Aaron Cross - Curriculum Vitae

AARON CROSS

187 S. Main Street, Losantville, Indiana | C: (765)-625-1411 | [email protected]

EDUCATION

2014 Bachelor of Science: Biology

Ball State University ‐ Muncie, Indiana

Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Biology GPA: 3.71/4.0, GPA within Biology Major: 3.60/4.0 GRE: Verbal (159), Quantitative (156), Analytical Writing (4.5)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Behavioral ecology, mammalian cognition and intelligence, predator-prey

relationships, social behavior and hierarchy dynamics, human-wildlife conflict

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

01/2016 to 02/2016 Volunteer Researcher

Project: Behavioral Ecology of South African Carnivores

African Impact – Hoedspruit, South Africa

03/2013 to Current Assistant Researcher

Project: Lunar Phobia in Temperate Vespertilionid Bats: Modeling Moonlight's Impact on

Bat Activity

Ball State University, Laboratory of Timothy Carter - Muncie, Indiana

03/2012 to 04/2013 Assistant Researcher

Project: Earlywood and Latewood Growth Responses in Northern Red Oak: The Effect of

Climate at Ft. Defiance in Iowa

Ball State University, Laboratory of David LeBlanc ‐ Muncie, Indiana

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

01/2016 to Present Instructor

Course(s): Animal Behavior (Spring 2016)

Indiana University East, Department of Biology

WORK HISTORY 03/2015 to 10/2015 Biological Field Technician West, Inc. 05/2015 to 07/2015, Mobile Acoustic Bat Survey Technician 2014, 2013 Indiana Department of Natural Resources

mailto:[email protected]

08/2014 to 12/2014 Bat Behavior Analysis Project Leader Shoener Environmental, Inc.

SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, AND AWARDS 03/2014 Outstanding Undergraduate in the Field Sciences Award Given By: Department of Biology, Ball State University 03/2014 Outstanding Student Achievement Award Given By: Department of Biology, Ball State University 12/2013 Departmental Honors in Biology Given By: The Honors College & Department of Biology, Ball State University 02/2014 University Finalist for Academic Honors in Writing Given By: Department of English, Ball State University 02/2014 Third Place in Ball State University's Campus-Wide Writing Competition ($25)

Given By: Department of English, Ball State University 01/2014 Finalist for the Janice Lee Fenske Memorial Award Given By: Michigan Division of the Wildlife Society 11/2013 Aspire Student Travel Grant ($75) Given By: Ball State University's Aspire Internal Grant Program 05/2013 Rinker and Yuhas Study Abroad Scholarship ($500) Given By: Ball State University's Rinker Center for International Studies 03/2013 Keys-Litten-Smith Award- Most Compelling Project at Ball State Student

Symposium ($100) Given By: Ball State University's Sponsored Program Office

PAPERS IN PREP

Owen, D.A.S., A. Cross, T.C. Carter, and T.J. Sichmeller . Lunar Phobia in Temperate

Vespertilionid Bats: Modeling Moonlight's Impact on Bat Activity . In Preparation

HONORS THESIS

Cross, A. 2013. Earlywood and Latewood Growth Responses in Northern Red Oak: The

Effect of Climate at Ft. Defiance in Iowa .

TECHNICAL PAPERS

Shoener Environmental Inc. and J. R. Skalski. 2015. 2014 Bat Behavior and

Carcass Monitoring Report: Research Results of Deterrent and Turbine

Curtailment Strategies. A technical report submitted to: California Ridge Wind

Energy, LLC. Dated: January 30, 2015. 82 pp.

INVITED LECTURES

Cross, A. 2015. A Beginner’s Perspective to Biology: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Oral Presentation. Given as part of the Visiting Fellows Program at Ball State

University. Muncie, Indiana.

PRESENTATIONS Cross, A. 2013. Earlywood and Latewood Growth Responses in Northern Red Oak: The

Effect of Climate at Ft. Defiance in Iowa . Oral Presentation. 128th Annual Meeting of

the Indiana Academy of Science. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Cross, A. 2013. Earlywood and Latewood Growth Responses in Northern Red Oak: The

Effect of Climate at Ft. Defiance in Iowa . Oral Presentation. Midwest Ecology and

Evolution Conference. Notre Dame University. South Bend, Indiana. Cross, A. 2013. Earlywood and Latewood Growth Responses in Northern Red Oak: The

Effect of Climate at Ft. Defiance in Iowa . Poster Presentation. Ball State Student

Symposium. Ball State University. Muncie, Indiana. Cross, A., D.A.S. Owen, T.C. Carter, and T.J. Sichmeller. 2013. Influence of

Environmental Variables and Lunar Cycle on the Feeding Ecology of Three Midwestern

Myotis. Poster Presentation. 5th Midwest Bat Working Group Conference. Ball State

University. Muncie, Indiana.

Cross, A., D.A.S. Owen, T.C. Carter, and T.J. Sichmeller. 2014. Lunar Phobia in

Temperate Vespertilionid Bats: Modeling Moonlight's Impact on Bat Activity . Poster

Presentation. 74th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference. Kansas City, Missouri. Cross, A., D.A.S. Owen, T.C. Carter, and T.J. Sichmeller. 2014. Lunar Phobia in

Temperate Vespertilionid Bats: Modeling Moonlight's Impact on Bat Activity .Poster

Presentation. 19th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network and the

24th Colloquium on Conservation of Mammals in the Southeastern United States.

Stephen F. Austin State University. Nacogdoches, Texas. Cross, A., D.A.S. Owen, T.C. Carter, and T.J. Sichmeller. 2014. Lunar Phobia in


Presentation. Joint Spring Meeting of the The Indiana Chapters of the Wildlife Society

and the American Fisheries Society. Ball State University. Muncie, Indiana.



Presentation. Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference. University of Dayton.

Dayton, Ohio.



Presentation. 129th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science. Indianapolis,

Indiana. Cross, A., D.A.S. Owen, T.C. Carter, and T.J. Sichmeller. 2014. Lunar Phobia in

Temperate Vespertilionid Bats: Modeling Moonlight's Impact on Bat Activ ity. Poster

Presentation. Ball State Student Symposium. Ball State University. Muncie, Indiana.



Presentation. 6th Midwest Bat Working Group Conference. Indiana State University.

Terre Haute, Indiana. Cross, A., D.A.S. Owen, T.C. Carter, and T.J. Sichmeller. 2014. Lunar Phobia in


Presentation. 26th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference. Butler University.

Indianapolis, Indiana.

SERVICE POSITIONS

11/2015 Visiting Fellow

Ball State University – Muncie, Indiana

12/2014 to 05/2014 Department of Biology Student Advisory Board Member

Ball State University – Muncie, Indiana

EXPERIENCE ABROAD 01/2016 to 02/2016 Volunteer Researcher in South Africa

Hoedspruit, South Africa

Partner Organization: African Impact

05/2013 Field Study in South Africa

Ball State University ‐ Muncie, Indiana

Professor Abroad: Kamal Islam

VOLUNTEER HISTORY 04/2014 Orchid Greenhouse Construction - Volunteer 04/2014 Science Day 2014 - Volunteer 03/2014 Cleaning Up Craddock in Partnership with Muncie-Delaware Clean and Beautiful

– Volunteer 09/2013 White River Cleanup in Partnership with MuncieDelaware Clean and Beautiful-

Group Leader and Volunteer 09/2013 Craddock Wetland Preserve Education Event in Partnership with Motivate Our

Minds - Educator and Volunteer

08/2013 Wildlife Resqu Haus - Volunteer

04/2013 Ball State Christy Woods Spring Greenhouse Sale - Assistant

04/2013 Science Day 2013 - Volunteer 11/2012 Department of Natural Resources Deer Check Station - Volunteer

08/2012 Red-Tail Land Conservancy - Volunteer COURSEWORK

Mammalogy, Herpetology, Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Introduction to GIS, Forestry,

Plant Ecology, Introduction to Botany, Biometry, Methods in Ecology, Evolution, Cell

Biology, Genetics, Principles of Biology, Organic Chemistry, Introduction to

Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Ecological Anthropology, Applied Calculus

AFFILIATIONS American Society of Mammalogists The Animal Behaviour Society The Wildlife Society (Ball State Chapter) - Treasurer: 2013-2014 Golden Key International Honour Society Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honorary Eta Sigma Phi National Latin, Greek, and Classics Honorary SAACS- Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society

SKILLS Application Based

● Trained in radio telemetry

● Trained in firearm use

● Trained in forestry practices

● Trained in tree identification

● Able to conduct small mammal trapping

● Able to conduct turtle trapping

● Working knowledge of chemical immobilization

● Working knowledge of herbicide use

● Able to operate a GPS device

● Trained in animal aging techniques (primarily ungulate species)

● Able to set-up and use mist nets

● Trained in statistical tests (Pearson's r, Two sample t-test, ect.)

● Able to use a compass

● Able to read topographic maps

Mechanical

● Can operate a chainsaw, string trimmer, mower, and bush-hog

● Some equipment repair knowledge

● Can operate ATV vehicles

● Can operate both automatic and manual transmission vehicles as well as 4-

wheel drive trucks

● Experience with hauling trailers

Computer Based and Technical

● GIS (Geographic Information Systems) - Limited Proficiency

● R Statistical Software – Limited Proficiency

● Minitab Statistical Software - Limited Proficiency

● Microsoft Office – Proficient

● Video Cleaner Software – Proficient

REFERENCES

Neil Sabine, Ph.D

Dean, School of Natural Science and Mathematics

Professor of Biology

Indiana University East

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (765) 973-8389

Job Supervisor and Partner Instructor

Nicholas C. Kawa, Ph.D

Assistant Professor of Anthropology

The Ohio State University

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (614) 292-2391

Former Instructor

Timothy Carter, Ph.D

● Associate Professor of Biology

● Ball State University

● Email: [email protected]

● Phone: (765) 285-8842

● Former Instructor and Research Supervisor

David LeBlanc, Ph.D

● Professor of Biology

● Ball State University

● Email: [email protected]

● Phone: (765) 285-8832

● Former Instructor and Research Supervisor