CURRICULUM VITAE
JENNIFER L. TRUSTY
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Biological Sciences. Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199. December 2004.
Bachelor of Arts, Biology Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755. June 1997.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Online Lecturer. Georgia State University, Perimeter College. Fall 2012 - Current.
Online lecturer and course manager for Cell Biology and Genetics and Diversity in the Living World lecture and laboratory courses. Produce and deliver powerpoint and Camtasia video lectures on course topics and administrate coursework and grading using WebCT Vista and Desire2Learn software.
Assistant Professor. Gulf Coast State College. Fall 2009 – Summer 2012.
Lecturer and course manager for Microbiology and Plants and People in-class lecture, laboratory and online lecture course sections. In addition, taught Honors Environmental Seminar and Majors Biology laboratory classes. Interact and moderate online discussion, testing and grading using ANGEL course management system. Demonstrate and assess laboratory techniques to undergraduate students. Create and grade classroom and laboratory examinations.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Co-Principle Investigator. Folius Consulting contract through the Florida Division of Forestry and the Florida Native Plant Society. May 2010-November 2012.
Co-PI: Herbert Kesler
Designed and carried out population demographic study of Federally Endangered Harperocallus flava populations in the Apalachicola National Forest. Located and censused 14 plant populations twice yearly for survival, recruitment and flower and fruit production. Used LTRE and matrix modeling to determine the effects of prescribed fire and mowing on population growth rates and persistence.
Research Scientist. University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center. February 2009-December 2009.
Co-PI: Dr. Holly Ober
Conducted literature research and analyzed existing information on the location, status, methodology and success of groundcover restoration projects in the southeastern United States. Co-authored two outreach documents on native groundcover restoration and one peer-reviewed journal article using statistical analyses to identify factors that contribute to groundcover restoration success.
Post-doctoral Research, Auburn University, 2007-2009.
PIs: Dr. Graeme Lockaby and Dr. Wayne Zipperer
Completed 54 US Forest Service Forest Inventory Analysis/Forest Health Monitoring research plots in the panhandle of Florida. Diversity data was used as a basis for long-term monitoring of ecosystem changes due to urbanization. GISanalyseswere conducted to model habitat types and spatial occurrence of habitats. Predictive models as to the plant species and habitats most-likely affected by urbanization were constructed.
Post-doctoral Research, Auburn University, 2005-2007.
PIs: Dr. Graeme Lockaby and Dr. Les Goertzen
Initiated population genetic research on the introduction and spread of invasive Wisteria (Fabaceae) in the United States. Developed chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers for the identification of Wisteria species and populations. Laboratory techniques involved were DNA isolation, PCR optimization and amplification, bacterial cloning, DNA sequencing and primer design. Supervised the laboratory research of two undergraduate work-study students. Created collaborations with horticultural and taxonomic experts to facilitate research progress.
Doctoral Research, Florida International University, 1999-2004.
Advisor: Dr. Javier Francisco-Ortega
Dissertation title: Biogeography and conservation of endemic plants on a tropical Island: Isla del Coco, Costa Rica.
Authored the first complete vascular flora of Isla del Coco, Costa Rica based on extensive herbarium research and three collecting trips to the island. Used molecular data to address the biogeographic relationships of endemic species in the genera Epidendrum (Orchidaceae), Pilea (Urticaceae) and Psychotria (Rubiaceae). Assessed extinction risk of Isla del Coco endemic plants using two published criteria, the IUCN Red List and RAREplant criteria. Created novel modifications to these procedures toaddress the conservation challenges posed by island plants. Identified all exotic and potentially invasive plant species and made recommendations to limit their future introductions and spread.
CURRICULA DEVELOPED
Spring 2013. Georgia Perimeter College. Created an online lab for Diversity in the Living World Laboratory that does not require the purchase of a lab manual by students. I incorporated both hands on home laboratories, field work experience and online simulations to teach the topics of classification, natural selection and the recognition of the major phyla of animals and plants.
Spring 2012. Gulf Coast State College. Developed and received institutional approval for a new completely online biology course titled Plants and People based on the McGraw Hill Texbook “Plants and Society”. I created vodcasts of 12 lecture powerpoint presentations, developed 4 hands on graded activities and 4 exams. Topics covered included plant morphology, photosynthesis, plant taxonomy and food, fiber, and medicinal plants.
Spring 2011. Gulf Coast State College. Designed a 1 credit Honors Special Topic course “Use of Media in Environmental Awareness”. This course was taught as a seminar based on the discussion of short lectures, video presentation and assigned readings. Grades were based on student participation, the submission of written assignments and the creation of a video short on an environmental topic.
AWARDS, AND FELLOWSHIPS
2012. Gulf Coast State College NISOD “Teaching Excellence” Awardee. Attended the annual NISOD conference in Austin, TX.
2000-2003. Florida International University. EPA Science to Achieve Results Fellow. I conducted research for my Doctoral degree funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
PUBLICATIONS
J. L. Trusty, H. C. Kesler, B. G. Lockaby, W. C. Zipperer. 2012. Projecting the impacts of urbanization on forested habitats in a rapidly developing coastal region: the Forgotten Coast of Florida. Florida Scientist 75: 113-130.
J. L. Trusty, H. C. Kesler, and J. Rodriquez. 2011.Conservation of endemic plants on Isla del Coco, Costa Rica: the problem of scale on small islands. In (D. Bramwell and J. Caujape-Castells, eds.)The Biology of Island Floras, Cambridge Press, London, UK.
J. L. Trusty and H. K. Ober. 2011. Determinants of successful groundcover restoration in the southeastern United States: a regression tree approach. Journal for Nature Conservation 19:34-42.
L. R. Goertzen, J. L. Trusty, and R. S. Boyd. 2011. Clonal diversity and structure in the endangered Alabama leather flower Clematis socialis Kral (Ranunculaceae).
The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 138:41-51.
J. L. Trusty and H. K. Ober. 2009. Groundcover Restoration in Forests of the Southeastern United States. Conserved Forest Ecosystems: Outreach and Research.
J. L. Trusty, I. Miller, V. C. Pence, B. L. Plair, R. S. Boyd and L. R. Goertzen. 2009. Ex situ conservation of the federally endangered plant species Clematis socialis Kral (Ranunculaceae). Natural Areas Journal 29: 376-384.
J. L. Trusty, B. G. Lockaby, W. C. Zipperer and L. R. Goertzen. 2008. Horticulture, hybrid cultivars and exotic plant invasion: a case study of Wisteria (Fabaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 158:593-601.
H. C. Kesler, J. L. Trusty, S.M. Hermann and C. Guyer. 2008. Demographic responses of Pinguicula ionantha to prescribed fire a regression design LTRE approach.Oecologia 156: 545-557.
J. L. Trusty, L. R. Goertzen, W. C. Zipperer and B. G. Lockaby. 2007. Invasive Wisteria in the Southeastern United States: genetic diversity, hybridization and the role of urban centers. Urban Ecosystems 10(4): 379-395.
J. L. Trusty, B. G. Lockaby, W. C. Zipperer, and L. R. Goertzen. 2007. Identity of Naturalized Exotic Wisteria (Fabaceae) in the Southeastern United States Weed Research 47: 479-487.
J. Trusty and M. A. Blanco. 2006. The orchids of Isla del Coco. Orchids Nov.: 826-831.
J. L. Trusty, H. C. Kesler and G. Haug.2006. The vascular flora of Isla del Coco. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 57: 247-355.
J. Trusty and M. A. Blanco. 2005. Las orquídeas de la Isla del Coco. Epidendrum 27: 10-15.
J. L. Trusty, R. G. Olmstead, A. Santos-Guerra, S. Sá-Fontinha and J. Francisco-Ortega. 2005. Molecular phylogenetics of the Macaronesian endemic genus Bystropogon (Lamiaceae): paleo-islands, ecological shifts and inter-island colonizations. Molecular Ecology 14 (4): 1177-1189.
Rojas, A. F. and J. Trusty. 2004. Diversidad Pteridofitica de la Isla del Coco, Costa Rica. Brenesia 62:1-14.
J. L. Trusty, R. G. Olmstead, D. J. Bogler, A. Santos-Guerra, and J. Francisco-Ortega. 2004. Using molecular data to test a biogeographic connection of the Macaronesian genus Bystropogon (Lamiaceae) to the New World: a case of conflicting phylogenies. Systematic Botany 29: 702-715.
H. Liu, J. Trusty, R. Oviedo, A. Anderberg and J. Francisco-Ortega. 2004. Molecular phylogenetics of the Caribbean genera Rhodogeron and Sachsia (Asteraceae). International Journal of Plant Science 165: 209-217.
N. Andrus, J. Trusty, A. Santos-Guerra, R. K. Jansen, and J. Francisco-Ortega. 2004. Using molecular phylogenies to test phytogeographical links between East/South Africa – Southern Arabia and the Macaronesian islands – A review and the case of Pulicaria section Vieraeopsis ad Vierea (Asteraceae). Taxon 53: 333-346.