Course Title: Beneath the Surface - Concepts in Biological Oceanography
Department: Biological Oceanography Department at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Email: jprairie@ucsd.edu

Education

Current Ph.D. Candidate Biological Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD

2007
M.S. Biological Oceanography
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD

2004
B.A. Mathematics, Biology minor
Dartmouth College, NH

Experience

Volunteer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography Prospective Weekend (2007)
Met with prospective graduate students for Scripps Institution of Oceanography, introduced them to the graduate program, and led them on a tour of San Diego

Co-Instructor, Academics Connections, UCSD (2006-2007)
Designed and taught a 3 week course during the summers of 2006 and 2007 for advanced high school students entitled “Beneath the Surface: Concepts in Biological Oceanography.” The course covered the basics of biological oceanography including the ocean environment, plankton, benthic invertebrates and their ecosystems, and nekton. The class incorporated both advanced lectures and interactive field trips and activities.

Speaker Promoting Opportunities in Oceanography (2006-2007)
Visited Cal State LA (Oct., 2006) and Dartmouth College (Jan., 2007) and spoke to interested undergraduate students in a variety of majors about graduate and career opportunities in the field of oceanography.

Volunteer at National Ocean Science Bowl (2005-2007)
Wrote questions, helped with preparation, and moderated during National Ocean Science Bowl, a high school ocean trivia competition.

Tutorial Leader and Grader, Math Department, Dartmouth College (2001-2004)
Led tutorials for advanced undergraduate mathematics classes (including Calculus and Abstract Algebra) in addition to grading homework and exams.

Summer Learning Adventures Intern, Birch Aquarium, San Diego (2003)
Aided in summer programs designed for kids from ages 5-15 that incorporated both hands-on and classroom teaching about the ocean environment

Honors/Affiliations/Publications

2004 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
2004 Cum Laude, Dartmouth College
2001 Nominee, Green Key Honor Society, Dartmouth College
2000 National AP Scholar with Distinction
2000 Phi Beta Kappa Book Award