Christine M. Carson

Education

Kansas State University: M.Sc. Biology (In progress)                                                       

• Anticipated graduation date: Aug. 2017                                                                                  

University of Missouri: B.S. Environmental and Soil Science 2015, Magna Cum Laude      

  

Professional and Teaching Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant                                                                     

Kansas State University – Manhattan, KS                                                               Aug 2015 – Present   

• Engaged with students in botany, zoology, microbiology and introductory biology laboratories and lectures. Received teaching evaluations from students with highest possible ratings each semester.

• Wrote manuscripts describing research for peer-reviewed journal publications.

• Conduct field and laboratory research related to grassland soil microbial ecology, analyze large datasets using Microsoft Excel and Python programming language systems. Became familiar with statistical software (R Studio, SAS) for data analysis.

Science Communication Fellow

Sunset Zoo Science Communication Fellowship – Manhattan, KS                       Jun 2016 – Present

• Completed the Portal to the Public Science Communication Training courses and participated in educational events for diverse audiences: Children, adults and nursing home patients in both small groups and events with over 300 members of the Manhattan community.

• Organize volunteer activities for a graduate-level science communication writing workshop.

Guide and Research Technician

Mountain Area Land Trust – Alma, CO                                                                   Jun 2015 – Aug 2015

• Led weekly public tours through the alpine featuring alpine ecology and natural history.

• Worked as a dynamic team to conduct research.

• Able to identify alpine plants to family.

Teaching Fellow  

BGREEN Internship – Columbia, MO                                                                       Sep 2013 – May 2015

• Assisted first and fourth grade students with classroom and outdoor experimental design and implementation, and designed lesson plans for students related to understanding science and ecology.

Lab Technician

University of Missouri – Columbia, MO                                                                    Jun 2013 – Jun 2015

• Wrote two grants amounting to $20,000 total to fund salary and research costs.

• Presented research for diverse audiences: Scientists, children, adults, and for the Missouri legislators.

• Conduct field and laboratory research including collecting of over 1000 soil cores, maintaining 90 plants, and performing DNA-based methods.

Customer Service

Shakespeare’s Pizza, ACME T-Shirts, Clover’s Natural Market – Columbia, MO Aug 2008 –2015   

• Developed excellent interpersonal, customer service, organizational, and time management skills by balancing several customer service and volunteer opportunities during high school and college.

 

Volunteer Experience

Girls Researching Our World – Manhattan, KS                                                    2016 – 2017

• Designed programs and led indoor and outdoor activities for middle school girls during campus-wide science events.

Riley County Humane Society – Manhattan, KS                                                   Fall 2016        

• Assisted with pet adoption events

Konza Prairie Biological Station Burning Volunteer – Manhattan, KS              Spring 2016               

• - Participated in prescribed burning of Konza Prairie.

MU Children’s Garden – Columbia, MO                                      
                           Fall 2014

• - Guided pre-k students through early childhood experiences pertaining to garden ecology.

Missouri Stream Team – Columbia, MO                                                                Spring 2012 – 2015

• Measured the flow of streams and the population diversity of macroinvertebrate life to estimate water quality.

• Participated in community efforts to remove trash from local streams.

•  

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Carson, C.M. and C.A. Pennock. 2017. Unsustainable use of the High Plains Aquifer: Farming and Fish Communities Left High and Dry. National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. In press.

• Carson, C.M. 2014. Insects: It’s what’s for dinner? MU Artifacts Journal for Undergraduate Writing. Won first prize for April 2015 submissions.

•  

Selected Grants

• Prairie Fork Foundation Grant: Influence of agricultural and remedial land use practices on efficacy of soil in supporting a diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal community for Central Missouri prairies. Total funds: $12,000

 

Selected Presentations (* indicates presenting author)

Soils are alive: Exploring the world beneath our feet. *Christine Carson. Oral. Science on Tap.

 

Microbe-managing: Grassland soil microbial community turnover in response to long-term management controlling nitrogen availability. Christine Carson, Lydia Zeglin. Oral. Graduate Students on Parade 2016 “Best Overall Presentation”

 

Grassland soil bacterial community turnover in response to long-term management controlling nitrogen availability

*Christine Carson, Lydia Zeglin. Oral Presentation. 43rd Annual Graduate Student Forum 2017

 

Microbe-managing: Grassland soil microbial community turnover in response to long-term management controlling nitrogen availability           

*Christine Carson, Lydia Zeglin. Oral Presentation. Graduate Students on Parade 2016 - “Best Overall Presentation”

Microbe-managing: Grassland soil microbial community turnover in response to long-term management controlling nitrogen availability

*Christine Carson, Lydia Zeglin. Poster. Konza Prairie All Investigators Meeting 2015

 

Temporal dynamics of soil microbial communities in response to controls on N availability

*Christine Carson, Lydia Zeglin. Oral Presentation; Graduate Students on Parade 2015

 

Do happy roots make blue stems? Influence of land use practices on soil microbial communities and their benefits for a widespread prairie plant, Schizachyrium scoparium

*Christine Carson, Alice Tipton and Candace Galen. Poster. Ecological Society of America 2015.

 

Fairview’s Bird Buddies. First Graders and Fourth Graders Collaborate

*Fairview 4th and 1st Grade, Christine Carson, Ragan Webb. Poster. BGREEN Elementary Science Symposium 2015

 

Influence of agricultural and restorative land use practices on the soil’s ability to support a diverse microbial community in Central Missouri prairies


*Christine Carson, Alice Tipton and Candace Galen.Poster. Undergraduate Life Sciences Symposium 2014.

 

Influence of agricultural and restorative land use practices on the soil’s ability to support a diverse microbial community in Central Missouri prairies


*Christine Carson, Alice Tipton and Candace Galen. Poster. Research Day at the Capitol 2015

 

Influence of agricultural and remedial land use practices on efficacy of soil in supporting a diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal community for Central Missouri prairies

*Christine Carson, Alice Tipton and Candace Galen. Poster. Undergraduate Life Sciences Symposium 2014

 

Let’s Dive into Wetland Diversity

*Mill Creek 4th Grade, Christine Carson, Rebecca Bowers, Karla Sommers. Poster. BGREEN Elementary Science Symposium 2014

 

Urban Forests: Mitigating the Urban Heat Island and Climate Change

Jason A. Hubbart, *Christine M. Carson, Katlin R. Beaven, and Kirsten Stephan. Poster. Missouri Natural Resources Conference 2014.

 

Selected Honors and Achievements   

BGSA Research Grant ($500)                                                                                   Summer 2016

Sunset Zoo Science Communication Fellowship                                                   Summer 2016             

Missouri Mycological Society Scholarship ($1000)                                                Spring 2016                

Botanical Society of America Young Botanist Award                                             Spring 2015                

Artifacts Undergraduate Writing Award – 1st Place ($500)                                  Spring 2015

Byron A. Barnes Excellence in Environmental Science Award ($500)                 Spring 2015    

National Science Foundation GK-12 Teacher Fellowship ($200)                         2013 – 2015

Monsanto Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($1,200)                                     2014 – 2015

Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program ($3,500)             2014 – 2015

ILLOWA Marine Corps Scholarship ($800)                                                              2014 – 2015

Wurdack Scholarship ($1,200)                                                                                 2014 – 2015

Donald P. Duncan Scholarship ($600)                                                                     2014 – 2015

Agriculture Development Scholarship ($500)                                                        2013 – 2014

Retired Ag Professors' Endowed Scholarship ($500)                                           2013 – 2014

James S. Rollins Scholarship ($500)                                                                      2013 – 2014

Missouri Community College Scholarship ($1,200)                                               2013 – 2014

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society                                                                               2013 – 2014