Curriculum vitae Rebecca M. Clark School of Life Sciences, PO Box 874601, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 e-mail: [email protected] telephone: (480)-734-5535 EDUCATION 2011 (expected) Ph.D. Candidate in Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Dissertation: “Behavioral and nutritional regulation of colony growth in the desert leafcutter ant Acromyrmex versicolor” Advisor: Jennifer Fewell 2003 B.A., Bio-Psychology Tufts University, Medford, MA Summa cum laude with Highest Thesis Honors Thesis advisor: Klaus Miczek GRANTS AND AWARDS Research Grants Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: “Regulation of Colony Growth in Leafcutter Ants,” National Science Foundation, 2010-2012 ($13,334; Co-PI, with J.H. Fewell, PI) Grant in Aid of Research, Sigma Xi, 2007 ($400) Research Grant: “Regulation of leafcutter ant colony growth by its mutualist fungus: A stoichiometric approach,” Graduate and Professional Students Association, Arizona State University, 2006 ($2000) Conference Organization Grants Conference Grant: “Social Biomimicry: Conference on Insect Societies and Human Design,” National Science Foundation, 2010-2011 ($16,838; with J.H. Fewell, PI) Frontiers in Life Sciences Conference Grant: “Social Biomimicry: Insect Societies and Human Design,” School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2009-2010 ($29,975; with C.T. Holbrook, D. Moore, R.P. Overson, C.A. Penick, and A.A. Smith) Student Event Grant: “Social Biomimicry: Insect Societies and Human Design,” Graduate and Professional Students Association, Arizona State University, 2009-2010 ($2000; with C.T. Holbrook, D. Moore, R.P. Overson, C.A. Penick, and A.A. Smith) Travel Grants International Congress Travel Award, North American Section of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, 2010 ($1000) Conference Travel Grant, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2010 ($400) Conference Travel Grant, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2006 ($400) Conference Travel Grant, Graduate College, Arizona State University, 2006 ($400) Conference Travel Grant, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2005 ($400) Conference Travel Grant, Graduate College, Arizona State University, 2006 ($400) Course Tuition and Travel Grant for Organization for Tropical Studies, Arizona State University, 2004 Awards First Place, Student Competition, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, 2010 Rebecca Clark 1 Senior Award, Tufts Alumni Association, Tufts University, 2003 Thomas and Emily Carmichael Prize in Psychology, Tufts University, 2003 Leonard Carmichael Prize in Psychology, Tufts University, 2003 Joslin Diabetes Center Summer Student Fellowship, Joslin Diabetes Center, 2001 National Merit Scholar, Tufts University, 1999-2003 Bruce and Lee Male Scholarship, Tufts University, 1999-2003 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Doctoral Research, Arizona State University, 2003-present Investigating behavioral and nutritional regulation of colony growth in the leafcutter ant Acromyrmex versicolor. I employ a stoichiometric framework (study of the balance of the biologically important elements carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) to understand growth constraints for the leafcutter ant trophic system composed of leaves, fungus and ants. Advisor: Jennifer H. Fewell Research Assistant, Costs and consequences of self-organization of division of labor in simple social groups. Helped design and conduct experiments studying fitness consequences of cooperation in simple social groups of Pognomyrmex californicus harvester ant queens and Lasioglossum sweat bees. 2005-2010, PIs J.H. Fewell, Penny F. Kukuk, and Susan M. Bertram Research Assistant, Metabolism and flight performance in Africanized and European Honey Bees, 2004, PIs J.H. Fewell and J.F. Harrison. Tropical Biology: An Ecological Approach, an 8-week field biology program taught by the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica. Undergraduate Research Assistant for study on impulsivity, aggression, and drug addiction in rats. 2002, Miczek Lab, Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA Undergraduate Summer Student studying the role of P53 gene expression in neural tube development in a mouse model of maternal diabetes. 2001, Loeken Lab, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA MENTORING Research Mentor for undergraduates Kimberly Shaffer, Jennifer Hale, Rini Parekh, Leah Drake, and Daeho Pak. Helped students develop and conduct independent research projects involving analyses of ant behavior and growth, resulting in honors theses for KS, JH, and LD. 2006-2010, Fewell Lab, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Research Mentor for undergraduates Carmenlita Chief and Antonio Benavidez. Oversaw independent research projects for students participating in the Minority Access to Research Careers Program. 2005-2006, Fewell Lab, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Research Mentor for undergraduate Eric Ovalle. Served as advisor for honors thesis, helping with project idea development, research design and implementation, data analysis and project presentation. 2005, Fewell Lab, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Rebecca Clark 2 TEACHING EXPERIENCE Teaching Assistant, General Genetics. Tutored students during office hours on fundamental genetic concepts and graded homework assignments. 2010, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Lab Instructor, General Biology I. Developed and taught hands-on, inquiry-based lab curriculum emphasizing scientific literacy skills and the study of ecology, evolution, behavior and genetics; wrote and graded assignments, 2006-2007, 2008-2010. Honors Lab Instructor, General Biology I. Developed additional laboratory activities to challenge gifted students to broaden critical thinking skills. 2008, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Drop-in Tutor in Writing, Biology, Psychology, and Statistics for undergraduate Native American students. 2005-2006, American Indian Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Lab Instructor, Human Anatomy and Physiology. Taught histology, musculoskeletal anatomy and neuroanatomy using hands-on materials. 2004-2006, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Lab Instructor, Introductory Biology for Non-Majors. Used an inquiry-based approach to teach the fundamentals of the scientific method. 2003-2004, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Writing Fellow. Tutored between twelve and twenty students taking writing-intensive, discipline-specific courses in how to effectively write and revise their writing for disciplines including history, biology, psychology, and engineering. 2000-2003, Writing, Thinking, and Speaking Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mentoring to Advance Postdocs and Students Program, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2010-2011 Biomimicry Education Summit, July 2010 Mentor Training Workshop, Arizona State University, April 2010 Multilevel Selection Workshop, Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity, Arizona State University, March 2008 Social Insects as a Model System for Evolutionary Developmental Biology Workshop, Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity, Arizona State University, April 2006 SERVICE Professional Service Student Representative of the North American Section to the International Committee, International Union for the Study of Social Insects, 2010 Student Volunteer, Animal Behavior Society Meeting, Burlington, VT, 2007 Student Volunteer, International Congress, International Union for the Study of Social Insects, 2006 Field Assistant for Atta mexicana population survey with Alex Mintzer, Cypress College, 2006 Student Volunteer, North American Section Meeting of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects, Tempe, AZ, 2004 Rebecca Clark 3 Departmental Service Graduate Student Representative to the Research and Training Initiatives Committee, School of Life Sciences, 2005-2008 Graduate Student Blackboard Organization Administrator. Created and managed a site for over 200 graduate students in the School of Life Sciences, 2008-2009 Website Administrator, Social Insect Research Group, Arizona State University, 2006-2009 Graduate Representative for Animal Behavior Students, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 2004-2006 Grant Reviewer, Graduate and Professional Students Association, Arizona State University, 2005 Public Service Consultant and Writer, Ask-a-Biologist Program (http://askabiologist.asu.edu), 2004-present Board Member, Tempe Bicycle Action Group, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit bicycling advocacy organization dedicated to making bicycling a safe, prominent and convenient form of transportation, 2007-2010 Collective Member, Bicycle Saviours Bicycle Collective, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching bike maintenance and safe riding skills, 2008-2010 ACADEMIC MEMBERSHIPS International Union for the Study of Social Insects, North American Section, Student Member Entomological Society of America, Student Member Association for Women in Science, Arizona chapter Phi Beta Kappa National Honors Society, Member PUBLICATIONS In Preparation Clark, R., and Fewell, J.H. Mass and element balancing during colony growth in the leafcutter ant Acromyrmex versicolor. Clark, R., and Fewell, J.H.. The transition from unstable to stable growth dynamics during early colony ontogeny in the desert leafcutter ant Acromyrmex versicolor. Shaffer, K., Clark, R., and Fewell, J.H.. Identification of an exudates produced by fungal gardens of the desert leafcutter ant Acromyrmex versicolor. Submitted Clark, R., and Fewell, J.H.. Social dynamics drive selection