SHEENA FEIST
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 39202
(601) 354-7303, sheena.feist@mmns.state.ms.us
EDUCATION
2013
2011
M.A.
B.A.
2006
A.A.
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Biological Sciences
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO; Biological Sciences with Research Honors
Minor in Anthropology, Certificate of Environmental Studies
Longview Community College, Kansas City, Missouri; with Honors
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
2013—current Conservation Resources Biologist (Geneticist), Mississippi Museum of Natural Science/Mississippi
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Jackson, Mississippi
RESEARCH/FIELD EXPERIENCE
2011— 2013
Graduate Research Assistant, University of Missouri, Advisor: Dr. Lori Eggert
Project title: Cryptic gene flow in the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), a “sedentary” species
Summer 2011 Research Experience for Undergraduates, Mote Marine Laboratory, Advisor: Dr. Anton Tucker
Project title: Out of the arena and into the real world: A new method for investigating loggerhead
(Caretta caretta) hatchling orientations
2010 – 2011
Undergraduate Researcher, University of Missouri, Advisor: Dr. Lori Eggert
Project title: Conservation areas in isolation and the impact on genetic diversity in wood frogs
Summer 2009 Undergraduate Researcher, Maderas Rainforest Conservancy, Advisor: Dr. Andrew Halloran
Project title: Proxemic relationships in male howler monkeys
APPLIED CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE
Summer 2011 Sea Turtle Patrol Intern, Mote Marine Laboratory Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program: Data
collection for, and handling of, both nesting females and hatchlings/eggs; Nest site verification
and subsequent safe-guarding; Set up of predator exclusion devices; PIT-tagging (assisted);
Interaction with the public regarding program’s conservation efforts and general information
about sea turtles, including their conservation status
PUBLICATIONS
Feist, S.M., J.T. Briggler, J. B. Koppelman, L.S. Eggert. In prep. Within-river gene flow in the hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) and implication for restorative release.
Peterman, W.E., S.M. Feist, R. D. Semlitsch, L. S. Eggert. 2013. Conservation and management of peripheral
populations: Spatial and temporal influences on the genetic structure of wood frog (Rana sylvatica)
populations. Biological Conservation, 158: 351—358.
SCHOLARSHIPS, HONORS, AND AWARDS
June 2013
Graduate Professional Council Travel Award
July 2012
Biology Graduate Student Association Travel Award
July 2012
Graduate Professional Council Travel Award
July 2012
North American Congress for Conservation Biology Student Travel Award
2010 – 2011National Science Foundation’s Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB)
Scholarship, University of Missouri
2010 – 2011
J. Capen Memorial Scholarship, University of Missouri
2010 – 2011
Honor’s Program in Undergraduate Research, University of Missouri
SHEENA FEIST
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Spring 2013
2010 – 2011
Teaching Assistant, Lab component: BIO SCI 4983 Molecular Ecology
UMEB Science Outreach, Second and Fifth Graders, Columbia Public Schools
MENTORING EXPERIENCE
2011—2013
Aaron Schuh, Undergraduate Mentee/Research Assistant, Population genetics of hellbenders
PLATFORM PRESENTATIONS
June 2013
May 2013
Feist, S. Dispersal in the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis): What can genetics tell us about
movement in a “sedentary” species? 6th Biennial Hellbender Symposium, Chattanooga Zoo,
Tennessee.
Feist, S. Cryptic dispersal in the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), and the implications for
species management. Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, Missouri.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
April 2013
July 2012
August 2011
August 2011
July 2010
Schuh, A., S. Feist, J. Briggler, J. Koppelman, L. Eggert. Dispersal in hellbenders (Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis): Is it sex-biased? Life Sciences Week Poster Session, University of Missouri.
Feist, S., J. Koppelman, J. Briggler, L. Eggert. Gene flow in the endangered Ozark hellbender
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi). North American Congress for Conservation Biology,
Oakland, California.
Feist, S., W. Peterman, R. Semlitsch, and L. Eggert. Conservation areas in isolation and the impact on
genetic diversity. Ecological Society of America, Austin, Texas.
Feist, S., A. Cass, A. Tucker. Out of the arena and into the real world: A new method for investigating
loggerhead (Caretta caretta) hatchling disorientations. Research Experience for Undergraduates
Forum, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida.
Feist, S., W. Peterman, R. Semlitsch, and L. Eggert. Dispersal in the wood frog: An analysis using
microsatellites. Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum, University of
Missouri.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Society for Conservation Biology