Morgan Johnston1921 Hope Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93405Phone: 714-625-7654 E-Mail: momo.johnston@gmail.com

ObjectiveMy ultimate career goal is to be a very well rounded field biologist. I have always been interested in biology and the outdoors and known what I wanted to study in college. The learn-by-doing theme at Cal Poly has given me the absolute best experience in my field based classes such as Mammalogy, Ornithology, and Field Botany. Currently there is no specific field that I would like to work in, but I believe that in order to be the best, one must have adequate experience in all fields (mammals, birds, reptiles, plants, etc.). I am extremely willing to work and learn as much as I can about the natural world, and go anywhere that I can to achieve this experience.

ExperienceOutdoor Leadership Program August 2011-Presentn This intense outdoor leadership program is almost completely student run. Every quarter Trip

Leaders come up with trip ideas such as backpacking, rock climbing, snow showing, or car camping/hiking. These trips vary in intensity and cater to a wide range of people from easy-going day hikes, to weekend long lightweight backpacking trips. The skills needed to efficiently and effectively lead these trips include first aid training, ability to lead a group in high risk situations, assess and solve any conflicts within the group, communicate well with the participants as well as other trip leaders, and be physically fit for these adventurous activities.

EducationCalifornia Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo August 2011-PresentCurrently a Senior and plan on graduating Cal Poly with a BS in Biology: Field and Wildlife in June 2015. Current GPA is 3.025.

Important courses taken at Cal Poly:

Field Botany: an intense field class consisting of weekend field trips, learning about Californian plant communities and identification of CA native plant species. Also focused on taking Grinnellian style field notes.

GIS: A hands-on course centered around the use of ArcGIS Desktop and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to create, manipulate, edit, and analyze geographical information.

Technology of Wildland Fire Management: Focused on fire history, fire behavior, and fire ecology. As well as land management by use of prescribed burning.

Field Methods in Wildlife Ecology: Summer course taken at Swanton Pacific Ranch. It was a two-week intensive field camp emphasizing wildlife identification and field inventory techniques. Included some hands-on experience with Mist Netting, small mammal trapping including handling techniques and collecting standard measurements and tagging, setting up and using camera traps (specifically Bushnell’s), and VHF telemetry and triangulation.

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Conservation Biology: An introduction to the fundamental concepts behind the conservation of biological diversity. Lab emphasized use of computer programs such as Excel, R (statistical computing for quantifying biodiversity), and DIVA-GIS.

Ornithology: intense field course focused on the identification of birds by sight and sound in the field, as well as general life histories and ecology. The class was also able to volunteer and observe at a Mist Netting station in San Luis Obispo, as well as learn how to and practice point counting.

Mammalogy: A Lab intensive course aimed at identifying mammal skulls, skeletons, and skins down to species. The lecture emphasized the life histories, evolution, and physiology of mammals.

Entomology: learning about the diversity of insects and identification.

James Cook University: Cairns, Australia July 2013-December 2013

Studied abroad for one Semester in Australia and traveled for about a month after the semester ended. Also worked part-time during stay. While at James Cook University, took a Tropical Marine Ecosystems class, which focused on Mangrove and Coral Reef ecosystems and ecology.

SkillsExperience in using the following computer programs: Word, Excel, R, JMP, and ArcMap

Wilderness First Aid, CPR/First Aid

Field Techniques: see specific courses taken above.