Nicolas Neva Lessios
926 S. Wilson St. Apt. 102 Tempe, AZ 85281
nicolas.lessios@asu.edu
919-316-8697
Education:
Arizona State University- NSF Graduate Research Fellow
PhD Biology student Advisor: Dr. Ronald Rutowski
Duke University, Durham NC
Duke University Marine Lab, Beaufort NC
BS with distinction in Biology, Minor in Environmental Science
International School of Panama
High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate program
Research
Photo behavior of a supratidal amphipod (Talorchestia longicornis)
Experience: Duke University Marine Lab- Advisor: Dr. Richard Forward
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2010 – present
2005 - 2009
2008
2005
Jan– Dec 2008
From Jan–May 2008 researched the photo behavior (spectral sensitivity, the intensities of response, and
behavioral rhythms) in a supratidal amphipod, Talorchestia longicornis (beach hopper). This amphipod
has two visual pigments, now found to be used for the separate functions of sun-compass navigation, and
phototaxis. The behavioral responses I obtained went towards the following publication, supporting
electrophysiological and micro-spectrophotometry tests: Cohen, J. H, Cronin, T.W. Lessios, N. and
Forward, R.B. (2010). Visual physiology underlying orientation and diel behavior in the sand beach
amphipod Talorchestia Longicornis.” Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 3843-3851. I continued this
research full time with a Summer Tuition scholarship from July-Aug 2008
From Aug-Dec 2008 researched the sun compass, moon compass, and polarized light vision of the same
amphipod with a Rachel Carson Scholar grant. Some of this work has gone to a different paper:
Forward, R.B. Jr., Bourla M.H., Lessios, N. N., Cohen, J.H. (2009) Orientation to shorelines by the
supratidal amphipod Talorchestia longicornis: wavelength specific behavior during sun compass
orientation (2009) Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology (376) 102–109
Female mate choice in the Tungara frog (Physalaemus pustulosus)
summer2007
Panama- Advisor: Dr. Michael Ryan (University of Texas at Austin)
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Worked full-time testing female mate choice and communication in the Tungara frog, Physalaemus
pustulosus. Involved both nighttime field collection of mated pairs and testing in a sound chamber.
Color differentiation in a brittlestar?
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2006- 2007
Duke University main campus- Advisor: Dr. Sönke Johnsen
Worked full time as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow from July to Aug 2006, researching color
spectrum differentiation of the brittle star Ophioderma brevispinium
Continued research for two semesters for class credit
Teaching
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Bio 100
Experience: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences
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Taught three Introductory Biology for non-majors laboratory sections (72 students)
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Invertebrate Zoology
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Spring 2010
Arizona State University School of Life Sciences
Taught two inquiry based laboratory sections to Biology majors (40 students)
Full-Time Laboratory Instructor
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Fall 2010
Fall 2009- Spring 2010
Duke Biology Department
Worked full time teaching Introductory Biology laboratories to Biology majors (24 students)
Publications:
Forward, R.B. Jr., Bourla M.H., Lessios, N. N., Cohen, J.H. (2009). Orientation to shorelines
by the supratidal amphipod Talorchestia longicornis: wavelength specific behavior during sun
compass orientation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 376: 102–109.
Cohen, J. H, Cronin, T.W. Lessios, N. and Forward, R.B. (2010). Visual physiology underlying
orientation and diel behavior in the sand beach amphipod Talorchestia Longicornis. Journal of
Experimental Biology 213: 3843-3851.
Wirth, CW. Lessios, N. N. Scheunemann, N. (Presented Jan. 2010). Challenges and the
importance of sustainable hunting in Waorani Territory: bicultural ecology education (theory
and investigation). Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability Conference
2010.
W. Dickinson, J. Ferreyra, K. L. Imbesi, S. Joshi, C. Kingsolver, E. Klein, N. N. Lessios, A.
Ng, T. Stamp, K. White, D. Xu and R. L. Vidra (2006). The Ethical Challenges Faced by
Ecological Restorationists. Ecological Restoration Vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 102-104.
Grants/ Honors:
Service:
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National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (Arizona State,
James B. Rast Department Award for Comparative Organismal Biology (Duke, 2005-2009)
Graduation with Distinction in Biology (Duke 2009)
Dean’s list (Duke 2008)
Howard Hughes summer research program (Duke summer 2006)
$3,300
Tungara Frog Research internship (Duke summer 2007)
$3000
Duke Engage Grant (Duke summer 2008)
$7,300 per person
Summer Tuition scholarship (Duke summer 2008)
$2,352
Rachel Carson Scholar grant (Duke 2008)
$750
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Jumpstart Research Grant (ASU Fall 2010)
GPSA Travel Grant for Panama research course (ASU Fall 2010)
Jumpstart Research Grant (ASU Spring 2010)
GPSE (Graduate Partners in Science Education)
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$480
$600
$490
Spring 2011-present
Mentored junior high students in traditionally underprivileged schools, meeting weekly to develop
science fair projects in the spring, which we carried out together. Students then presented their projects
at a regional Science Fair.
Reforestation/Education Project
Summer 2008
Boquerón, Panama
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Obtained funding and organized the community of Boquerón to reforest using native and lucrative
species in farmland locked by the invasive wild cane, Saccharum spontaneum. (a town located in the
Panama Canal watershed within Chágres national park)
Applied for funding through the Duke Engage service program to bring myself and two other Duke
students to the community.
Bought 2,000 trees from a woman’s cooperative nursery in a neighboring town and arranged community
involvement in both the transportation of the small trees, and the building of a temporary nursery. Both
lucrative and native species were chosen by the village community to ensure their care after planting.
Researched the monoculture cane extensively for the best methods to limit it. Also contacted scientists
from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and USAID officials in Panama for advice on methods
for planting and for placement into the community with a host family.
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Contacted all the interested farmers from the community, arranging to clear the invasive cane, and to
plant the trees with them. We also flagged the trees, stressing the importance of returning to take care of
them.
Followed up the planting to check on the trees with the farmers and fertilize them using aged chicken
manure.
Took GPS coordinates of each planting, creating a map and a summary, so that farmers would know the
areas we had planted, and so that possible future projects could return and/or expand the areas planted,
Pictures and summary can be found at: duke.edu/~nnl3
Service Research in Indigenous (Waorani) Communities
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Summer 2009
Amazonian Ecuador
Facilitated and translated (to Spanish) for a group of 8 Duke Students traveling through 15 communities
by canoe, trail and airplane. The overarching goal of the project was to interview the Waorani on how
they perceived resource scarcity; we also installed eight sets of solar panels and built water-catchment
systems.
I interviewed Waorani hunters from different age groups about what animals they preferred and were
encountering, with the aim of creating a map to better understand the current distribution of these game
species so that they can manage them in the future.
Skills/abilities: Native speaker proficiency in English and Spanish, Wilderness First Aid, SCUBA certified (NAUI)
Hobbies: Backpacking, tree planting, gardening, spear fishing, canoeing, reading