Education

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY​  |  2014
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Dissertation title: Conservation Planning in a Changing World: Mitigating the Deleterious Effects of Habitat Loss
Primary Advisor: Professor Nick M. Haddad

MASTER OF SCIENCE​​  |  2005
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, ZA
Primary Advisor: Doctor Berndt J. van Rensburg

BACHELOR (HONOURS) OF SCIENCE​  |  2003
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, ZA

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE​  |  2002
University of Pretoria, Pretoria, ZA

CERTIFICATE OF GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS​​  |  2012
Duke University, Durham, NC

Certifications

Certified Beekeeper |  NC State Beekeeping Association  |  2019
Proven experience in setting up and moving hives, managing pests and diseases, feeding, splitting, merging, and requeening. Renewed annually.

Advanced Open Water Diver (incl. Nitrox)  |  PADI  |  2014
Certified to dive up to 30 m/100 ft, with experience in marine and freshwater environments, in cold and warm water. Does not expire.

Certified Motorboat Operator  |  Department of Interior, USA  |  2011
SAF4102--DOI MOCC. Obtained hands-on training and certification for operating small vessels. Needed for extensive motorboat work in shallow and deep waters for US Fish and Wildlife Service off Florida, during 2011–2012. Does not expire.

Human Subject Research |  Duke University Health Systems, USA  |  2007
Required for qualitative study that included interviews with human subjects, as part of State Wildlife Action Plan Evaluations. One-year accreditation, now expired.

Advanced Reptile Handler  |  Kinyonga Reptile Centre, South Africa  |  2006
Hands-on experience handling dangerous reptiles such as Black Mamba, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Moccasins, etc., primarily aimed at removing problem animals in compromising situations. Does not expire. If you're in Central NC, feel free to safe my details for when you need a problematic snake safely removed.

Bird Bander/Ringer |  AFRING, South Africa  |  2002
Qualified bird bander/ringer (A-permit # 1128, currently expired), including experience with shorebird night trapping, seabirds, and raptors using bal-chatri. Trained university students in bird banding techniques during month-long field course in Cameroon, 2016/2017.

Awards

• Post-doctoral fellowship, University of Pretoria, 2014-2016.
• Earth and Space Science Fellow, NASA, 2011-2014
• Student Award Finalist, SCB Annual Meeting, New Zealand, 2011
• Program for Excellence in Science, AAAS, 2010-2012
• Provost Fellowship, North Carolina State University, 2007-2008
• Graduate Scholarship, National Research Foundation, South Africa 2004-2005
• Academic Scholarship, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2003-05
• Academic Honors, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2005
• Leadership Honors, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2002-04

Funding Obtained

Richard Lounsbery Foundation, Washington DC USA, USD25,000. Conservation Biology Textbook for Africa. (Co-written with PI, R Primack, 2019)

Richard Lounsbery Foundation, Washington DC USA, USD18,000. Conservation Biology Textbook for Africa. (Co-written with PI, R Primack, 2014-2016)

NASA Earth and Space Science Program, Washington DC, USA. USD90,000. Using Landsat data to examine the combined effects of climate change and continued habitat loss on West African wildlife. (Co-written with PI, N Haddad, 2011-2014)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA, USA. USD50,000. Expanded scope of work for Miami blue survey and monitoring within Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge Complex.  (Co-written with PI, N Haddad, 2011-2012)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA, USA. USD25,000. Developing conservation and monitoring protocol for an endangered butterfly, the Miami Blue. (Co-written with PI, N Haddad, 2010-2011)

Natural Environment Research Council, Swindon, UK. GBP100,000. Energetic of a super-predator: the Cheetah. (Co-written with PI, M Scantlebury, 2010-2013)

Royal Society, London, UK. GBP18,000. Energetic constraints in Cheetahs: interspecific competition and kleptoparasitism. (Co-written with PI, M Scantlebury, 2009-2012)