Updated 2/2013
Sara C. Garnett
Kellogg Biological Station
3700 E. Gull Lake Drive
Hickory Corners, MI 49060
Telephone: (517) 648-5354
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.msu.edu/~garnett3/index.html
EDUCATION
2010 – present - Michigan State University
Ph.D. candidate for dual degree in Zoology and interdisciplinary program in Ecology,
Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, 3.98 G.P.A.
Advisor: Dr. Tom Getty
Guidance Committee: Dr. Kay Holekamp, Dr. Gary Mittelbach, Dr. Weiming Li
2005 – 2009 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Science with Honors in Biology, 3.61 G.P.A.
Honors Thesis Title: Strength of Kin Competition in the Spadefoot Toad, Spea multiplicata
Honors Thesis Advisor: Dr. David Pfennig
HONORS AND AWARDS
2013-2014 – NSF GK-12 Fellowship ($30,000)
2012-2013 – BEACON Top-Up Fellowship ($3,000)
2012-2013 – NSF GK-12 Fellowship ($30,000)
2012 – John R. Shaver Zoology Fellowship ($1,600)
2012 – EEBB Program Summer Fellowship ($1,800)
2012 – Kellogg Biological Station Summer Fellowship ($500)
2011-2012 – BEACON Top-Up Fellowship ($3,000)
2011 – Kellogg Biological Station Summer Fellowship ($1,300)
2010-2011 – MSU College of Natural Sciences Recruiting Fellowship ($24,000)
2010-2011 – BEACON Top-Up Fellowship ($3,000)
2010 – MSU College of Natural Sciences Summer Support Fellowship ($6,000)
2009 – UNC-CH Graduation with Distinction
2008 – UNC-CH Honors Undergraduate Research Award ($310)
2007 – Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
2005-2008 – Dean’s List
2005-2009 – Carolina Scholarship
2005-2009 – The University of North Carolina National Merit Scholarship
RESEARCH AND WORK EXPERIENCE
2010 – present: Ph.D. Student
Updated 2/2013
Getty Lab, Michigan State University
East Lansing/Hickory Corners, MI
 Collected adult Bufo americanus and Hyla versicolor pairs from the area surrounding the
Kellogg Biological Station to obtain clutches of known parentage
 Raised tadpoles from these clutches in the Experimental Pond Laboratory
 Conducted experiments to examine the effects of kinship on competition and cooperation
 Measured elements of tadpole morphology useful in tracking growth and development
2009 – 2010: Laboratory Technician
K. Pfennig and D. Pfennig Labs, University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
 http://web.me.com/kpfennig/Site/Welcome.html
 Performed AFLP analysis on spadefoot toad samples collected from field sites
 Performed PCRs and ran gels using mitochondrial markers to determine species of
tadpole samples
 Measured elements of morphology useful in classifying tadpoles as carnivores or
omnivores
2007 – 2009: Student Research Assistant
D. Pfennig Lab, University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
 http://web.me.com/dpfennig/Lab_Page/Welcome.html
 Assisted with DNA extractions from tadpole tissue samples
 Performed PCRs and ran gels in order to help design primers to use with genetic markers
to identify the percentages of different species of spadefoot toad in mixed-species ponds
 Completed a senior honors thesis on the strength of kin competition in spadefoot toads
2007 – 2008 (summers): Research Assistant for Dr. Jianguo Liu
Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
 http://csis.msu.edu/home.htm
 Compiled information from statistical databases, census data, and primary literature to
better understand environmental impacts of second homes; impacts included increased
consumption of electricity and other resources from maintaining two homes, intrusion on
ecosystems in forest and seaside environments where homes tend to be located
2006 (summer): Lab Assistant for Dr. Joan Rose
Rose Water Quality Lab, Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
 http://www.fw.msu.edu/~rosejo/
 Assisted graduate students with projects relating to testing water quality, assessing the
concentration of microorganisms in bodies of water, developing methods of filtration and
tracking the paths of microorganisms
 Tasks included making media, performing membrane filtrations and preparing sample
plates, counting plates, and other lab prepwork
Updated 2/2013
PUBLICATIONS
Martin, R. A. and S. C. Garnett. Relatedness and resource diversity interact to influence the
intensity of competition. In prep.
TEACHING AND MENTORING
Fall 2011, Spring 2012 – Cells and Molecules Laboratory (BS 171)
 Led one recitation section (40-50 students) discussing important concepts and laboratory
techniques that would be relevant for that week’s lab
 Led two lab sections (20-28 students each) giving students experience with techniques
useful for DNA manipulation, signal transduction and other molecular analyses
 Graded all assignments; wrote and graded final lab exam
2012-2013 – 80 high school students mentored
 Helped high school AP Biology students at Plainwell High School to develop group
independent research projects as part of GK-12 program
 Helped 24 groups develop research questions and hypotheses, conduct background
research, design experiments, carry out experiments, analyze data, and present results
2012 (summer) – one undergraduate research assistant mentored
PRESENTATIONS
“Strength of Kin Competition in Spadefoot Toads.” John K. Koeppe Undergraduate Research
Symposium, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. April 3, 2009.
SERVICE AND OUTREACH
2012-2013 – Student representative, Kellogg Biological Station Graduate Affairs Committee
2012 – Guest Blogger, BEACON Evolution 101
(http://beacon-center.org/blog/2012/08/20/evolution-101-kin-selection/)
2012 – Guest Blogger, BEACON Researchers at Work
(http://beacon-center.org/blog/2012/03/12/beacon-researchers-at-work-tadpole-sibling-rivalry/)
2012 – Panelist, GWIS/College Ambition Program Science Visit Day
2012 – Darwin Discovery Day volunteer, Michigan State University Museum
2011 – present – Member, Graduate Women in Science
 Treasurer (2011-2012)
 Logistics Committee for Girls Math and Science Day (2012)
o Helped organize event for over 100 middle school girls
 Undergraduate Mentoring Committee Co-Chair (2011-2012)
 Helped develop and give presentation “Demystifying Graduate School” for
undergraduates on multiple occasions (2011-2012)
Updated 2/2013

Assisted with editing, proctoring, and grading ecology exams for middle school and high
school Science Olympiad State Tournament (2011)
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Animal Behavior Society
Graduate Women in Science