CV / RESUME

EBONY MURRELL

 

 

Current Mailing Address

 

Illinois State University

School of Biological Sciences

Campus Box 4120,

Normal, IL 61790-4120

Office Phone:  (309)438-5278

Email:  egmurre@ilstu.edu

 

Research Interests

 

I have a broad interest in community ecology, or how biological communities are shaped by the

interactions of various organisms via their behavior, physiology, competitive abilities, or other

factors.  My current research focus is on ecological succession, and how species interactions

may drive succession in aquatic macroinvertebrate communities (e.g., larval mosquitoes). 

 

Education

 

Illinois State University, Normal, IL

2007 – Present

PhD student in Biology                                                          Current GPA:  4.0/4.0

 

Illinois State University, Normal, IL

2005 – 2007

MS student in Biology, with a Conservation Biology sequence        GPA:  4.0/4.0

 

Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL

1998 – 2001

BS in Biology                                                                                     GPA: 3.5/4.0

 

Teaching Experience

 

Fall 2009.  Teaching Assistant for Costa Rican Rainforest Ecology (BSC 306.08), Illinois State

      University

Fall 2008.  Teaching Assistant for Biostatistics Lab (BSC 420.27), Illinois State University

Fall 2007.  Teaching Assistant for Biostatistics Lab (BSC 420.27), Illinois State University

Fall 2007.  Teaching Assistant for Ecology (BSC 201), Illinois State University

2003-2005.  Pet Obedience Class Instructor, PetSmart, Columbia, SC.

 

 

Academic Honors and Awards

 

Nominee for Graduate Student University Teaching Award, Illinois State University, 2009

Invited Student Speaker at the 5th International Congress for the Society of Vector

Ecology, 2009

Charlena T. Wallen Memorial Scholarship, Illinois State University, 2009

Outstanding Poster Presentation, Phi Sigma Symposium, Illinois State University, 2009

Treasurer (2006-2007) and current member of Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society, 2006

Member of Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honors Society, 2000

 

Grants and Fellowships

 

Omar Rilett travel grant, Illinois State University ($250), 2009

Weigel Grant, Illinois State University ($400), 2009

Phi Sigma National travel grant ($400), 2009

Omar Rilett travel grant, Illinois State University ($135), 2008

Weigel Grant, Illinois State University ($1000), 2008

Phi Sigma National travel grant ($200), 2008

Omar Rilett travel grant, Illinois State University ($180), 2007

Phi Sigma National travel grant ($200), 2007

Weigel Grant, Illinois State University ($690), 2006

E. L. Mockford Fellowship, Illinois State University, 2006

 

Presentations

 

Murrell, E.G., and S.A. Juliano.  2009.  5th International Congress for the Society of

Vector Ecology (oral).

Murrell, E.G., and S.A. Juliano.  2009.  Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of

America (poster)

Murrell, E.G., and S.A. Juliano.  2009.  Phi Sigma Symposium, Illinois State University

(poster).

Murrell, E.G., and S.A. Juliano.  2008.  Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of

America (oral).

Murrell, E.G., K. Damal, and S.A. Juliano.  2008.  Annual meeting of the Society for

Integrative and Comparative Biology (poster).

Murrell, E.G., K. Damal, and S.A. Juliano.  2007.  Annual meeting of the Ecological

Society of America (poster)

Murrell, E.G.  2007.  Phi Sigma Symposium, Illinois State University (oral).

Murrell, E.G.  2006.  Annual NCB meeting of the Entomological Society of America (oral).

Murrell, E.G.  2006.  Phi Sigma Symposium, Illinois State University (oral).

Tillman, E.G., J.R. Olson, J.D. Hatle, and S.A. Juliano.  2001.  Annual meeting of the

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (poster).

 

Publications

 

Murrell, E.G., and S.A. Juliano.  In prep.  Demographic estimates of R* for organisms with

complex life cycles yield accurate predictions of competitive outcomes.

 

Murrell, E.G., K. Damal, and S.A. Juliano.  In prep.  Distributions of competing aquatic

insects depend on detritus types, nutrient ratios, and food availability.

 

Murrell, E.G., A. Goyen, and A.M. Griffin.  In review.  Length of stay at a shelter influences

the response of dogs to human communicative gestures.  Applied Animal Behaviour

Science.  In review.

 

Disney, R.H., R.S. Copeland, and E.G. Murrell.  2009.  The true identity of Copeland’s

aquatic scuttle fly (Diptera: Phoridae) from Indiana and recognition of a sibling

species from Texas.  Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 

111(3): 564-574.

 

Murrell, E.G., and S.A. Juliano.  2008.  Detritus type aleters the outcome of interspecific

competition between Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). 

Journal of Medical Entomology  45:375-383.

 

Juliano, S.A., J.R. Olson, E.G. Murrell, and J.D. Hatle.  2004.  Plasticity and canalization of

                                    Insect reproduction:  testing alternative models of life history transitions.  Ecology

85(11): 2986-2996.

 

 

Professional Societies

 

Entomological Society of America

Society of Vector Ecology

Ecological Society of America

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

 

 

WORK HISTORY

 

Illinois State University, Normal, IL

Research Assistant, June 2005 – Present

DUTIES:  *Conduct research for a masters thesis on invasive mosquito species

                                                     *Write up research for publication in scientific journals and for presentation at

        scientific conferences.

 

PetSmart, Columbia, SC

Pet Trainer, November 2003 –  April 2005

DUTIES:   *Selling PetSmart products and dog training classes 

                                                      *Teaching owners how to train their dogs in basic obedience

 

Flyaway Farm and Kennels, North Field AFB, North, SC

Wildlife Biologist, June 2003 – November 2003

DUTIES:   *Drive birds away from the airfield using trained border collies, pyrotechnics,

       shotgun, and depredation if necessary

     *Keep deer off the airfield using various nonlethal deterrents

     *Assess the habitat on and around the airfield and recommend alterations to

       control the number of species on the airfield.

     *Assist in training border collies in obedience and bird work.

 

Covance Laboratories, Madison, WI

Study Technician, March 2002 – June 2003

DUTIES:   *Administer test materials to rodents using various techniques (oral gavage,

                   subcutaneous injection, and through feed).

                                                     *Care for and monitor the health of animals.

                                                     *Set up, conduct, and review data for specific studies.

                                                     *Conduct motor activity and neurotoxicity testing for specific studies.

 

Tate and Lyle Research Facility at Staleys, Decatur, IL

Chemistry Lab Assistant, January 2002 – February 2002

DUTIES:   *Conducting various chemical tests (PIS residue tests, nitrogen analysis, etc.)

                                                       on samples obtained from the production line.

 

 

Illinois State University, Normal, IL

C-RUI Intern, January 2001 – January 2002

DUTIES    * Conducted behavioral and physiological research on grasshoppers

     * Presented written and oral presentations for the research proposal, using

        Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
     * Presented a poster of the findings at the annual Society for Integrative and

        Comparative Biology (SICB) Conference in Jan 2002. 

 

University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO

REU Intern, June 2000 – August 2000

DUTIES:  * Conducted ecological research on subalpine ants and vegetation

    * Presented findings to faculty and peers, using slides and transparencies

 

Morristown National Historical Park, Morristown, NJ

SCA Intern, June 1999 – August 1999

DUTIES:  * Conducted water quality tests, deer population census, and vegetation

surveys of the park

* Participated in exotic plant removal and botanical restoration of the park.
    * Mapped buildings, trails, and key areas of the park using GIS/GPS

       technology.

 

 

HONORS:   Member of BBB National Biological Honors Society

                                                     Treasurer (2006-2007) and current Member of Phi Sigma Biological

Honors Society

 

ADDITIONAL   Journalism, computer proficiency (Windows, MS Office,

                        SKILLS:               etc.), music, and illustration.

 

 

VOLUNTEER      Miller Park Zoo                    The Raptor Trust

WORK:                    Wildlife CPR                       Ecology Action Center

                                                               Humane Society                   Pets, Inc.

 

 

 

 

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