Ashley Heers

EDUCATION

B.S.                                    University of California, Davis, CA: Department of Evolution and Ecology, 2007

                                           Deans’ Honors List (2002-2007)                                         

A.B.                                   University of California, Davis, CA: Department of Geology, 2007

                                          Senior Honors Thesis Advisor: Dr. Ryosuke Motani

                     Senior Honors Thesis: Center of mass estimates in extant birds with implications for avian fossils

SCHOLARSHIPS

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2007): $30,000 per year, for 3 years

James and Leta Fulmor Scholarship (2006): $3000

University of California, Davis, Regents Scholar (2002-2006): $16,000

National Merit Scholar (2002): $2000

AWARDS AND HONORS

University of California, Davis University Medalist (2007)

Association for Women Geoscientists Outstanding Woman Student (2007)

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2007)

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (2006-2007)

Golden Key International Honor Society (2002-2007)

National Society of Collegiate Scholars (2002-2007)

University of California, Davis, First Year Scholar (2003)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of California, Davis: Senior Honors Thesis, Dr. Ryosuke Motani - Advisor: Center of mass estimates in extant birds with implications for avian fossils

              Project continued as an internship (2007)

University of California, Davis: Student assistant under Dr. Kenneth Verosub, Paleomagnetic Laboratory (2004): measured susceptibility and magnetic remanence in both rock and soil samples, using an Alternating Gradient Magnetometer (Micromagnetometer) and a Superconducting Rock Magnetometer (U-Channel Magnetometer)

University of California, Davis: Student volunteer under Ph.D. candidate Greg Herbert (2004): collected powdered samples from fossilized gastropods for oxygen isotopic analysis

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Science Olympiad NorCal State competition “Rocks and Minerals” event coordinator (2006): designed, administered, and scored the “Rocks and Minerals” event for both grammar school and high school divisions

Science Olympiad coach for “Rocks and Minerals”, “Fossils”, and “Dynamic Planet” events, Palo Verde Union School, Tulare, CA (1999-2007): coached a team of 2 grammar school students in one of the above events each year since 1999