Curriculum vitae
Joshua Horns
[email protected] 257 S. 1400 E.
801-750-4644 SLC, UT 84112
EDUCATION
2014-Present PhD, Biology (in progress)
University of Utah
P.I. Çağan Şekercioğlu. Studying the impacts of human land-use on migratory song birds
2008 – 2013 B.S., Biology, with emphasis on ecology; Minor: Chemistry
University of Utah
Relevant Coursework: Mammalogy, Ornithology, Comparative, Vertebrate Morphology, Wildlife Conservation and Ecology, Evolution and Diversity
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
May 2014-pres. Avian Conservation, PI: Çağan Şekercioğlu
University of Utah, Department of Biology
· Project: Monitoring the responses of migratory bird communities to changes in land-use, climate, and other anthropogenic influences.
Coordinated banding efforts at Red Butte Canyon banding station. Also served as co-lead bander. Ran station following MAPS protocol annually from April-October. Coordinated and hosted outreach events for classes, special interest groups, and other members of the community
Jan. 2012 – May 2015 Vertebrate Evolution Research, PI: David Carrier
University of Utah, Department of Biology
· Project: The role of aggression in the evolution of the human hand
· Designed and constructed an experimental apparatus to apply measurable forces to cadaver arms
· Dissected and prepared cadaver arms for experimentation
· Deployed strain gauges to determine deformation of bone. Involved soldering of input pins, development of wheatstone bridge system, and proper attachment of strain gauge to bone surface.
· Collected and analyzed experimental data for publication
Mar 2011 – Sep 2013 American Pika Conservation Research, PI: Denise Dearing
University of Utah, Department of Biology
Fieldwork Location: Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge, OR
Graduate Mentor: Johanna Varner
· Conducted extensive behavioral observations of American Pikas (O. princeps) living in atypical, low elevation habitat
· Surveyed pika occupancy/density & vegetation abundance/diversity in areas disturbed by wildfire
· Efficiently assisted with trapping, live handling and release of pikas, woodrats, chipmunks and other small mammals
· Conducted multiple types of vegetation surveys (e.g., quadrats and transects) and identified plants in the environment, pika diet & food caches
· Placed HOBO/iButton temperature dataloggers in pika habitat and constructed thermal models to quantify the impact of vegetation cover on operative temperatures for pikas
· Collaborated & collected pika density data with Dr. Erik Beever (USGS) for two weeks in the Columbia River Gorge
· Currently analyzing pika foraging/thermoregulatory strategies in a 3-yr. database of behavior across habitat types
PUBLICATIONS
Horns, J.J. Buechley, E. Herman J.M. Şekercioğlu, Ç.H. Geolocator tracking of great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) reveals unique annual cycle between Turkey's riparian wetlands, Central African swamps and Indian Ocean coast. Submitted
Varner J, Horns JJ*, Lambert MS*, Beever EA, Dearing MD. Synergistic impacts of wildfire and climate change on a montane mammal. In prep.
*: Authors contributed equally to this work
Horns JJ, Jung, R Carrier D. In vitro strain in human metacarpal bones during striking: testing the pugilism hypothesis of hominin hand evolution. Journal of Experimental Biology
Acknowledged for contributions to the following publications:
Varner J, Dearing MD, 2013. The importance of biologically relevant microclimate data in species distribution models & habitat suitability assessments. Submitted.
Varner J, Dearing MD, 2013. Facultative dietary specialization in pikas as a strategy for novel resource landscapes. J Mammal. DOI: 10.1644/13-MAMM-A-099.1.
PRESENTATIONS
Horns JJ Tracking the Intercontinental Migration of a Light-weight Songbird. Oral presentation, Utah Correctional Facility, August 10, 2015.
Horns JJ Tracking the Intercontinental Migration of a Light-weight Songbird. Oral presentation University of Utah Biology retreat 2015.
Horns JJ, Varner J, Beever E, Dearing D. Behavioral Plasticity in American Pikas Living in Atypical Habitats. Poster presentation at the Society for Conservation Biology. Missoula, MT July 2014.
Horns JJ, Carrier D. Protective Buttressing of the Human Hand. Poster presentation at Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Austin, TX. January 2014.
Horns JJ, Carrier D. The Role of Aggression in the Evolution of the Human Hand. Poster presentation at Bioscience Undergraduate Research Symposium. University of Utah. February 28, 2013.
Awards
University of Utah Biology Department: December 2014. $500
Friend of Red Butte Creek: March 2015. $3,000
Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research: April 2015. $1,000
FORMAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Spring & Fall 2015 Graduate TA, BIOL 5370, Mammalogy
University of Utah Department of Biology
Professor: Johanna Varner
Duties: Answered questions from students, graded all exams and assignments, wrote exams in part, lectured on conservation of mammals.
Fall 2014 & 2015 Graduate TA, BIOL 3310, Comparative Vertebrate Morphology
University of Utah Department of Biology
Professor: David Carrier
Duties: Met with students 3x per week to discuss concepts from the class and help them draft a novel hypothesis about vertebrates. Wrote and graded all exams.
Fall 2011 & 2012 Undergraduate TA, BIOL 1210, Principles of Biology
University of Utah, Department of Biology
Professor: David Temme
Duties: led a small breakout discussion group, grading class materials and conducting exam review sessions
Sep. 2013–May 2014 High School Math and Science Tutor
Out of Bounds Education, Park City, UT
Duties: Tutored students from ages 13 to 18 across all aspects of math and science. Met with students one-on-one and in small groups.
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
September 2015 Research mentor for high school students
Salt Lake Center for Science Education (SLCSE)
· Presented to students (grades 9-11) at SLCSE about the goals and importance of bird banding
· Brought groups of students into the field to experience bird banding first hand.
· Worked with students to develop novel research ideas and questions.
August 11, 2015 INSPIRE Lecture Series Presentation
Utah Sate Prison
· Developed and delivered a 45-minute lecture to approx. 40 inmates on the importance of avian conservation.
· Developed questions based on the presentation used in high-school equivalency tests.
August 2013 Conservation Biology Research Project Mentor
Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School (JGEMS), Salem, OR
· Mentored six 8th grade conservation biology students in an original research project monitoring pikas after wildfire
· Trained students to collect pika occupancy, density & vegetation data at 3 sites on Mt. Hood along a disturbance gradient
July 2012, 2013 USFS Campground Presentations
Wyeth and Eagle Creek Campgrounds, Columbia River Gorge
· Gave public talks about pika ecology & climate change
· Developed and presented an interactive activity for children about the effort involved in creating a winter food cache (haypile)
September 2012 Uintas Pika Watch Volunteer
University of Utah and Salt Lake Center for Science Education
· Participated in a partnership between University of Utah & 7th grade biology students to connect students with local mountains in the context of climate change
· Trained students to collect pika occupancy, density & vegetation data at 2 sites in the Uinta mountains along an elevation gradient
[email protected] 257 S. 1400 E.
801-750-4644 SLC, UT 84112
EDUCATION
2014-Present PhD, Biology (in progress)
University of Utah
P.I. Çağan Şekercioğlu. Studying the impacts of human land-use on migratory song birds
2008 – 2013 B.S., Biology, with emphasis on ecology; Minor: Chemistry
University of Utah
Relevant Coursework: Mammalogy, Ornithology, Comparative, Vertebrate Morphology, Wildlife Conservation and Ecology, Evolution and Diversity
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
May 2014-pres. Avian Conservation, PI: Çağan Şekercioğlu
University of Utah, Department of Biology
· Project: Monitoring the responses of migratory bird communities to changes in land-use, climate, and other anthropogenic influences.
Coordinated banding efforts at Red Butte Canyon banding station. Also served as co-lead bander. Ran station following MAPS protocol annually from April-October. Coordinated and hosted outreach events for classes, special interest groups, and other members of the community
Jan. 2012 – May 2015 Vertebrate Evolution Research, PI: David Carrier
University of Utah, Department of Biology
· Project: The role of aggression in the evolution of the human hand
· Designed and constructed an experimental apparatus to apply measurable forces to cadaver arms
· Dissected and prepared cadaver arms for experimentation
· Deployed strain gauges to determine deformation of bone. Involved soldering of input pins, development of wheatstone bridge system, and proper attachment of strain gauge to bone surface.
· Collected and analyzed experimental data for publication
Mar 2011 – Sep 2013 American Pika Conservation Research, PI: Denise Dearing
University of Utah, Department of Biology
Fieldwork Location: Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge, OR
Graduate Mentor: Johanna Varner
· Conducted extensive behavioral observations of American Pikas (O. princeps) living in atypical, low elevation habitat
· Surveyed pika occupancy/density & vegetation abundance/diversity in areas disturbed by wildfire
· Efficiently assisted with trapping, live handling and release of pikas, woodrats, chipmunks and other small mammals
· Conducted multiple types of vegetation surveys (e.g., quadrats and transects) and identified plants in the environment, pika diet & food caches
· Placed HOBO/iButton temperature dataloggers in pika habitat and constructed thermal models to quantify the impact of vegetation cover on operative temperatures for pikas
· Collaborated & collected pika density data with Dr. Erik Beever (USGS) for two weeks in the Columbia River Gorge
· Currently analyzing pika foraging/thermoregulatory strategies in a 3-yr. database of behavior across habitat types
PUBLICATIONS
Horns, J.J. Buechley, E. Herman J.M. Şekercioğlu, Ç.H. Geolocator tracking of great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) reveals unique annual cycle between Turkey's riparian wetlands, Central African swamps and Indian Ocean coast. Submitted
Varner J, Horns JJ*, Lambert MS*, Beever EA, Dearing MD. Synergistic impacts of wildfire and climate change on a montane mammal. In prep.
*: Authors contributed equally to this work
Horns JJ, Jung, R Carrier D. In vitro strain in human metacarpal bones during striking: testing the pugilism hypothesis of hominin hand evolution. Journal of Experimental Biology
Acknowledged for contributions to the following publications:
Varner J, Dearing MD, 2013. The importance of biologically relevant microclimate data in species distribution models & habitat suitability assessments. Submitted.
Varner J, Dearing MD, 2013. Facultative dietary specialization in pikas as a strategy for novel resource landscapes. J Mammal. DOI: 10.1644/13-MAMM-A-099.1.
PRESENTATIONS
Horns JJ Tracking the Intercontinental Migration of a Light-weight Songbird. Oral presentation, Utah Correctional Facility, August 10, 2015.
Horns JJ Tracking the Intercontinental Migration of a Light-weight Songbird. Oral presentation University of Utah Biology retreat 2015.
Horns JJ, Varner J, Beever E, Dearing D. Behavioral Plasticity in American Pikas Living in Atypical Habitats. Poster presentation at the Society for Conservation Biology. Missoula, MT July 2014.
Horns JJ, Carrier D. Protective Buttressing of the Human Hand. Poster presentation at Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Austin, TX. January 2014.
Horns JJ, Carrier D. The Role of Aggression in the Evolution of the Human Hand. Poster presentation at Bioscience Undergraduate Research Symposium. University of Utah. February 28, 2013.
Awards
University of Utah Biology Department: December 2014. $500
Friend of Red Butte Creek: March 2015. $3,000
Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research: April 2015. $1,000
FORMAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Spring & Fall 2015 Graduate TA, BIOL 5370, Mammalogy
University of Utah Department of Biology
Professor: Johanna Varner
Duties: Answered questions from students, graded all exams and assignments, wrote exams in part, lectured on conservation of mammals.
Fall 2014 & 2015 Graduate TA, BIOL 3310, Comparative Vertebrate Morphology
University of Utah Department of Biology
Professor: David Carrier
Duties: Met with students 3x per week to discuss concepts from the class and help them draft a novel hypothesis about vertebrates. Wrote and graded all exams.
Fall 2011 & 2012 Undergraduate TA, BIOL 1210, Principles of Biology
University of Utah, Department of Biology
Professor: David Temme
Duties: led a small breakout discussion group, grading class materials and conducting exam review sessions
Sep. 2013–May 2014 High School Math and Science Tutor
Out of Bounds Education, Park City, UT
Duties: Tutored students from ages 13 to 18 across all aspects of math and science. Met with students one-on-one and in small groups.
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
September 2015 Research mentor for high school students
Salt Lake Center for Science Education (SLCSE)
· Presented to students (grades 9-11) at SLCSE about the goals and importance of bird banding
· Brought groups of students into the field to experience bird banding first hand.
· Worked with students to develop novel research ideas and questions.
August 11, 2015 INSPIRE Lecture Series Presentation
Utah Sate Prison
· Developed and delivered a 45-minute lecture to approx. 40 inmates on the importance of avian conservation.
· Developed questions based on the presentation used in high-school equivalency tests.
August 2013 Conservation Biology Research Project Mentor
Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School (JGEMS), Salem, OR
· Mentored six 8th grade conservation biology students in an original research project monitoring pikas after wildfire
· Trained students to collect pika occupancy, density & vegetation data at 3 sites on Mt. Hood along a disturbance gradient
July 2012, 2013 USFS Campground Presentations
Wyeth and Eagle Creek Campgrounds, Columbia River Gorge
· Gave public talks about pika ecology & climate change
· Developed and presented an interactive activity for children about the effort involved in creating a winter food cache (haypile)
September 2012 Uintas Pika Watch Volunteer
University of Utah and Salt Lake Center for Science Education
· Participated in a partnership between University of Utah & 7th grade biology students to connect students with local mountains in the context of climate change
· Trained students to collect pika occupancy, density & vegetation data at 2 sites in the Uinta mountains along an elevation gradient
