EDUCATION

York College of Pennsylvania- York, Pennsylvania                                               May 2017

Bachelor of Science in Biology

• Presidential Academic Scholarship Recipient, Alumni Association Scholarship Recipient, and 2016 Carolyn F. Mathur Scholarship Recipient

• Awards & Honors: 2017 Departmental Recognition, 2017 Waltermyer Lab Assistant Award, and Bruce B. Smith Biology Seminar Award

• 3.58 GPA- Cum Laude

Relevant Courses: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Marine Ecology of the Chesapeake Bay, Environmental Sociology, Microbiology, Animal Behavior (Transcript available upon request)

 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Senior Thesis Research Project- York College of Pennsylvania                         05/2015-05/2017

“The cost of the outdoor cat and dog: Wildlife rehabilitation in south central Pennsylvania”

Mentor: Dr. Bridgette E. Hagerty

Co-Author: Tracie A. Young

• Identified gaps in knowledge within the fields of wildlife rehabilitation and conservation biology.

• Designed and implemented a year-long research plan in order to address these gaps.

• Collected and organized data using Microsoft Excel, WRMD.org, GraphPad Prism, and ESRI GIS.

• Presented the research findings in the form of a poster at national, statewide, and university meetings.

• Completed a comprehensive manuscript of numerous statistically significant findings.

 

PROFESSIONAL POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Garrigan, E. E., Young, T. A., Hagerty, B. E. 2017. The cost of the outdoor cat and dog: Wildlife rehabilitation in south central Pennsylvania. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Symposium, Williamsburg, VA.

Garrigan, E. E., Young, T. A., Hagerty, B. E. 2017. The cost of the outdoor cat and dog: Wildlife rehabilitation in south central Pennsylvania. Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Raven Ridge Wildlife Center- Washington Boro, Pennsylvania                            03/2015-Present

Volunteer Manager

• Manage a fluctuating team of 30+ volunteers & interns year-round.

• Design and implement volunteer education training and resources to import efficiency of care.

• Implement center structure and organization to improve quality and efficiency of care.

• Supervise center and all volunteers in absence of licensed rehabilitator.

• Assist wildlife rehabilitator in treating orphaned and injured native mammals (including rabies-vector-species), passerines, waterfowl, raptors and reptiles.

• Independently perform injections, administer antibiotics and other veterinary skills to ensure patient health.

• Communicate with the community to improve public understanding of natural wildlife behaviors and physiology.

• Participate and plan fundraising and outreach programs to increase public awareness and raise hundreds of dollars in donations and merchandise sales.

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park- Hershey, Pennsylvania                    05/2017- Present

Educator Aide

• Follow all AZA protocols and recommendations to ensure the best care for educational ambassador animals.

• Provide formal education programs to adults and children on over 80 species of North American wildlife.

• Collaborate with naturalists to educate the public on zoo practices and operation.

• Participate in the presentation and training of invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and raptors.

York College of Pennsylvania- York, Pennsylvania                                                   09/2015-05/2017

Vivarium, Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology, Animal Physiology and Ecology Lab Assistant

• Assist professor in preparing laboratory experiments to effectively manage laboratory class time.

• Maintain knowledge of all safety procedures and protocols to ensure welfare of students.

• Assist students in using compound microscope, swim tunnel, rotorod, and other laboratory equipment to improve student learning.

• Complete post-experiment data entry and analysis to aid in students’ ability to write research papers.

• Follow all IUCAC protocols in care of chickens, finches, turtles, fish, beetles and mice to ensure health and safety.

 

SKILLS HIGHLIGHTS

Field-Based:

• Perform quadrant sampling of various plant and arthropod species.

• Complete Rapid Stream Assessments to inform conservation actions.

• In collaboration with Nixon Park, performed amphibian habitat assessment and developed a management plan.

• Execute Mark-Recapture experiments and analysis using MARK.

• Complete Social Impact Assessments (SIA) on local environmental problems.

Laboratory:

• Instruct others on the skills necessary to operate a compound light microscope in bright field, oil immersion, dark field, and phase contrast.

• Perform a variety of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including restriction digestion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

• Culture bacterial and fungal colonies from a variety of self-created media and environmental surfaces.

Wildlife:

• Ability to identify native North Eastern mammals, passerines, waterfowl, and raptors by sight and sound.

• Rabies pre-exposure vaccination and experience working with rabies vector species.

• Formal training and hands-on experience in safe capture and restraint of wild mammal and avian species.

Quantitative Fluency:

• Proficient statistical hypothesis testing, parametric and nonparametric tests, using GraphPad Prism.

• Manipulate and display data sets using Microsoft Office and GraphPad Prism.

• Create and display maps using novel data sets with ESRI Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

• Communicate with different audiences in oral presentations and written manuscripts.

• Design and present management proposals to peers and other professionals from various organizations.

Collaborative:

• Work in teams of 4+ members to complete scientific research, experiments, and presentations.

• Take on multiple roles within a team such as strategy analyst, recorder, and speaker.

• Coordinate with others to ensure experimental success, adequate animal care, and cohesive displays of data.

 

CERTIFICATIONS & PERMITS

• Sub-Permitted Wildlife Rehabilitator: PA Permit No. 37434

• Permitted Wildlife Capture & Transport Specialist: PA Permit No. 36967

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

The Wildlife Society- Pennsylvania Chapter                                                            Member since 2015

National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association                                                            Member since 2016