Natasha Godard

Curriculum Vitae

  1. Education
  2. Relevant Experience
  3. Field Experience
  4. Publications, Presentations & Conferences
  5. Professional Organizations
  6. Download a printer-friendly version of my CV (PDF, 183 KB)

Education

  • University of Illinois at Chicago, Graduate Student, Current
  • American University, M.Sc., Biology (2007)
  • New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, B.Sc., Biology with Environmental Science option (2003)

Relevant Experience

  • Graduate Student and Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Biological Sciences
    August 2008–Present
    Teaching Biology of Populations and Communities (Bios 101) lab to over 60 students per semester. Maintaining all grades for these students, and working with the instructor, especially for academic honesty issues. Instructing students one on one as well as in class. Helping proctor exams class-wide.
  • Master's Thesis Research, Smithsonian Institution National Zoological Park, Department of Reproductive Sciences
    November 2004–June 2007
    Research Advisor: Dr. Pierre Commizoli
    Collected and processed biological materials for research purposes. Maintained oocytes and embryos in vitro. Analyzed oocytes for fertilization and embryos for developmental status using florescent microscopy.
  • Teaching Assistant, American University, Biology Department
    August 2004–May 2007
    Taught lab to 15-30 students per semester, first Cell Biology (Bio 300), then Biology for non-majors (Bio 100). Graded lab reports, worksheets and presentations. Advised students in-class and one on one. Worked with professors to catch problems. Advised professors on student lab work. Prepared lab for students to learn effectively.
  • Student Technician
    September 2003–July 2004
    1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bioscience Division
      Molecular biology lab
      September–November
      Supervisor: Dr. Mark MacInnes
      Used Qiagen mini- and midi-prep kits to isolate DNA for research. Maintained lab stocks of media. Collaborated with other labs for data collection.
    2. Molecular biology lab
      November–July
      Supervisor: Dr. Hong Cai
      Ran PCR and agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Used Sequencher sequencing software to analyze DNA sequences, and determined ambiguous bases. Used sequence information to determine single nucleotide polymorphisms in experimental species. Collaborated with other labs for data collection.
  • Student Technician, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Biology Department
    September 1999–May 2003
    1. Caenorhabditis elegans stress tolerance research lab
      September 1999–May 2003
      Supervisor: Dr. Kevin Kirk
      Maintained lab stocks of C. elegans for research purposes, including avoiding accidental crossing of different strains. Collected data from stress tests. Maintained lab stocks of media.
    2. Molecular genetics research lab
      May 2001–May 2003
      Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Reiss
      Ran PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. Isolated DNA from contaminated groundwater samples. Analyzed DNA samples for presence/absence of specific genes. Ran the sequencing reactions for DNA samples. Collected groundwater samples in the field.

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Field Experience

  • Undergraduate, School for Field Studies Wildlife Management Studies Program, Kenya
    September–December 2002
    Took courses in Wildlife Management, Wildlife Ecology and Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values. Also participated in a Directed Study research project on human impacts on medicinal plants in the Kimana area (see Publications, Presentations and Conferences). Some coursework was conducted on week-long camping trips in Maasai Mara National Reserve and in Tsavo West National Park, while other coursework was conducted on a day-trip basis in and around Nairobi National Park and Amboseli National Park.

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Publications, Presentations, and Conferences

  1. Godard, N.M., B.S. Pukazhenthi, D.E. Wildt, P. Comizzoli. In press. Paracrine factors from cumulus-enclosed oocytes ensure the successful maturation and fertilization in vitro of denuded oocytes in the cat model. Fertility and Sterility. Epub ahead of print 9 Aug 2008.
  2. Godard, N. August 2007 Impact of cumulus cell removal on oocytes’ nuclear maturation and development in the domestic cat. Master's Thesis. American University, Washington, DC.
  3. Comizzoli P., N. Godard-Glasnapp, C. Keefer, D.E. Wildt, B.S. Pukazhenthi. 2007 Impact of reconstruction by germinal vesicle transfer on nuclear maturation of domestic cat oocytes. Biology of Reproduction, Special issue, Abstract 486.
  4. Godard, N. December 2002 The effects of human settlements on medicinal plant resources. The School for Field Studies, Center for Wildlife Management Studies. Presented to members of the Maasai Community in Kimana, Kenya (in Maa through a translator with other students).
  5. Godard, N., J. Lett, & M. Rattanapote. March 2002 Thirsty in the desert: women in the scientific community. New Mexico State Women’s Studies Conference. (Presentation)
  6. Watson, K., K. Duider, N. Godard, A. Kowtha, & R. Reiss. October 2001 Progress toward establishing molecular genetic techniques for monitoring contaminated groundwater. New Mexico Environmental Health Conference. (Poster)

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Professional Organizations