Matthew David Ramirez
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife,
104 Nash Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331
matthew.ramirez@oregonstate.edu
EDUCATION
Auburn University (B.S.)
Oregon State University (M.S.)
May 2011
Expected 2014
Zoology
Fisheries Science
GPA: 3.80/4.00
Current GPA: 3.94/4.00
SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARDS
GRANTSMANSHIP
2013
NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center: “Analysis of Variability in
foraging ecology and juvenile growth to improve an assessment model for loggerhead sea
turtles.” Award amount: $15,983. (Co-author). PI: Selina Heppell.
2012
NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center: “Analysis of Variability in
foraging ecology and juvenile growth to improve an assessment model for loggerhead sea
turtles.” Award amount: $38,637. (Co-author). PI: Selina Heppell.
2012
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Award amount: $121,500.
2010
Auburn University-Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Undergraduate Summer Research
Scholar. Award amount: $3,000.
HONORS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2014
Chairman’s Leadership Award: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State
University, Corvallis, OR ($500)
2014
Thomas G. Scott Grant Scholarship for Outstanding M.S. Student in Fisheries and
Wildlife: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
($2,000)
2014
Savery Outstanding Master’s Student Award: College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon
State University, Corvallis, OR ($1,000)
2014
Oregon Lottery Graduate Scholarship: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR ($3,600).
2014
Art of Leadership Conference Scholarship: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
($1,000).
Matthew David Ramirez
2014
Travel Award: 34th Annual International Sea Turtle Symposium, New Orleans, LA
(lodging costs, ~$250).
2013
Henry Mastin Graduate Student Award: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon
State University, Corvallis, OR ($500).
2013
Stable Isotopes in Biogeochemistry and Ecology, University of Utah: Selected as on of
40 graduate students world-wide to participate in a 2-week intensive course on stable
isotope ecology.
2013
Stable Isotopes in Biogeochemistry and Ecology Scholarship: University of Utah, Salt
Lake City, UT ($1,500).
2011
Phi Beta Kappa: Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
2010
Fund For Excellence Undergraduate Research Award: Auburn University, Auburn, AL
($740).
2009
Phi Kappa Phi: Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
2009
Sloan Bashinsky Scholarship: Auburn University Honors College, Auburn, AL ($1,500).
2008
College of Sciences and Mathematics Scholarship: Auburn University, Auburn, AL
($1,000).
2008
J. Edward Wiatt & J. Streeter Wiatt Scholarship: Auburn University Honors College,
Auburn, AL ($500).
2007
Spirit of Auburn Founders Scholarship: Auburn University, Auburn, AL (full tuition).
2007
Achievement Scholarship: Auburn University, Auburn, AL ($1,500, annual, four years).
2007
Auburn University Honors College.
RELATED EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH
WORK & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Dates
Position
Research Topics (Responsibilities)
Jan. 2013 – present
Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon
State University, Department of
Fisheries and Wildlife (advised by Dr.
Selina Heppell)
Thesis research on variation in growth
and foraging ecology of juvenile
loggerhead sea turtles and associated
effects on population dynamics.
Employing various quantitative and
laboratory methods (stable isotope
analysis, trace element analysis)
Mar. 2012 – Sep. 2012
Conservation Associate, Conservancy of
Southwest Florida, Naples, FL
Nesting sea turtle research, conservation,
and education (night patrols, tagging,
growth measurements, nest protection)
Matthew David Ramirez
Aug. 2011 – Mar. 2012
Animal/Laboratory Research
Technician, Auburn University,
Department of Biological Sciences
Effect of diet on body condition of Rubythroated hummingbirds, factors that affect
expression of red feather coloration in
House finches (bird trapping/handling,
growth measurements, osmolality testing,
mineral conc. testing w/ ICP-OES)
Sep. – Oct. 2011
Research Assistant, Auburn University,
Department of Biological Sciences
(advised by Dr. Davis Held)
Effect of cogon grass on arthropod
diversity in pine forests (field collection
of arthropods)
May 2011 – Aug. 2011
Sea Turtle Intern, Bald Head Island
Conservancy, Bald Head Island, NC
Nesting sea turtle research, conservation,
and education (night patrols, tagging,
growth measurements, nest protection)
May 2008 – May 2011
Undergraduate Research Assistant,
Auburn University, Department of
Biological Sciences (advised by Dr.
Wendy Hood)
Nutritional ecology of small mammals
and birds, including studies on maternal
effects and reproductive performance;
undergraduate thesis on digesta handling
and nutrient absorption in lactating
Columbian ground squirrels
Jan. 2008 – Oct. 2009
Undergraduate Research Assistant,
Auburn University, Department of
Animal Sciences (advised by Dr. Frank
Bartol)
Effect of relaxin, a milk-borne hormone,
on the development of uterine and
cervical tissues in neonatal pigs (animal
husbandry, terminal sample collection)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Dates
Institution/Organization
Course
Fall 2012
Oregon State University
FW320 – Introduction to Population Dynamics
(Teaching assistant)
Co-taught two lab sections of a junior level population
dynamics computer lab (33 students). Graded weekly
modeling assignments, projects, quizzes, tests, and
writing assignments.
Summer 2011
Bald Head Island Conservancy
Sea Turtle Protection Program (Co-instructor)
Lead “Turtle Walks” consisting of a 45-minute
presentation about sea turtle protection and biology
followed by a trip to the beach to await word of
nesting or hatching sea turtles.
Matthew David Ramirez
MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE
Dates
Student/Affiliation
Responsibilities
Fall 2014
TBD, Savannah State University
Summer intern. Will assist with ongoing laboratory
analyses and possibly develop and independent
project.
Summer 2013,
Summer 2014
Eric Parks, Savannah State
University
Summer intern. Assisted with laboratory analyses and
developed an independent project characterizing the
elemental composition of loggerhead sea turtle bone.
WORKSHOPS AND TECHNICAL TRAINING
2014
Participant, Art of Leadership Conference, Corvallis, OR. Instructors: Center for
Leadership Development, Oregon State University.
2013
Participant, Stable Isotopes in Biogeochemistry and Ecology (IsoCamp), Salt Lake City,
UT. Instructors: Jim Ehleringer, Thure Cerling, and Dave Bowling.
2013
Participant, Design and Analysis of Sea Turtle Tagging Studies (using Program MARK),
Orlando, FL. Instructors: Bill Kendall and Evan Cooch.
PRESENTATIONS
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Ramirez, M.D., Avens, L., Seminoff, J.A., Goshe, L., and S.S. Heppell. 2014. Sea turtle ontogeny and
growth: evidence of continuous ontogenetic shifts using skeletochronology and stable isotope
analysis. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Chattanooga, TN.
Ramirez, M.D., Avens, L., Seminoff, J.A., and S.S. Heppell. 2014. Stable isotope analysis reveals
multiple life-history pathways for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles in the Northwest Atlantic.
International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, New Orleans, LA.
Ramirez, M.D., Avens, L., Seminoff, J.A., and S.S. Heppell. 2014. Stable isotope analysis reveals
multiple life-history pathways for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles in the Northwest Atlantic.
Research Advance in Fisheries, Wildlife and Ecology Symposium, Corvallis, OR.
Ramirez, M.D. 2011. Inter-annual variation in clutch size and hatching success in Loggerhead sea
turtles (Caretta caretta). Bald Head Island Conservancy Summer Intern Forum, Bald Head Island,
NC.
Ramirez, M.D., Skibiel, A.L., and W.R. Hood. 2010. Food intake, mean retention time, and digestibility
in Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) during lactation. Auburn University-
Matthew David Ramirez
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Undergraduate Summer Research Scholars Forum, Auburn,
AL.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Turner-Tomaszewicz, C., Ramirez, M.D., Seminoff, J.A., Avens, L., Shakya, A., McCartha, M.,
Heppell, S.S., and C.K. Kurle. 2014. Investigation of alternate techniques for stable isotope
analysis of sea turtle bone collagen. International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and
Conservation, New Orleans, LA.
Parks, E., Ramirez, M.D., Avens, L., Seminoff, J.A., Heppell, S.S., and J.A. Miller. 2014. Analysis of
trace element composition of loggerhead sea turtle bone via laser ablation. International
Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, New Orleans, LA. (Best Student Poster,
Conservation Section)
Ramirez, M.D., Avens, L., Seminoff, J.A., and S.S. Heppell. 2013. Annual juvenile loggerhead sea
turtle foraging ecology and habitat use as informed through isotopic analysis of bone tissue.
Western Society of Naturalists, Oxnard, CA.
Ramirez, M.D., Skibiel, A.L., and W.R. Hood. 2012. Lactating Columbian ground squirrels increase
nutrient absorption without altering digesta retention. The Society for Integrative and Comparative
Biology, Charleston, SC.
Ramirez, M.D., Skibiel, A.L., and W.R. Hood. 2011. Food intake, mean retention time, and digestibility
in Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus) during lactation. Undergraduate
Research and Creative Scholarship Forum, Auburn, AL.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEPARTMENT AND COLLEGE
2014
2013
2013
2013
Organizer, Undergraduate Research Assistant Recruitment Event: organized a
recruitment event for graduate students to recruit undergraduate students for available
summer field and laboratory positions.
Guest lecturer, Graduate Student Speed Talks: presented my graduate research at an
Oregon Student Chapters of the American Fisheries Society and the Wildlife Society
meeting.
Panel Member, Graduate School Forum: Served as a panel member at a forum designed
to inform undergraduate students about finding a graduate position and gaining
admittance to graduate school.
Graduate Student Representative: served as a graduate student representative for the
department’s move and transition into Hovland Hall; duties included collecting and
conveying graduate student input regarding space use and office assignment, and
assisting with outfitting rooms with all necessary equipment and furniture.
Matthew David Ramirez
2012-14
Fisheries and Wildlife Graduate Student Association: Multiple leadership roles – see
below under “Leadership.”
CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY
2014
Volunteer Game Official, National Ocean Science Board – Salmon Bowl: Officiated a
regional ocean science competition for high school students interested in ocean science.
Guest Speaker, Inspiration Dissemination – KBVR 88.7fm: Discussed my research
experiences, graduate research, and current issues in sea turtle conservation on the OSU
student-run radio station.
2013
LEADERSHIP
2013-14
Co-President, Fisheries and Wildlife Graduate Student Association, Oregon State
University: Responsible for overseeing all organization activities, including meetings,
communication, fundraising events, and organization of the annual Research Advances in
Fisheries, Wildlife and Ecology (RAFWE) Symposium, an event highlighting research,
extension, and outreach activities conducted by graduate and undergraduate students at
OSU and other regional universities
2013-14
RAFWE Organizing Committee Co-chair, Donation Committee Member, Fisheries and
Wildlife Graduate Student Association, Oregon State University: Responsible for
soliciting donations for the silent and live auctions and raffle.
2012-13
RAFWE Program Chair, Organizing Committee Member, and Session Moderator
Fisheries and Wildlife Graduate Student Association, Oregon State University:
Responsible for organizing presentation abstracts and participant registration and
developing the symposium program.
2014
Volunteer, International Sea Turtle Society, 34th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle
Biology and Conservation: Student volunteer for oral sessions.
2013
Volunteer, International Sea Turtle Society, 33rd Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle
Biology and Conservation: Student volunteer for silent auction and oral sessions.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
International Sea Turtle Society
Western Society of Naturalists