Education

Masters in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (December 2016)

The Pennsylvania State University – University Park, Pennsylvania

Supported in full by Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Teaching Assistantship

Dissertation title: “Methodologies in Assessing Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities”

Committee: Jay R. Stauffer Jr. (Chair), Gregory Hoover, Elizabeth Boyer

Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (May 2014)

With a Minor in International Agriculture

The Pennsylvania State University – University Park, Pennsylvania

Schreyer Honors College and The College of Agricultural Sciences

Thesis title: “Foraging Habits of Etheostoma caeruleum to Determine Dietary Variability”

Education Abroad (February – June 2013)

Lincoln University – Lincoln, New Zealand

Teaching Experience

Adjunct Faculty in Wildlife Technology – The Pennsylvania State University – DuBois, Pennsylvania

ELEMENTS OF PROJECT SUPERVISION IN FORESTRY – Spring 2015 – 2017

Developed course material pertaining to wildlife policy, planning, and law

• Facilitated discussions of environmental current events
• Utilized a variety of pedagogical strategies to avoid a lecture based course
• Fostered relationships with students transitioning to University Park as support

WILDLIFE IDENTIFICATION – Spring 2017

• Taught life history and identification of Pennsylvania amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds
• Facilitated field-based laboratories reinforcing lecture materials

Graduate Student Instructor – The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, Pennsylvania

ICHTHYOLOGY LABORATORY Fall – 2015, 2016

Revitalized course materials for instruction

• Conducted field trips to enhance experiential learning of fish identification
• Incorporated “on the job” skills into course learning objectives

Teaching Assistant – The Pennsylvania State University – University Park, Pennsylvania

FRESHWATER ENTOMOLOGY – Fall 2015

• Supervised students during field and laboratory sessions
• Guest lectured on professional development and insect drift

WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES MEASUREMENTS – Fall 2014

• Supervised students during field and laboratory sessions
• Explained challenging biological concepts to students

Education-based Community Service

4H Youth Field Day – The Pennsylvania State University Extension – Spring 2012 – 2016

• Developed curriculum based activities around centralized theme for small and large group participation

Outdoor School – Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center – October 2013

• Served as cabin counselor for a group of five fifth grade girls for one week
• Led games, songs and other spontaneous activities during down time
• Assisted learning group leader as necessary during educational activities

New Zealand Girl Guides – February – June 2013

• Assisted troop leader at weekly meetings by leading activities, songs, crafts, and discussions in order to aid girls in earning badges and selling biscuits

Wildlife and Fisheries Research Experience

Fisheries Research Technician – The Pennsylvania State University – University Park, Pennsylvania – January 2011 – Present

• Conducted independent research projects in aquatic ecology
• Obtained permits and lead field crew to collect fish and macroinvertebrates
• Collected, sorted, and identified samples of aquatic macroinvertebrates
• Electrofished and seined small to large streams
• Snorkeled to capture underwater footage of fish behaviors
• Identified fish to be cataloged and entered information into museum database
• Pinned fish fins for preservation and took fin clippings for genetic analysis
• Measured stream flow, substrate and widths to categorize microhabitats
• Analyzed water samples for chemical components of water quality
• Cleaned tanks and fed fishes as routine husbandry
• Created maps for publication using GIS software, ESRI ArcMap
• Collaborated with US Geological Survey on genomics projects

Wildlife and Fisheries Work Experience

Bat Technician – Pittsburgh Wildlife and Environmental – McDonald, Pennsylvania – May 2012 – August 2012

• Utilized mist netting techniques to capture bats for endangered species surveys
• Developed bat identification skills
• Obtained rabies vaccinations

Presentations

“Methodologies in Assessing Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities”, Oral presentation at Regional Science Consortium Colloquium at Tom Ridge Environmental Center, November 2016. First Place Award in Graduate Student Presentations.

“Foraging habits of Etheostoma caeruleum to determine diet variability”, Honors thesis completed for degree, The Pennsylvania State University, May 2014. Oral presentation at Regional Science Consortium Colloquium at Tom Ridge Environmental Center, November 2013 & 2015. Oral presentation at The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Wildlife Society State Conference, March 2015.

“An Evaluation of drift and substrate macroinvertebrate communities in Elk Creek”, Oral presentation at Regional Science Consortium Colloquium at Tom Ridge Environmental Center, November 2012.

Publications

Stauffer, Jay R., Sara Mueller, Joshua Wisor, and Casey Bradshaw-Wilson. (In Press). Occurrence of the Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in LeBoeuf and French Creeks. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.

Clark, Kyle and Sara Mueller. (In Press). Long-Term Monitoring of the Macroinvertebrate Community in Elk Creek, Pa. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.

Workshops

Mueller, Sara and Dang Nyugen. Beyond Classroom Walls: Effectively Engaging in Experiential Learning. Teaching and Learning in Agriculture Workshop Series. College of Agricultural Sciences. The Pennsylvania State University. April 2016.

Grants Received

College of Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Research Grant ($2000.00) – Fall 2013

College of Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Research Grant ($3000.00) – Summer 2013

Undergraduate Summer Discovery Grant ($3000.00) – Summer 2013

Achievements and Awards

• Department of Ecosystem Science and Management Outstanding Senior
• John L. George Student Conservation Award
• The Pennsylvania State University Dean’s List

Professional Memberships

• American Fisheries Society
• Society for Freshwater Science
• Delta Waterfowl
• The Wildlife Society
• Girl Scouts of the USA

Scholarships

• Class of 1922 Memorial Scholarship
• Mark Petty Bush Memorial Scholarship in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
• Ferguson-Cope Forestry Award
• Settlemyer Fund for International Experiences
• Schreyer Honors College Academic Excellence Scholarship
• Galen Dreibelbis Endowment For Excellence In Ag
• Gerald L. Bayles Memorial Scholarship
• Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow
• Fisher Scholarship in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
• Douglas B. and Tracey J. Sieg Trustee Scholarship
• Rotary Club Of State College
• Wilbur W. Ward Memorial

Undergraduate Organization Involvement

State College Chapter of Delta Waterfowl – January 2014 – Present

• Assisted in organization and execution youth and fundraising events
• Served as co-chairman beginning Fall 2014

College of Agricultural Sciences Ag Advocate – April 2011 – May 2014

• Co-chaired event promoting agricultural literacy to campus and community
• Served on media committee producing promotional materials for AgDay 2013
• Provided tours for the College of Agricultural Sciences and campus facilities
• Acquainted perspective and incoming students with University Park Campus and its Agriculture related programs
• Served as a student liaison at alumni and outreach events for the college
• Promoted the College of Agricultural Sciences as 2012 NASP tournament

Undergraduate Student Representative for School of Forest Resources Alumni Group Board of Directors – April 2011 – May 2014

The Pennsylvania State University Wildlife Society – August 2010 – May 2014

• President for 2013-2014 academic year
• Community Service and Education Chair for 2011-2012 academic year
• Planned and hosted successful 2014 Northeast Student Conclave
• Presented educational activities in elementary school classrooms
• Organized student travel to and attended National Conference in 2012, 2013
• Co-chaired the Wild Game Dinner fundraiser in March 2011, 2012
• Co-chaired Kids Go Wild youth field day event October 2010, 2011

PSU Swing Dance Club – August 2010 – May 2014

• Vice president for 2012-2013 academic year
• Treasurer for 2011-2012 academic year
• Taught introductory Lindy Hop and Blues lessons
• Organized biannual workshops

Schreyer Honors College SHOTime Mentor – Fall 2011

• Facilitated orientation activities at SHOTime 2011
• Led icebreakers
• Assisted scholars in adjusting to college life
• Played an active role in the Finale events at SHOTime

 Schreyer Honors College First-Year Testing, Consulting and Advising Program (FTCAP) Mentor – May 2011

• Shared Schreyer Honors College experiences with incoming freshmen
• Served as resource to parents and students during scheduling of classes

 

Teaching Certifications

• Penn State Graduate Teaching Certificate (In Progress) – 2017
• Penn State Graduate Student Online Teaching Certificate – 2016
• Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology Certificate – 2016
• PA Game Commission Hunter Education Instructor – 2014 – Present
• National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide – 2014 – Present

References Available Upon Request

 

To download a copy of my CV, click here: mueller_cv_2017.