Tough: A Visit to the Serpentine Barrens” http://androblogon.tumblr.com/post/145562504111/small-but-tough-a-visit-to-the-serpentine

Science Fair Judging West Genessee Middle School Science Fair, 2 hours, 2017 SUNY Oswego GENIUS Olympiad, 8 hours, 2016 SUNY-ESF K-12 Environmental Challenge, 4 hours, 2016 Houston Science and Engineering Fair, 8 hours, 2011 Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair, 8 hours, 2008 St. Elizabeth Elementary School Science Fair, 3 hours, 2007

English-to-Spanish Translations for Non-profit Organizations Pet adoption information, Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, Houston, TX, 2016 Guide for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Visitors, York Hospital, York, PA, 2015 Flyer “Birding the Kittatinny Ridge” for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Audubon PA, 2015

Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounding Coordinator, Wellspan York Hospital, 2014 80 hours of service

Trip Leader, The Woods Project, 2010 Led group of ten high school students on a ten-day back country backpacking trip to Donner Pass in California; taught camping and orienteering skills, 250 hours

Teach for America Service, 2008—2010 Organization established to address educational inequity by placing highly motivated teachers in two-year commitments in under-served communities; served as a Corps Member in Houston, TX

Student Conservation Association Internship, 2007 Worked as a wildlife technician on project in the southern Sierra Nevada, 600 hours

Alternative Spring Break, Cumberland Gap Trail, Tennessee, 2007 Built hiking trails during a one-week service trip, 40 hours of service