Elizabeth K. Timpe

Email: elizabeth-timpe@utulsa.edu

Webpage: www.personal.utulsa.edu/~elizabeth-timpe

Address: Department of Biological Sciences - Oliphant Hall

800 S. Tucker Dr., University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74104

Phone: (918) 631-2185

Education:

University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK August 2007-present

        M.S. Candidate in Biological Sciences

          GPA: 4.0 / 4.0

Estimated completion date: May 2009

Relevant Coursework: Evolution, Herpetology, Statistical Methods, Vertebrate Endocrinology Seminar, Viral Evolution Seminar

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI  August 1998-May 2002

         B.S. in Biological Science  

Major: Biological Science Minor: Anthropology

GPA: 3.67 / 4.0; Major GPA: 3.70 / 4.0

Relevant Coursework: Animal Behavior, Animal Development, Animal Diversity, Animal Physiology, Biochemistry,             Biology and Society, Calculus, Fossil Record, Genetics, Humans, Insects and Disease, Inorganic Chemistry I and II, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry I, Pathobiology, Physics I and II, Plant Anatomy, Statistics, Vertebrate Biology 

Research Interest:

Amphibian evolution, phylogenetics, ecology, behavior, conservation and declines

Research Experience:

• Spring 2008 – Present: Collected DNA sequence data for Eurycea cirrigera, E. aquatica and E. junaluska in the Southern Appalachians for phylogenetic assessment.
   

• Summer 2007 - Present: M.S. Research Project Collected tissue samples from species of the long-tailed salamander complex (Eurycea longicauda longicauda, E. l. melanopleura, E. guttolineata and E. lucifuga) for phylogeographic analysis.
   

• Fall 2007 – Present: Conducted amphibian surveys for the Oklahoma’s Nature Conservancy’s J.T. Nickel Preserve.  Included pond and stream surveys and frog call identification.
   

• Summer 2006 - Summer 2007: Conducted an ongoing survey of amphibians from all physiographic regions in Georgia, testing specifically for the presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
   

• Summer 2006: Participated in the collection of amphibians infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in premontane and montane sites in Panama.
   

• Spring 2006: Assisted in the surveying of the southern dusky salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus) throughout the coastal plains of Georgia.
   

• January 2005: Aided in the collection of amphibians from the lowland rainforest of Ecuador.
   

• Winter 2004-Winter 2005: Assisted Sean Graham (Georgia State University M.S. candidate) with the capture and data collection of cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorous).
   

• 1999-2000: Undergraduate Research Assistant, Marine Invertebrate Lab, URI Bio. Sciences Dept, Kingston, RI. 

Teaching Experience:
 

Teaching Assistant, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

• BIOL1601 - Introduction to Organismal Diversity and Evolution; August 2007 - December 2007
• BIOL3200 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy; January 2008 - May2008

Relevant Work Experience:

• Amphibian Specialist, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, GA November 2005-August 2007

• Reptile Keeper II, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA October 2003-November 2005

Publications:

• Timpe, E.K., Kozak, K.H., Bonett, R.M. (in prep). Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Plateau: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander Complex (Plethodontidae: Spelerpinae: Eurycea)

• Timpe, E.K., Graham, S.P., Bonett, R.M. (in press). Phylogeography of the brownback salamander reveals patterns of local endemism in Southern Appalachian springs. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
   

• Timpe, E.K., Graham, S.P., Gagliardo, R.W., Hill, R.L., and Levy, M.J.  2008.  The Occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in Georgia’s Amphibian Populations. Herpetological Review. 39(4), 447-449.
   

• Graham, S.P., Johnson, V.M. and Timpe, E.K.  2007.  A Bioblitz Competition to Assess a Distribution Gap in Georgia Herpetofaunal Records. Herpetological Review. 38(4), 493-494.
   

• Graham, S.P., Timpe, E.K., and Giovanetto, L.  2007.  Significant New Records for Georgia Herpetofauna. Herpetological Review. 38(4), 494-496. 

Presentations:

Phylogeography of the Brownback Salamander Reveals Patterns of Local Endemism in Southern Appalachian Springs. 12th University of Tulsa Research Colloquium / 84th AAAS-SWARM Division Annual Meeting, Tulsa, OK. March 2009

Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Plateau: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander Complex (Plethodontidae: Spelerpinae: Eurycea). Department of Biological Sciences M.S. Defense, University of Tulsa, OK. March 2009

Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Plateau: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander Complex (Plethodontidae: Spelerpinae: Eurycea). Department of Biological Sciences Graduate Seminar Series, University of Tulsa, OK. January 2009

Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Plateau: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander (Genus Eurycea). Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Boston, MA. January 2009

Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Plateau: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander (Genus Eurycea). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.  Montreal, Canada. Summer 2008

	Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Plateau: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander (Genus Eurycea). Oklahoma Academy of Science. Bethany, OK. Fall 2008
	Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Plateau: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander (Genus Eurycea). 11th University of Tulsa Research Colloquium, Tulsa, OK. Spring 2008
	Gardening with Frogs – Amphibian Conservation at Atlanta Botanical Garden. 2007 Turtle Survival Alliance Annual Symposium, Atlanta, GA. Summer 2007
	Amphibian Declines. Atlanta/Georgia State University Herpetological Organization, Atlanta, GA. Winter 2006
	Poster: Timpe, E.K. and Graham, S.P., Monitoring the Occurrence of Bd in Georgia: A Study of Five Physiographic Regions. Amphibian Declines & Chytridiomycosis: Translating Science into Urgent Action.  Tempe, AZ. Fall 2007
	Poster: Timpe, E.K. and Graham, S.P., Monitoring the Occurrence of Bd in Georgia: A Study of Five Physiographic Regions. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.  St. Louis, MO. Summer 2007
	Poster: Graham, S.P. and Timpe, E.K., Status and Probable Decline of the Southern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus) in Georgia. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.  St. Louis, MO. Summer 2007
	Poster: Timpe, E.K. Observations of Pedal Luring in Gastrotheca cornuta. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.  New Orleans, LA. Summer 2006

Grants:

• American Museum of Natural History’s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant, 2008, Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Ozark Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander (Genus Eurycea) - $1,500
   
• Highlands Biological Station Grant-in-Aid, 2008, Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Ozark Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamander (Genus Eurycea) - $600
   
• University of Tulsa Research Grant, 2008, Exploring the Faunal Connection between the Ozark Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamanders (Plethodontidae: Splerpinae: Eurycea) - $500
   
• University of Tulsa Research Grant, 2007, Exploring the Faunal Connections between the Ozark Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains: A Phylogeographic Study of the Long-tailed Salamanders of the Eurycea longicauda Complex - $500
   
• University of Rhode Island Undergraduate Research Grant, 2002, Study of Nematocyst Discharge in Species of Nudibranchs - $300   

Honors, Scholarships and Awards:

• Student Presentation Award (2^nd Place), 2009 12^th University of Tulsa Research Colloquium, Tulsa, OK
• Student Presentation Award (Honorable Mention), 2009 AAAS-SWARM Division 84^th Annual Meeting, Tulsa, OK
• Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Charlotte Mangum Student Support Award, 2009 Annual SICB Meeting, Boston, MA
• Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation Award, 2008 Oklahoma Academy of Science Meeting, Bethany, OK
• Wilfred Woobank Graduate Fellowship, 2008-2009, University of Tulsa
• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Travel Award, 2008, JMIH Montreal
• Chapman Graduate Scholar Presentation Award, 2008, University of Tulsa
• Highlands Biological Station Financial Aid, 2008, Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders Course  (declined)
• Student Presentation Award (3rd place), 2008 11^th University of Tulsa Research Colloquium, Tulsa, OK
• Graduated with honors from the University of Rhode Island, Magna Cum Laude                               
• Golden Key Honor Society 2002                                                
• Phi Beta Kappa 2002
• Dean’s List 1998-2002
• University of Rhode Island Centennial Scholar 1998-2002

Professional Membership:

• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)                      
• Animal Behavior Society (ABS)
• Chicago Herpetological Society (CHS)
• National Speleological Society (NSS)
• Oklahoma Academy of Science (OAS)
• Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC)
• Sigma Xi
• Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB)                          
• Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR)                         

Skills and Techniques:

• Proficient in molecular techniques including DNA and RNA isolation, primer design, amplification (PCR), gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing and editing.
• Experienced with phylogenetic software including GARLI, MacClade, MrBayes, MrModelTest, PAUP*and r8s. 
• Proficient with various software programs including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Frontpage, Adobe Photoshop, SigmaPlot, SPSS, SAS.
• Skilled at field identification of North American reptile and amphibian species.
• Adept in field methods of surveying and capturing reptiles and amphibians, including sampling amphibians for the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).