Description
KAYLEN S. KILFEATHER
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(703) 554-4406
kaylen@kilfeather.net
______________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
Master of Science, Primate Behavior- Anticipated graduation: Winter 2017
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
GPA: 4.0
Thesis: Gestural communication of northern white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys)
Captive Primate Care Certification, Primate Behavior and Ecology- May 2017
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
Bachelor’s of Art, Anthropology- 2013
Minor in German
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Completion of Intensive Language Training Academy- 2008
Virginia Governor’s Foreign Language German Academy, Richmond, VA
TEACHING, RESEARCH, & EMPLOYMENT
Field Lead, Amphibian Wildlife Research Team, I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East Project
Central Washington University, Washington Department of Transportation- Snoqualmie Pass, WA
July 2017-present
Survey of western toad and pacific giant salamander populations at various locations, with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures on Interstate 90
Capture of pacific giant salamanders
Assist PIT tagging
Assist recording location and morphological data
Collection of DNA samples
Radio tracking and mapping of western toads
Calibration of radio transmitters at various temperatures
Preparation of PIT tags
Data entry
Organization of past data
General equipment and laboratory maintenance
Assisted small mammal team with grid set-up, trapping, and specimen processing
Science Connections Team, SOAR3 Gear-Up
www.cwu.edu/gearup
Central Washington University- Ellensburg, WA
September 2017-present
Part of a committee responsible for coordination of programming at Gear-Up schools
School visits
STEM activities/workshops
Teacher support
Provide lesson plans
Event Planning
STEM summer camps
STEM nights
Social activities
General support of Gear-Up functions
Mentor, MOSAIC2 Gear-Up
Central Washington University- Ellensburg, WA
September 2017-present
Assigned two mentees in the cohort of freshmen accepted to CWU
Keep in contact
Support in any way needed, as an experienced student
Mentor, SOAR3 Gear-Up Summer Camps- Northwest Nature Conservation & Astrobiology
Central Washington University- Ellensburg, WA
June 2017
Assigned groups of 4-7 students to mentor for entirety of camps
Responsible for their schedule, meals, and whereabouts from breakfast to bedtime
The goal of this being to connect with campers to teach them about college
Developed and taught classroom activities
Assisted lead teachers during classroom time
Learned calibration of 10” Orion SkyQuest telescopes
Graduate Asst. Event Coordinator, Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESME)
Central Washington University- Ellensburg, WA
Sept 2015-June 2017
Coordinated and provided support for all CESME events (~2/month)
Including recruitment of educators and presenters
Developed and taught curriculum at CESME events
Ages of students ranging from kindergarten to high school
Event size ranging from small classroom to over 400 students (rotationally)
Fulfilled administrative functions in and out of the office
Including experience printing on Avery products
Examples of events: Nature of Night, a free event promoting “night time science” for all ages, Expanding Your Horizons, promoting scientific learning for 6th – 9th grade girls, and Science in a Pint, a monthly scientific presentation and community discussion at a local restaurant.
Research Coordinator, Multi’Omic Microbiome Study- Pregnancy Initiative (MOMS-PI)
Virginia Commonwealth University, Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology- Richmond, VA
Dec 2014-Aug 2015
Coordinated with care partners, nurses, and doctors to obtain samples from enrolled pregnant participants during their routine visits, labor & delivery, and postpartum stay
Collected above the waist samples from cheeks, nose, and various skin locations
Assisted doctors and nurses to obtain vaginal and rectal samples
Administered surveys and paperwork at each visit
Pre-processed samples for storage if no lab technicians were available
Recruited new participants and ensured informed consent
Included a thorough explanation of the study itself
Required cultural and situational sensitivity, especially in the case of unsuccessful pregnancies
Entered all data collected into the MOMS-PI system
Guest Service Agent, Dolphin Quest
Middleburg, VA- September 2013-December 2014
Took reservations, provided customer service, and answered questions via phone and email
Supported various interdepartmental functions by creating revenue reports, assisting in marketing research and data collection, daily accounting duties, recycling projects, errands, etc. as needed
Actively participated and took on leadership roles in local environmental volunteer endeavors
Local environmental initiatives were important to the company’s mission, both on site in Hawaii and off-site at administrative offices
Habitat and Wildlife Management Intern, Peaceful Springs Nature Preserve
Bertram, TX- summer 2013
Assisted and led work on multiple projects:
Invasive plant species management/treatment
Natural spring restoration
Design and installation of rain-collection water sources throughout property (drought protocol)
GIS mapping of red ant mounds to predict horned lizard populations
Update of GIS mapped trails on site
Conducted species census and species identification
Monitored and maintained remote cameras
Implemented improved recycling program
Interviewer and Research Assistant, Responsive Management
Harrisonburg, VA- 2012-2013
Conducted both general population and named respondent survey calls
In service to both public and private wildlife management organizations
Collected and collated data
Supported direct mail survey collection activities
VOLUNTEERING
Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest- Volunteer
Cle Elum, WA- November 2015 to present
Prepare meals for the chimpanzees
Prepare enrichment for the chimpanzees
Clean and organize produce when received
Clean enclosures
Practice and test chimpanzee identification
Practice and test procedural checks for entering enclosures
Perform various maintenance duties as needed
MOSAIC2 Gear-Up Volunteer
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA- 2016
Supported, developed, and led hands-on STEM activities for 6th and 7th grade students
Goose Creek Association Stream Monitoring- Monitor/Site leader
Loudoun/Fauquier Counties, VA- 2013 to 2015
Certified in benthic macroinvertebrate identification and collection techniques (VASOS method)
Conducted stream quality surveys
Calculated metrics based on macroinvertebrates collected
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy- Monarch Butterfly Waystation Certification
Purcellville, VA- 2014-2016
Planning and maintenance of milkweed/flowering plant populations at site
Registration to national database
Survey of monarchs at various stages of life
Annual International Coastal Cleanup- Site Leader/Organizer
Loudoun/Fauquier Counties, VA- 2013 & 2014
Searched out and chose site for cleanup
Organized volunteers
Coordinated clean-up efforts following ICC protocol
Reported trash counts to ICC
ACTIVITIES
Founder/Secretary, Graduate Student Association- 2016-2017
Member/Secretary, Primate Awareness Network- 2016-2017
SKILLS/CERTIFICATIONS
Trained in the following protocols:
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC),
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA), and
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Experience with research methods used to collect observational, behavioral data
Experience with research methods used to survey wildlife populations
Experience tracking animals using radio-telemetry
Experience trapping amphibians and small mammals
Experience using Arc Geographical Information Systems (10.1), ArcPad 10, and handheld GPS
Experience using heavy machinery- four wheelers, chainsaws, etc.
Certified in benthic macroinvertebrate testing
RStudio/R Statistical Software
Microsoft Office, Google Office, Internet, Great Plains accounting software
Fluent in German, Beginner in Japanese, Read/Write Ancient Greek
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Animal communication
Comparative animal cognition
Conservation Work