Tiffany L.

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EDUCATION
M.S. (exp. 2020) Marine Biology
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX
Thesis: Influence of different freshwater inflow regimes on phytoplankton
biomass and community composition in three Texas estuaries
Advisor: Dr. Michael Wetz

B.S. (2016) Environmental Science (Honors, magna cum laude), French minor
Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Thesis: Differing seasonal succession of phytoplankton in lakes with high
and low dissolved organic carbon concentrations: Implications for
long-term community shifts
Advisor: Dr. Kristin Strock

Spring 2015 Environmental Science and French study abroad program

Dickinson in Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Fall 2014 Environmental Science of the Arctic study abroad program

Danish Institute for Study Abroad, Copenhagen, Denmark

RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2018-present Graduate Research Assistant
Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX
• Participate in field sampling for monitoring efforts and research
projects
• Identify phytoplankton cells in live and preserved samples using an
inverted microscope
• Analyze samples using a flow cytometer and perform regular
maintenance and troubleshooting

2017 Environmental Technician II

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Montpelier, VT
• Participated in Vermont Reference Lakes Assessment, conducting
field sampling from small fishing boars or canoes at sites often
reached by hiking steep terrain
• Collected zooplankton, phytoplankton, and macroinvertebrate
samples; sediment cores; water samples using a Kemmerer; and
hydrographic data using a HydroLab

2017-2018 Animal Care

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT
• Facilities and Animal Care Specialist (Nov. 2017-May 2018)

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 o Feeding and care of captive animals, train and supervise
interns and volunteers, develop and present educational
programs about animals and husbandry practices, maintain
exhibits and displays
• Part-Time Environmental Exhibit Specialist (June-Nov. 2017)
o Feeding and care of captive animals, train and supervise
interns and volunteers, present educational programs about
animals and husbandry practices
• Animal Care Intern (Jan.-June 2017)
o Feeding and care of captive animals, maintain enclosures,
interact with guests

2016 Great Lakes Summer Fellow

Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research
NOAA Great Lakes and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• Conducted field and laboratory research on the diets of larval fish
and prey selectivity in Lake Michigan
• Operated or assisted in the operation of zooplankton nets, CTD,
Plankton Survey System, and MOCNESS from a research vessel
• Identified larval fish to species, extracted and counted otoliths,
examined stomach content for diet composition, and performed
statistical analyses using Microsoft Excel

2015-2016 Undergraduate Researcher

Environmental Science Department, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
• Conducted self-designed research on the responses of
phytoplankton communities in lakes to environmental drivers
• Collected water and phytoplankton samples using a Kemmerer
sampler, recorded hydrographic data, and processed samples
independently in a laboratory setting
• Identified and counted phytoplankton cells to species using an
inverted microscope
• Research culminated in an honors thesis and a poster presented at
the ASLO Summer Meeting, June 2016

2013-2016 Student Worker

Office of Admissions, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
• Data entry, customer service for prospective students and families
• Assisted with admissions volunteers program and coordinating
college fairs

2013 Naturalist Intern

Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills, MD
• Assistant counselor for preschool students at Nature Summer
Camp

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ORAL PRESENTATIONS
4) Influence of different freshwater inflow regimes on phytoplankton biomass and community
composition in three Texas estuaries. Marine Science Graduate Student Organization
Research Forum. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX. April
2019.
3) Prey selectivity of larval fish in Lake Michigan. Summer Fellow Presentations. NOAA Great
Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI. August 2016.
2) Effects of environmental changes on phytoplankton communities in lakes. Earth Issues
Seminar Series. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. April 2016.
1) Effects of environmental changes on phytoplankton communities in lakes: Preliminary results.
Earth Issues Seminar Series. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. December 2015.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
3) Chin, T., M.S. Wetz, K.C. Hayes. Spatial-temporal distribution of size-fractionated
chlorophyll in three estuaries of the Texas coast with different freshwater inflow regimes.
Gulf Estuarine Research Society. Galveston, TX. November 2018.
2) Chin, T., K.E. Strock, L. Knoll, C.E. Williamson. Differing seasonal succession of
phytoplankton in lakes with high and low dissolved organic carbon concentrations:
Implications for long-term community shifts. Association for the Sciences of Limnology
and Oceanography. Santa Fe, NM. June 2016.
1) Chin, T., K.E. Strock. Differing seasonal succession of phytoplankton in lakes with high and
low dissolved organic carbon concentrations: Implications for long-term community
shifts. Science Symposium. Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. April 2016.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

2019 Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Division of Research & Innovation
Student Research Competition ($800)
2019 Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Crutchfield Fellowship
($1807)
2018 Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, College of Science & Engineering
Graduate Scholarship ($1000)
2018-2020 Texas Public Education Grant ($1000 per semester)
2016 Dickinson College, Kenderdine Student Travel Grant ($1000)
2015 Lacawac Sanctuary, Arthur Watres Student Research Fund ($175)
2013 Dickinson College, Summer Internship Grant ($343)
2012-2016 Dickinson College, John Dickinson Scholarship ($20,000 per academic year)
2012 Knights of Columbus Scholarship ($250)

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

2018-present Gulf Estuarine Research Society
2018 Association of Zoos and Aquariums
2016 Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

VOLUNTARY COMITTMENTS
Tutoring and Mentoring
2019 Plankton and Water Quality group leader for 24-hour sampling event with

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 undergraduate Marine Ecology class, TAMUCC, Corpus Christi, TX
2019 Environmental sampling assistant with high school science class, Riviera, TX
2018 Math and reading tutor for middle school student, Essex Junction, VT
2013 CARES After School Program Coordinator, CommServ, Dickinson College,
Carlisle, PA
2012-2013 Homework Club tutor, YWCA, Carlisle, PA
2010-2012 Peer tutor, Math Honor Society, Catonsville High School, Baltimore, MD

Campus Organizations
TAMUCC:
2018-present Marine Science Graduate Student Organization

Dickinson College:
2018-present Dickinson Admissions Volunteer Society
2015-2016 Center for Sustainable Living (Resident, Soup and Bread Coordinator, Outreach
Coordinator)
2015-2016 Center for Global Study and Engagement (Global Ambassador)
2015-2016 Ski and Snowboard Club
2014 Local Foods Dinner (Co-organizer)
2013-2016 Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
2012-2013 CommServ (Program Coordinator, Volunteer)
2012-2014 Students Interested in Sustainable Agriculture (Treasurer, Secretary)

SKILLS
• Field methods: water sampling with Kemmerer or Van Dorn, Hydrolab, YSI, gravity
corer; small boat operation
• Laboratory methods: flow cytometry, chlorophyll a fluorometry, microscopy, species
identification using dichotomous keys
• Computer skills: R, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office
• Languages: English (native), French (proficient)

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