Curriculum Vitae
Name:
Karen Jensen
Address:
Department of Biology
1300 Campbell Hall
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294
Phone:
251-327-0273
Email:
jensenk@uab.edu
Education
2013-present The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Master of Science, Biology (Expected Graduation: April 2016)
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Watts
2010-2014
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology, Minor in Japanese.
2006-2010
McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Mobile, AL
Laboratory Experience
2014-present Research Assistant: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Supervisors: Dr. John Parant, Dr. Holly Thomas
Research Description: Creation and characterization of new genetic lines of
zebrafish through: breeding; single cell microinjections of CRISPR guide RNA;
PCR for high resolution melt curve analysis; plasmid purification; tail clipping for
genotyping, PCR purification after agarose gel electrophoresis, imaging using a
fluorescent microscope
2013-2014
Research Assistant: Aquatic Animal Research Core
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Supervisors: Dr. Mickie Powell, Dr. Stephen Watts
Research Description: Daily care of the breeding colony of the short-lived
killifish Nothobranchius furzeri, embryo care, investigation of behavior and
husbandry techniques
2014-2015
Animal Care Technician: Zebrafish Research Core
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Supervisors: Dr. Stephen Watts, Dr. Susan Farmer
Responsibilities: upkeep of a 27-rack recirculating zebrafish system, daily live
and dry feeding of adult animals, upkeep of rotifer and Artemia cultures,
preparing polyculture tanks for larval fish, daily assessment and upkeep of the
filtration system
2013-2014
Undergraduate Research Assistant: Department of Biology
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Watts
Research Description: Maintenance and care of multiple recirculating aquaculture
systems containing sea urchins, zebrafish, or killifish; water quality testing;
spawning and larval care of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus, assistance with
setup and takedown of nutrition experiments in zebrafish and sea urchins
2012
Undergraduate Research Assistant: Department of Biology
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Mentors: Dr. Roberta Challener, Dr. James McClintock
Research Description: Assisted with carbonate assessment of seawater samples
from a shallow seagrass bed ecosystem using alkalinity titration
Teaching Experience
2015
Laboratory Instructor: BI115L Organismal Biology
Department of Biology
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Birmingham-Southern College
Supervisors: Dr. Andy Gannon, Dr. Scot Duncan
Responsibilities: create and present an introductory lecture at the beginning of
each lab session, guide students through experiments and ensure their
understanding of the experimental process and related materials, provide feedback
to students on their scientific paper, design practical exams, grade assignments
and exams, attend a weekly prep meeting to ensure uniformity across laboratory
sections, and address any student questions or concerns.
2013-2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant: BY124L Introductory Biology Lab II
Department of Biology
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL
Supervisor: Alan Whitehead
Responsibilities: create and present an introductory lecture at the beginning of
each lab session, guide students through experiments and ensure their
understanding of the experimental process and related materials, grade all
assignments and tests, attend a weekly prep meeting to ensure uniformity across
laboratory sections, and address any student questions or concerns.
2012
Peer Mentor: CAS 112 Success in College
College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Supervisors: James Grimes, Andrew Meythaler
Responsibilities: assist the teaching faculty member with presenting material and
explaining assignments, direct students to help and relevant services as needed,
and serve as a bridge between new students and the rest of the university
Research Interests
Improvement and development of aquaculture techniques, aquaculture nutrition, aquatic
and marine animal husbandry, aquatic animals as models for human health, ecological
sustainability and conservation at a local and global level
Field Experience
2015
Field capture and population assessment of the invasive lizard Anolis sagrei near
St. Augustine, Florida
Project Director: Dr. Dan Warner
2014
Population assessment of land crabs at a field site on San Salvador Island, the
Bahamas
Movement of intertidal littorine snails at a field site on San Salvador Island, the
Bahamas
Project Directors: Dr. Ken Marion and Dr. James McClintock
2013
Collection of nesting mothers for a Head Start Program for the Diamondback
Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, in Cedar Point Marsh near Dauphin Island, AL
Project Director: Dr. Thane Wibbels
2013-2015
Wild collection of specimens of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus for various
experiments in Port St. Joseph Bay, Florida
Project Director: Dr. Stephen Watts
Scholarships, Grants, and Awards
2015 UAB Department of Biology Travel Grant - $500
2015 Phi Sigma Travel Grant - $400
2015 Alabama Academy of Science Best Presentation Award - $60
2015 Alabama Academy of Science Travel Grant - $26.67
2014 Caroline Ireland Travel Award - $1000
2014 Cornell University Engineering Design of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Certificate
2014 Alabama Academy of Science Research Grant - $200
2014 Alabama Academy of Science Travel Grant - $16
2013 Coastal Conservation Association Scholarship - $1000
2010 Golden Excellence Scholarship
2010 UAB Marching Band Scholarship - $500
Published Abstracts:
Karen E. Jensen, J. Chris Taylor, Mickie L. Powell, Robert J. Barry, D. Allen Davis,
Stephen A. Watts. Evaluation of a polyculture system containing the variegated sea
urchin Lytechinus variegatus and the Pacific whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The
Alabama Academy of Science 92nd Annual Meeting 2015.
Karen E. Jensen, Stephen A. Watts, Mickie L. Powell, Robert J. Barry, D. Allen
Davis. February 2015. EVALUATION OF A POLYCULTURE SYSTEM INVOLVING
THE SEA URCHIN Lytechinus variegatus AND THE SHRIMP Litopenaeus vannamei.
Aquaculture America 2015.
Karen E. Jensen, Mickie L. Powell, Stephen A. Watts. March 2014. Breeding
behavior in the short-lived killifish Nothobranchius furzeri GRZ. The Alabama Academy
of Science 91st Annual Meeting 2014.
Manuscripts in Progress:
Heflin, L.E., Hayes, M., Jensen, K.E., Raubenheimer, D., Simpson, S.J., and
Watts, S.A. Balancing macronutrient intake in small cultured Lytechinus variegatus held
under choice and no-choice feeding regimes.
Heflin, L.E., Hayes, M., Jensen, K.E., Raubenheimer, D. Simpson, S.J. and
Watts, S.A. Growth and production among small Lytechinus variegatus held under choice
and no-choice feeding regimes.
Professional Societies
2015 The World Aquaculture Society (WAS)
2014 The Society for Comparative and Integrative Biology (SICB)
2014 The Alabama Academy of Science (AAS)
Honors Programs:
5th Year Master’s Program. University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society, Gamma Theta Chapter
Secretary, 2015
Community Service:
Organizer/Volunteer: Cedar Point Marsh Clean-Up with the Marine and Field Biology
Club at UAB. April 2015.
Volunteer Judge: UAB Expo
Volunteer: Phi Sigma Stress-Free Day
Organizer/Volunteer: Coastal Clean-Up with the Marine and Field Biology Club at UAB.
Gulf Shores, AL. April 2014.
Biology Department Representative: Earth Day Festival at UAB. April 2014.
Student Panel Speaker: UAB Day, College of Arts and Sciences Academic Session.
February 2014, November 2013.
Volunteer: Crystal River Preserve State Park. January 2014, January 2013
Volunteer, Animal Resources Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Summer
2013
Volunteer, Greater Birmingham Humane Society