S.A. Hilber - Mentoring

Research	CV	Mentoring	Photos	Contact Info

Samantha A. Hilber - Mentoring & Teaching

Mentoring

One of the most important parts of an education in biology is participating in research. Specifically, I give students experience working with fishes to answer questions in behavioral and evolutionary ecology. I am was a graduate mentor in the UF-Howard Hughes G.A.T.O.R Program (Summer 2009 - Spring 2010). The goal of this program is to provide mentoring experience and support for graduate students, and provide undergraduates with the opportunity to learn about the scientific process and conduct independent research.

Students (in order of appearance) who I worked with and a bit about their research.

Dylan Ong
(May 2012 - present)
Dylan is currently collecting behavioral data from video tapes, for an experiment examining the effect of male size on female mate guarding.

Nicole Tran
(March 2012 - present)
Nicole has helped set up, and collect data for for several experiments in the lab; including the effect of food ration on parental care, and the effect of male size on female mate guarding.

Anne Liu
(August 2011 - present)

Anne is currently examining the effect of food ration on parental behavior in widowed male and female convict cichlids. She has also helped set up, and collect data for an experiment examining the effect of mate size on female mate guarding.

Santiago Ramirez
(June 2011 - July 2011)

Santiago was a high school student who worked in our lab through participation in UF's Student Science Training Program (SSTP). He examined the parental behavior of fish with nests of different architecture. Santiago won the award for BEST ORAL PRESENTATION at the SSTP Symposium. He will be presenting this research at the Florida Junior Science, Engineering & Humanities Symposium (JSEHS) this January.

Ena Kadrabasic
(June 2011 - July 2011)

Ena was a high school student who worked in our lab through participation in UF's Student Science Training Program (SSTP). She examined the courting behavior of potential mates during a mate choice trial. Ena won the award for BEST POSTER at the SSTP Symposium. She will be presenting this research at the Florida Junior Science, Engineering & Humanities Symposium (JSEHS) this January. Ena is currently an undergraduate at University of California, Berkeley.

Justin Cole
(September 2009 - August 2011)

Justin starting working in the lab by assisting in collecting data on existing projects, and caring for the fishes. Justin also collected data on how brood reduction changes parental behavior in male and female convict cichlids. He presented a poster of this research at the Animal Behavior Society meeting in Bloomington, IA.

Amanda Gross
(May 2009 - August 2010)

Amanda is an HHMI GATORundergraduate research fellow (2009-2010). She is examining the fitness consequences of different nest architecture preferences in the convict cichlid. She has recently presented her research at the Animal Behavior Society meeting in Williamsburg, VA. Amanda is currently a graduate student in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics atTufts University.

Kristin Hersey
(May 2009 - June 2010)

Kristin is an HHMI GATOR undergraduate research fellow (2009-2010). She is examining if aggression by biparental convict cichlid females toward conspecific intruders exemplify mate defense or offspring defense. She has recently presented her research at the Ecological and Evolutionary Ethology of Fishes meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Kristin is currently a veterinary student at UF.

S. Garrett Arnold
(February 2008 - May 2009)

Garrett's research was examining habitat preferences of juvenile convict cichlids in the presence of a predator. In general he is interested in mutualism and behavioral ecology. When not working diligently in the lab, Garrett trains for Triathlons. Garrett work in Alaska as a field assistant with Drs. Ted Schuur and Michelle Mack.
Photo by S. Hilber

Heather Mentzer
(February 2008 - August 2009)

Heather designed a project examining nest morphology preferences of convict cichlids, and found that convicts preferr nests with few entrances, small entrances, and lots of surrounding plants. She is currently working on a Master's degree in Forensics at UF.

Photo by H. Mentzer

Nick Ruktanonchai
(Summer & Fall 2007)

Nick was an undergraduate at Centre College, in Kentucky, and at UF through the REU Program. His project examined the effects of brood reduction on parental investment behavior. Nick also designed an experiment (working with Dr. Paul Sikkel, Centre College) looking at how often parents move their larval offspring in the presence of a predator. Nick is currently a PhD student with Dr. David Smith, at the University of Florida.

Photo by N. Ruktanonchai

Beth (Dippon) Reynolds
(January 2007 - May 2008)

Beth's undergraduate work examined the effects of chemical and visual cues of predation on parental care behavior and offspring behavior. Beth is currently finishing her Masters with Dr. Colette St. Mary, at the University of Florida.

Presentations by undergraduates who have work with me

Cole JE*, SA Hilber and CM St. Mary. July 2011. Poster: How does partial brood loss affect parental behavior in a biparetnal fish? Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society. University of Indiana, Bloomington, IA.
Cole JE*, SA Hilber and CM St. Mary. April 2011. Poster: How does partial brood loss affect parental behavior in a biparetnal fish? Department of Biology Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Gross, A.R., S.A. Hilber and C.M. St. Mary. July 28, 2010. Poster: Fitness consequences of nest architecture preferences in the convict cichlid. Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
Hersey, K.E., S.A. Hilber, and C.M. St. Mary. May 17, 2010. Talk: Does aggression by biparental convict cichlid females toward conspecific intruders exemplify mate defense or offspring defense? Ecology and Evolutionary Ethology of Fishes Biannual Conference. Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Gross, A.R., S.A. Hilber, and C.M. St. Mary. April 20, 2010. Poster: Fitness consequences of nest architecture preferences in the convict cichlid. Department of Biology Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Hersey, K.E., S.A. Hilber, and C.M. St. Mary. April 20, 2010. Poster: Does aggression by biparental convict cichlid females toward conspecific intruders exemplify mate defense or offspring defense? Department of Biology Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Arnold, S.G., S.A. Hilber, and C.M. St. Mary. April 09, 2009. Poster: Juvenile convict cichlids defensive responses to predatory presence. Department of Zoology Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Dippon, E.A. April 22, 2008. Poster: The relative effects of visual vs. chemical predation cues on adult convict cichlid behavior. Department of Zoology Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Ruktanonchai, N., S.A. Hilber, and C.M. St. Mary. October 21, 2007. Poster: Does brood reduction in Archocentrus nigrofasciatus affect parental investment? University of Florida Undergraduate Research Poster Session, Gainesville, FL.

Teaching Experience

Fall 2012
Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010)
Online Discussion Teaching Assistant Sections:
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6562) 8:30-9:30am
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6563) 9:30-10:30am
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6564) 12:50-1:50pm

Summer 2012 Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010)
Online Discussion Teaching Assistant

Spring 2012 Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010)
Online Discussion Teaching Assistant Sections:
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (0483) 8:30-9:30am
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (0484) 9:30-10:30am
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (0485) 12:50-1:50pm
Fall 2011 Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010)
Online Discussion Teaching Assistant Sections:
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6562) 8:30-9:30am
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6563) 9:30-10:30am
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6564) 12:50-1:50pm
Spring 2011 Evolution Lab (PCB 4674) Sections co-taught with L.S. Babonis:
Wednesday (7677) 10:40-12:30pm,
Thursday (7685) 11:45-1:40pm,
Friday (7687) 10:40-12:30pm
Fall 2010 Genetics (PCB 3063)
Large Lecture Teaching Assistant Section (4334) co-TA with K. Han
Spring 2010 Genetics (PCB 3063)
Large Lecture Teaching Assistant Section (4462) co-TA with K. Han
Fall 2009 Integrative Principles of Biology Lab 2 (BSC 2011L) Sections:
Monday (6745) 11:45-2:45pm
Monday (6748) 3:00-6:00pm

Summer 2009 UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. Graduate Mentor Fellow
Reseach Assistant

Spring 2009 Integrative Principles of Biology Lab 2 (BSC 2011L) Sections:
Tuesday (0553) 3:00-6:00pm,
Wednesday (0555) 8:30-11:30am
Wednesday (0557) 11:45-2:45pm

Fall 2008 Vertebrate Zoology Lab (ZOO 2303) Section:
Monday (1945) 1:55-4:55pm & Lab set-up TA

Spring 2008 Evolution Lab (PBC 4674) Sections co-taught with M.A. Toups:
Wednesday (7677) 10:40-12:30pm,
Thursday (7685) 11:45-1:40pm,
Friday (7687) 10:40-12:30pm

Fall 2007 Vertebrate Zoology Lab (ZOO 2303) Section:
Thursday (2022) 1:55-4:55pm
& co-head TA with N.A. Wright

Summer 2007 Functional Vertebrate Anatomy Lab (ZOO 3713) Section:
Monday & Wednesday (0411) 12:30-4:45pm

Spring 2007 Functional Vertebrate Anatomy Lab (ZOO 3713) Sections:
Tuesday (4662) 1:55-6:00pm
Thursday (4664) 1:55-6:00pm

Fall 2006 Vertebrate Zoology Lab (ZOO 2303) Sections:
Tuesday (1978) 1:55-4:55pm
Thursday (2022) 1:55-4:55pm

	Dylan Ong (May 2012 - present) Dylan is currently collecting behavioral data from video tapes, for an experiment examining the effect of male size on female mate guarding.
	Nicole Tran (March 2012 - present) Nicole has helped set up, and collect data for for several experiments in the lab; including the effect of food ration on parental care, and the effect of male size on female mate guarding.
	Anne Liu (August 2011 - present) Anne is currently examining the effect of food ration on parental behavior in widowed male and female convict cichlids. She has also helped set up, and collect data for an experiment examining the effect of mate size on female mate guarding.
	Santiago Ramirez (June 2011 - July 2011) Santiago was a high school student who worked in our lab through participation in UF's Student Science Training Program (SSTP). He examined the parental behavior of fish with nests of different architecture. Santiago won the award for BEST ORAL PRESENTATION at the SSTP Symposium. He will be presenting this research at the Florida Junior Science, Engineering & Humanities Symposium (JSEHS) this January.
	Ena Kadrabasic (June 2011 - July 2011) Ena was a high school student who worked in our lab through participation in UF's Student Science Training Program (SSTP). She examined the courting behavior of potential mates during a mate choice trial. Ena won the award for BEST POSTER at the SSTP Symposium. She will be presenting this research at the Florida Junior Science, Engineering & Humanities Symposium (JSEHS) this January. Ena is currently an undergraduate at University of California, Berkeley.
	Justin Cole (September 2009 - August 2011) Justin starting working in the lab by assisting in collecting data on existing projects, and caring for the fishes. Justin also collected data on how brood reduction changes parental behavior in male and female convict cichlids. He presented a poster of this research at the Animal Behavior Society meeting in Bloomington, IA.
	Amanda Gross (May 2009 - August 2010) Amanda is an HHMI GATORundergraduate research fellow (2009-2010). She is examining the fitness consequences of different nest architecture preferences in the convict cichlid. She has recently presented her research at the Animal Behavior Society meeting in Williamsburg, VA. Amanda is currently a graduate student in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics atTufts University.
	Kristin Hersey (May 2009 - June 2010) Kristin is an HHMI GATOR undergraduate research fellow (2009-2010). She is examining if aggression by biparental convict cichlid females toward conspecific intruders exemplify mate defense or offspring defense. She has recently presented her research at the Ecological and Evolutionary Ethology of Fishes meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Kristin is currently a veterinary student at UF.
	S. Garrett Arnold (February 2008 - May 2009) Garrett's research was examining habitat preferences of juvenile convict cichlids in the presence of a predator. In general he is interested in mutualism and behavioral ecology. When not working diligently in the lab, Garrett trains for Triathlons. Garrett work in Alaska as a field assistant with Drs. Ted Schuur and Michelle Mack.	Photo by S. Hilber
	Heather Mentzer (February 2008 - August 2009) Heather designed a project examining nest morphology preferences of convict cichlids, and found that convicts preferr nests with few entrances, small entrances, and lots of surrounding plants. She is currently working on a Master's degree in Forensics at UF.	Photo by H. Mentzer
	Nick Ruktanonchai (Summer & Fall 2007) Nick was an undergraduate at Centre College, in Kentucky, and at UF through the REU Program. His project examined the effects of brood reduction on parental investment behavior. Nick also designed an experiment (working with Dr. Paul Sikkel, Centre College) looking at how often parents move their larval offspring in the presence of a predator. Nick is currently a PhD student with Dr. David Smith, at the University of Florida.	Photo by N. Ruktanonchai
	Beth (Dippon) Reynolds (January 2007 - May 2008) Beth's undergraduate work examined the effects of chemical and visual cues of predation on parental care behavior and offspring behavior. Beth is currently finishing her Masters with Dr. Colette St. Mary, at the University of Florida.

Fall 2012	Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010) Online Discussion Teaching Assistant	Sections: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6562) 8:30-9:30am Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6563) 9:30-10:30am Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6564) 12:50-1:50pm
Summer 2012	Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010) Online Discussion Teaching Assistant
Spring 2012	Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010) Online Discussion Teaching Assistant	Sections: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (0483) 8:30-9:30am Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (0484) 9:30-10:30am Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (0485) 12:50-1:50pm
Fall 2011	Integrative Principles of Biology 1 (BSC 2010) Online Discussion Teaching Assistant	Sections: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6562) 8:30-9:30am Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6563) 9:30-10:30am Monday, Wednesday, & Friday (6564) 12:50-1:50pm
Spring 2011	Evolution Lab (PCB 4674)	Sections co-taught with L.S. Babonis: Wednesday (7677) 10:40-12:30pm, Thursday (7685) 11:45-1:40pm, Friday (7687) 10:40-12:30pm
Fall 2010	Genetics (PCB 3063) Large Lecture Teaching Assistant	Section (4334) co-TA with K. Han
Spring 2010	Genetics (PCB 3063) Large Lecture Teaching Assistant	Section (4462) co-TA with K. Han
Fall 2009	Integrative Principles of Biology Lab 2 (BSC 2011L)	Sections: Monday (6745) 11:45-2:45pm Monday (6748) 3:00-6:00pm
Summer 2009	UF-HHMI G.A.T.O.R. Graduate Mentor Fellow Reseach Assistant
Spring 2009	Integrative Principles of Biology Lab 2 (BSC 2011L)	Sections: Tuesday (0553) 3:00-6:00pm, Wednesday (0555) 8:30-11:30am Wednesday (0557) 11:45-2:45pm
Fall 2008	Vertebrate Zoology Lab (ZOO 2303)	Section: Monday (1945) 1:55-4:55pm & Lab set-up TA
Spring 2008	Evolution Lab (PBC 4674)	Sections co-taught with M.A. Toups: Wednesday (7677) 10:40-12:30pm, Thursday (7685) 11:45-1:40pm, Friday (7687) 10:40-12:30pm
Fall 2007	Vertebrate Zoology Lab (ZOO 2303)	Section: Thursday (2022) 1:55-4:55pm & co-head TA with N.A. Wright
Summer 2007	Functional Vertebrate Anatomy Lab (ZOO 3713)	Section: Monday & Wednesday (0411) 12:30-4:45pm
Spring 2007	Functional Vertebrate Anatomy Lab (ZOO 3713)	Sections: Tuesday (4662) 1:55-6:00pm Thursday (4664) 1:55-6:00pm
Fall 2006	Vertebrate Zoology Lab (ZOO 2303)	Sections: Tuesday (1978) 1:55-4:55pm Thursday (2022) 1:55-4:55pm