Curriculum Vitae

 

Michael A. Tofflemire

Graduate Student

Biology Department

San Diego State University

Email: mtofflemire@gmail.com

Website: michaeltofflemire.com

 

EDUCATION  

 

San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 

University of California Riverside, Riverside CA

PhD, Joint Doctoral Program in Evolutionary Biology, 2020-present, expected graduation May 2025

 

University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

BS, Biology; Concentration: Evolution, Ecology, Conservation, August 2018 

Major GPA: 3.55/4.0 

 

AWARDS

 

“2022 SSB Graduate Student Research Award”. Society of Systematic Biology. 2022. $3000.

 

“2022 AOS Research Award”. American Ornithological Society. 2022. $2500. 

 

“Frank M. Chapman Award”. American Museum of Natural History. 2022. $3000. 

 

“Ralph W. Schreiber 2021 Ornithological Research Award”. Los Angeles Audubon Society. 2021. $1500. 

 

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS 

 

Tofflemire, A. Michael. (2021). Combining genetic, morphological and ecological-niche 

modeling methods to assess range-wide biogeographic patterns & the evolutionary history of (Setophaga nigrescens). American Ornithological Society (AOS) Virtual Meeting.

 

Tofflemire, A. Michael. (2018). Genetic Structure and Biogeography of the Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens) in Western North America. Independent research presented at the 2018 University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium. 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 

 

Undergraduate Researcher

University of Washington, Seattle, WA. December 2017 – August 2018, Department of Biology, Advisor: Dr. John Klicka. Designed and conducted an experiment using phylogenetic analysis to investigate the genetic structure and biogeography of the Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens). Presented phylogeographic findings in a 2-hour poster presentation at the University of Washington’s 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium.  

 

 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

University of Washington, Seattle, WA. August 2017 – June 2018. Department of Biology, Advisor: Dr. John Klicka. Assisted with phylogenetic research involving avifaunal taxonomic groups. Primary duties included DNA extractions, gel electrophoresis, and PCR amplification of avian tissue samples. 

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 

 

Biology 204L: Principles of Organismal Biology Laboratory. Fall 2020, Spring 2020. Department of Biology, San Diego State University.

 

Biology 317: Plant Identification and Classification. Spring 2017. Department of Biology, University of Washington. 

 

ACT, SAT, Mathematics and Science Teacher

Huntington Learning Center Issaquah, WA. September 2018 – Present. Tutoring high school students in calculus, algebra, biology and chemistry courses in one-on-one sessions. Teaching the ACT and SAT to help students achieve their academic goals for college entrance exams. Identifying weak areas in student’s performance and implementing teaching strategies tailored to their needs. 

 

FIELD EXPERIENCE 

 

Michigan, USA. Summer 2019. Kirtland’s Warbler Field Technician with Smithsonian Institution, Migratory Bird Center.

 

Washington & Oregon, USA. Summer 2018. General collecting field trip, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington.

 

Washington, USA. Summer 2017. General collecting field trip with Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture ornithology department, University of Washington.

 

Nevada, USA. Summer 2017. General plant collecting field trip, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington Herbarium Department. 

 

Seattle WA, USA. Spring 2016. Assisted with doctoral research on crows in urban environments, University of Washington, Marzluff Lab. 

 

MUSEUM CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE

 

Ornithology Curatorial Assistant

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Seattle, WA. August 2019 – May 2020. 

Advisor: Dr. John Klicka: Assisted with managing the ornithology collection at the Burke Museum. Duties included cataloguing bird specimens and preparing them for installation into the collection. 

 

Genetic Resource Curatorial Assistant

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Seattle, WA. October 2018 – April 2019. 

Advisor: Dr. Sharon Birks: Responsible for preparing avian tissue loans requested by various institutions for molecular-based research. 

 

Paleontology Collection Assistant 

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Seattle, WA. June - August 2016

Advisor: Dr. Greg Wilson: Organized and prepared sedimentary material for fossil screening. Fossils found were added to the Burke Museum's Vertebrate Paleontology Collection.