John Vanek
john.p.vanek@gmail.com
631-813-8559
20 Meadow Haven Lane, East Northport, NY 11746
Education:
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
 Biology, M.S. Expected 2014
 Advisor: Dr. Russell Burke
 Thesis: Ecology of Eastern Hognose Snakes in New York
 Current GPA: 4.0
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), Syracuse NY
 Wildlife Science, B.S. cum laude
 Overall GPA: 3.1, Upper Level GPA: 3.4
 Advisor: Dr. Mark V. Lomolino
Professional Experience (chronological):
Conservation Technician, Town of Hempstead Department of Conservation and Waterways, May 2013-Present
 Primary duties include using ArcGIS to analyze waterfowl, water quality, marsh, and shellfish data
 Additional duties include data entry, data management, report writing, and shellfish aquaculture
 GIS work includes interpolations, georeferencing, buffering, joins/relates, plotting XY data, etc.
Environmental Educator, Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium, Oct 2012- Present
 Provide guided tours and environmental education programs for the general public, primary school, and scout groups
 Program titles include: Pond Life, Aquatic Ecology, Adaptions, Habitats, Egg Stripping, Naturalist Badge, etc.
 Also dress as Santa during winter festivities for children
Herpetological Consultant, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architecture Firm, May 2009 & June 2013
 Worked with a SUNY-ESF team surveying private lands via advanced bioblitz
 Established baseline conditions through standardized surveys (hoop nets, frog call surveys, timed meanders)
 Properties slated to become a model for combining local sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation
Herpetological Consultant, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, April 2012- Oct 2012
 Radio-tracked eastern hognose snakes (NY Species of Special Concern) and recorded behavioral and micro-habitat data
 Conducted visual encounter surveys hognose snakes and processed new individuals
 Maintained hognose snakes in captivity pre- and post-implant surgery
 Created GIS model and presented management plan to NYS Parks re: hognose snake conservation
Field Technician, Purdue University, April 2011- Oct 2011
 Radio-tracked timber rattlesnakes (IN Endangered Species) and recorded behavioral and micro-habitat data
 Conducted visual encounter surveys for timber rattlesnakes and processed new individuals(tube, measure, probe, PIT tag)
 Processed encountered eastern box turtles (collect blood, mark, measure, sex, etc)
 Maintained rattlesnakes in captivity pre- and post-implant surgery, injected antibiotics and painkillers
 Collected tissue samples from IN herps of all species as encountered/captured
Wildlife Monitoring Intern, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, October 2010-March 2011
 Conducted road kill surveys (15 miles/week) and identify mammals, birds, and herps along highway
 Radio telemetry and hair snare sampling (15miles/week) of black bears and red wolves (US Endangered)
 Processed black bears, extracted teeth, and conducted necropsies
 Green sea turtle nest monitoring and necropsies
 Captured and marked 60+ turtles of various species (predominantly spotted turtles)
Professional Experience continued:
Herpetological Intern, Archbold Expeditions, Summer 2010
 Worked under Herpetology and Restoration Ecology labs at Archbold Biological Station in Venus, Florida
 Conducted gopher tortoise (FL Threatened) radio telemetry and burrow surveys
 Conducted wetland surveys involving vegetation surveys, mapping, amphibian and invertebrate sampling
 Conducted anuran call surveys; hylid pipe sampling; prepared/added specimens to Archbold museum collection
 Installed hair snares for black bear (FL Threatened Species) in Glades and Highland Co.
Field / Lab Technician, Case Western Reserve University, Summer 2009
 Worked on research project investigating ecology of wood frogs at University of Michigan’s E.S. George Reserve
 Marked 800+wood frog metamorphs with Visible Implant Elastomer tags
 Maintained and collected animals along 1400 meters of drift fencing, constructed over 400 meters of drift fencing
 Collected long term ecological data: dip netting and pipe sampling for amphibians and aquatic insects
 Maintained tadpole mesocosms: cleaning, metamorph observation, Gosner staging, and metamorph removal
Field Technician, SUNY Research Foundation, Summer 2008
 Surveyed eastern hellbender (NY Species of Special Concern) populations in the Susquehanna River, NY
 Created basking habitat for one of two remaining populations of NY eastern massasauga rattlesnake (NY Endangered)
 Took field measurements and PIT tagged hellbenders
 Recorded stream morphology, water quality, and landcover use
 Recorded crayfish diversity and abundance
Research Editor, SUNY-ESF, Spring 2010
 Proof-read and copy-edited 5 chapters of the late Dr. Guy Baldassarre’s Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America
Lab Technician, SUNY-ESF, October 2008
 Measured high resolution images of lowland leopard frog tadpoles for Dr. Martin Schlaepfer
Lab Technician, SUNY-ESF, Fall 2008
 Processed (weigh, sort, analyze content) coyote scat and completed literature review
Volunteer Experience:
Marsh Clean-up, Lido Beach, September 2013
 Aided in NOAA funded clean-up of persistent solid material in a to-be-restored salt marsh
Science Expert, Peconic Dunes 4-H Camp, Spring 2013
 Part of 3 person reviewing ecology projects for children aged 11-13
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium, Nov 2011- Feb 2012
 Fed and maintained trout ponds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles, including endangered species
Amphibian Egg Mass Sampling, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Spring 2011
 Surveyed ponds and vernal pools for wood frog and eastern tiger Salamander (NYS Endangered) egg masses
Chelonian Sampling, Santa Fe College, Summer 2010
 Conducted night surveys for alligator snapping turtles, common snapping turtles, musk turtles, and various emydids
Volunteer, SUNY ESF & Cobleskill/ NYS DEC, Spring 2010
 Mist netted, restrained, and banded passerines and Common Mergansers
Chelonian Sampling, SUNY-ESF, Spring 2010
 Aided graduate student and The Nature Conservancy with bog turtle (NY Endangered, Federal Threatened) sampling
 Surveyed for, marked, and took field measurements of bog turtles and spotted turtles
Volunteer Experience continued:
Deer Trapping, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Winter 2010
 Restrained white-tailed deer caught in drop nets, attached ear tags, and collected DNA samples
 Assembled and removed drop nets
Deer Blood Sampling, SUNY-ESF, November 2009
 Collected thoracic blood samples and ear cuttings of harvested white-tailed deer for PhD student investigating infectious
disease(bovine viral diarrhea) and herd health
Kennel Aid, Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, August 2009
 Conservation Canine program uses modified narcotic dog detection methods locate scat from endangered species
 Fed and exercised dogs, cleaned kennels, helped with landscape/construction programs
 Participated in training protocols and drills
Vernal Pool Sampling, SUNY-ESF, April 2009
 Surveyed vernal pools at Heiburg Forest in Tully, NY with Dr. James P. Gibbs
 Measured pool dimensions and conducted egg mass counts with other professors and students.
Deer Distance Sampling, NYS DEC, Fall 2007 and 2008
 2007 participant, 2008 Team Leader
 Followed transects and spotted white-tailed deer from vehicles
 Recorded distance to road, group numbers, and angle from road
Library Technician, SUNY-ESF, Spring 2007
 Researched frog diversity of Tanzanian East Arc Mountains for Dr. Elizabeth Harper
 Data used to help create online field guide:
http://www.cepf.net/Documents/bilingual_field_guide_eacf.pdf
Citizen Scientist, Audubon Society, Jan 2009- Dec 2010, Dec 2011
 Participated in Christmas Bird Count surveys, identifying species presence by sight and sound
Duck Banding Aid, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montezuma NWR Fall 2008- Winter 2010
 Helped USFWS employees handle, sex, and release Wood Ducks, Black Ducks, and Mallards
 Utilized Montezuma and other duck traps
 Banded Black Ducks and Mallards
Wildlife Habitat Volunteer, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Montezuma NWR, Fall 2009-Winter 2010
 Mapped Wood Duck boxes, removed old boxes, counted egg membranes
 Planted native trees along riparian wildlife corridor
Beaver Surveying, SUNY-ESF, November 2008
 Participated in long term ecological survey of beaver lodges at Huntington Wildlife Forest in Newcomb, NY
Teaching Experience:
Guest Instructor, NE Section of The Wildlife Society Field Course (2013)
 Guest lecturer on field methods for snakes and other reptiles
 Field component included sexing, handling, and processing of wild colubrids in VT
Environmental Educator, Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium (2012- Present)
 Provide guided tours and environmental education programs for the general public, primary school, and scout groups
 Programs include: Pond Life, Aquatic Ecology, Adaptions, Habitats, Egg Stripping, and Naturalist Badge
Adjunct Instructor, Animal Form and Function, Hofstra University (2012-Present)
 Instructor for 2 lab sessions of introductory biology class focusing on animal diversity and physiology including dissections,
phylogenetics, and histology. Instructed students on the scientific method, technical writing, and presentation skills
Teaching Experience continued:
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Applied Wildlife Science, SUNY-ESF (2010)
 Co-taught lab section, focusing on quantitative analysis: occupancy, population estimates, mark-recapture data, habitat
suitability, population viability. Utilization of ArcGIS, and programs PRESENCE, MARK, and DISTANCE
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Herpetology, SUNY-ESF (2009)
 Co-taught lab section, focusing on herp taxonomy, identification, natural history, experimental design, & field techniques
Science Olympiad Coach, Herpetology (2009)
 Syracuse public school system National Team (2009)
Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America
 Tidewater Council (2010-2011)

Suffolk County Council (2006-2010)
Activities:
Amphibian Disease Working Group
 NEPARC 2013
Year of the Snake Working Group
 NEPARC 2012
The Wildlife Society, Student Chapter at SUNY-ESF
 President, 2009-2010
 Secretary, 2008-2009
 Co-founder of club’s official recognition for 2011
The Wildlife Society Quiz Bowl Team:
 Captain, 2008-2010
 1st Place Champions, NE Student Conclave, 2009,2010
 1st Place Champions, NYS Meeting 2010
 3rd Place, National Conference, 2008
Professional Memberships:
 The Wildlife Society
 NYS Chapter of The Wildlife Society
 Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society
 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
 American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Professional Meetings Attended:
 Pine Barrens Research Forum, 2013
 Student Conference for Conservation Science, 2013
 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, 2013
 Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference, 2013
o Student Poster Judge
o NYS TWS Quiz Bowl Judge
 Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 2012, 2013
 Long Island Natural History Conference, 2013
 TWS Indiana Chapter Fall Meeting, 2011
 TWS National Conference 2008, 2009
 TWS NYS Chapter Fall Meeting 2009
 TWS NYS Chapter Annual Meeting 2008, 2010
 TWS NE Student Conclave 2008, 2009
Awards and Scholarships:

Microryza Crowdfunding Platform
o $1100, Habitat Use by the Eastern Hognose Snake on a Barrier Beach, 2013
o https://www.microryza.com/projects/spatial-ecology-of-eastern-hognose-snakes-on-a-barrier-island

Donald Axinn Fellowship in Ecology and Conservation
o $2500, Hofstra University, 2013

Summer Stipend
o
$1000, Hofstra University, 2013

NE Section of TWS Field Course Scholarship
o $425, NYS Chapter of The Wildlife Society, 2012

Hofstra Biology and Human Cytogenics Scholarship
o $5000, Hofstra University, 2012

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award
o NYS Chapter of The Wildlife Society, 2010

500 Volunteer Hour Award
o Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society, 2011

Academic Competiveness Grant
o $500, SUNY-ESF 2010

Eagle Scout
o
2006 – Suffolk County Council
Papers, Posters, and Presentations
Student Conference for Conservation Science, American Museum of Natural History, NY, 2013
 Poster: Spatial Ecology of the Eastern Hognose Snake near its Northeastern Range Limit
Joint Meeting of Ichthyology and Herpetology, Albuquerque, NM, 2013
 Poster: Spatial Ecology of the Eastern Hognose Snake near its Northeastern Range Limit
Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Branchville, NJ, 2013
 Poster: Spatial Ecology of the Eastern Hognose Snake at the Northeastern Extend of its Range
 Poster (co-author): Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina, Home Ranges at Brookhaven National Laboratory, NY
Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY, 2013
 Presentation: Spatial Ecology of the Eastern Hognose Snake at the Northeastern Extend of its Range
Certifications, Programming, and Misc. Skills:
Wilderness First Aid
 American Red Cross
 Date Completed: 5/5/2010
CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider
 American Red Cross
 Date Completed: 5/5/2010
When Help is Delayed
 American Red Cross
 Date Completed: 5/5/2010
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Familiarity
with:
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ArcGIS, PRESENCE, MARK, DISTANCE, MS Office,
BASIC, Python, HTML
Field Skills:
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4x4 Trucks
Off-Roading
ATVs/ UTVs
Backpacking
Wilderness Survival
Primitive Camping
Canoeing/Kayaking
Data Collection
Hiking
GPS