CAITLIN BAIRD
______________________________________________________________________________
806 NW 17th Ave.
Gainesville, Fl 32609
(484) 356-6044
bairdc@ufl.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D. candidate, Anthropology, University of Florida, 2013-present
M.A., Anthropology, University of Florida, 2012
B.A., Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, 2006
B.A., Comparative Literature, Pennsylvania State University, 2006
Minors: International Studies, Classic and Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Pennsylvania State
University, 2006
RESEARCH INTERESTS
applied biocultural medical anthropology; critical biocultural anthropology; research methods in
anthropology; disparities in health and healthcare; critical race feminism; community-based
participatory research; childhood stunting and malnutrition; maternal health; maternal autonomy;
DOHaD; human adaptability; Guatemala; clinical translations
FELLOWSHIPS
Inter-American Foundation Grassroots Development PhD Fellowship, 2014-2015
Alumni Fellowship, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Florida, 2009-2014
full tuition reimbursement and annual stipend for five academic years
offered Schatz Research Fellowship, Dept. of Forestry, Penn State, 2004 & 2006
undergraduate research fellowship; declined
GRANTS
Doctoral dissertation research: “The First Thousand Days: Synergistic Oppressions and
Childhood Stunting in Rural Guatemala” IAF Grassroots Development, $25,000
Foreign Language Acquisition Scholarship (FLAS), $6,200, Tulane University, New Orleans,
LA, Dept. of Latin American Studies, 2010
offered Foreign Language Acquisition Scholarship (FLAS), $6,200, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL, 2010 (declined; needs already met)
offered Foreign Language Acquisition Scholarship (FLAS), $6,200, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL, 2011 (declined)
Foreign Language Acquisition Scholarship (FLAS), $5,600, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL, 2012
offered Foreign Language Acquisition Scholarship (FLAS), $5,600, Tulane University, New
Orleans, LA, 2012 (declined; needs already met)
PUBLICATIONS
In Press Baird, C, “Rain”. Anthropology and Humanism.
Brown, K, Henretty, N, Chary, A, Farley Webb, M, Wehr, H, Moore, J, Baird, C, KraemerDiaz, A, Rohloff, P. Mixed-methods study identifies key strategies for improving infant and
young child feeding practices in a highly stunted rural indigenous population in Guatemala.
Maternal & Child Nutrition 2014
In Press Baird, C. Chronic Childhood Malnutrition. In: The Encyclopedia of Family Studies,
ed. Connie Shehan. Wiley & Blackwell.
Baird, C, Chary, A., Kraemer-Diaz, A., Brown, K., Rohloff, P. Junk Food and the Politics of
Blame: Examining Dietary Diversity in Three Guatemalan Communities. Paper in preparation.
Baird, C. The Evolution of a Perspective on Health: Intersectionality Theory in Academic
Practice, 1991-2011. Paper in preparation.
Peterson, C. B., Tran C. T., Sarosi G. A., Trypsin activates mitogen-activated protein kinases
and stimulates cell growth in Barrett’s Esophagus. Journal of Surgical Research, 2008
144(2):233
PRESENTATIONS
Baird, C, Chary, A., Kraemer-Diaz, A., Brown, K., Rohloff, P. Junk Food and the Politics of
Blame: Examining Dietary Diversity in Three Guatemalan Communities. Presented at the Latin
American Studies Association annual meetings, June 1, 2013
Peterson, C. B., Tran C. T., Sarosi G. A., Trypsin activates MAPK and stimulates growth in
Barrett’s Esophagus. Abstract presented at the American Surgical Congress. Huntington Beach,
CA, February 2008.
Tran, C. T., Peterson, C.B., Sarosi, G.A. Trypsin stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinases
and cell growth in Barrett’s Esophagus. Poster presented at the University of Florida’s College
of Medicine Surgical Research Conference. Gainesville, Fl, April 18, 2008.
Peterson, C.B., Tran, C.T., Sarosi, G.A. Trypsin stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinases
and cell growth in Barrett’s Esophagus. Presentation. North Florida/South Georgia Malcolm
Randall Veteran’s Hospital, Gainesville, Fl, May 2008.
TEACHING
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida ANT2301; Lance Gravlee, PhD, Instructor;
Human Sexuality, Spring 2013
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida ANT2301; Alyson Young, PhD, Instructor;
Human Sexuality, Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida ANG2000:9495; Geoff DuChemin, MA, Instructor;
General Anthropology, Spring 2012
Teaching Assistant, University of Florida ANG2000:8719; Paulette McFadden, MA, Instructor;
General Anthropology, Spring 2012
Guest Speaker, University of Florida ANG2301; Noelle Sullivan, PhD, Instructor:
Human Sexuality, 2010-2011
Guest Speaker, University of Florida ANG3302; Sarah Page-Chan, MA, Instructor;
Sex Roles, Fall 2010
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Qualitative Researcher
Guatemala
Wuqu’ Kawoq/Maya Health Alliance
·
Together with researchers from Washington University, the University of Kansas, and
Harvard University, collaborated on a five-part ethnographic survey in four Guatemalan
communities on infant feeding practices and childhood malnutrition.
Laboratory Technician
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine
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·
·
·
·
Tecpán,
University of Florida
Jan. 2006- Oct. 2008
Assessed roles of various stimuli (bile salts, trypsin, PAR-2) on abnormal cell growth in
Barrett’s Metaplasia
Started and set up a new laboratory
Handled the dispersal and management of a major grant
Oversaw lab and environmental safety
Proposed, designed, and carried through experiments independently via the
implementation of molecular and biochemical techniques including, but not limited to,
·
·
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epithelial cell culture, gel electrophoresis, PCR, ELISA, histological and microscopic
work, western blotting, and immunoprecipitation
Taught and maintained volunteers and new staff
Presented data in paper- and poster-based formats
Gained experience in animal care and survival-based surgeries
Undergraduate Researcher
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Forestry, Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences
Fall 2003- Jan. 2006
The Floral Genome Project
Supervisor: Dr. John Carlson, Ph.D.
· Collected from the field, prepared (paraformaldehyde fixation), and distributed
Liriodendron tulipifera samples in cooperation with The University of Florida
· Performed genomic assays (dot-blotting) and prepared slides via microtome cutting and
paraffin embedding
· Oversaw maintenance, care, and access to a transgenic greenhouse, monitored plant
mineral levels and overall health over a two-year period
PSU Christmas Tree Micropropagation Project Supervisor: Abdoulaye Traore, Ph.D.
· Cloned and propagated field-obtained gymnosperm tissue, sterilely dissected and
transferred tissue cultures, prepared sterile media and culled infected buds
Liriodendron BAC Library Project
Supervisor: Haiying Liang, Ph.D.
· Isolated and transformed plasmids, prepared and transferred bacterial cultures, prepared
solutions and media and performed electrophoresis
North American Raspberry Diversity Project
Supervisor: Holly Marking, M.S.
· Engineered a new method of DNA extraction for small seeds, collected samples and
entered data, performed electrophoresis and PCR analysis. A new project was spawned
from the ISSR implications of this thesis.
Douglas Fir Micropropagation Project Supervisor: Chien-Chih Chen, Ph.D. Candidate
· Cultured and prepared Pinacaea pseudotsuga samples for further study
Anthropological Laboratory Skills
· Extraction and purification of DNA from whole blood (Puregene and FTA protocols)
· DS180 isolation for VNTR comparison
· Buccal cell DNA extraction
· Amelogenin analysis for purposes of sexing
HONORS AND AWARDS
Society for Humanistic Anthropology Ethnographic Fiction Competition
1st place, “Rain”, Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Society Dec 3-7, 2014
Chi Gamma Lambda National Honors Society for Comparative Literature, member
STUDY ABROAD AND LANGUAGE TRAINING
Kab’lajuj Ey, Tecpan, Guatemala
Wuqu’ Kawoq/Maya Health Alliance
2 Calle 5-43 Zona 1 Santiago Sacatepequez, Guatemala, Summer 2012
Oxlajuj Aj, Antigua, Guatemala
Tulane University
Proyecto Linguistico Francisco Marroquin (PLFM), 6a. Avenida Norte #43, Antigua, Guatemala
Kaqchikel Maya, Summer 2010 and 2012
Ελληνικός Πολίτισμος, Ατθενα, Ελλασ
The Athens Centre, 48 Αρκιμιδοσ, Μετσ, Ατθενα 11636
Modern Greek, Spring 2006
LANGUAGES
Fluency in Spanish
Intermediate proficiency Kaqchikel Maya
Reading proficiency in Italian and Modern Greek