Curriculum Vitae
NICOLE A. FUSCO
.
EDUCATION:
May, 2020: Fordham University; Ph.D in Biological Sciences/Ecology & Systematics,
Dissertation topic: Genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in urban, suburban, and rural habitats.
January, 2012: City University of New York Hunter College; MA, magna cum laude, Animal Behavior and Conservation,
Thesis topic: Behavior of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Front of the Mirror
May, 2007: State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry; BS, magna cum laude, Wildlife Science
FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS:
2019-2020: Senior Teaching Fellowship Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary)
July 2019: Award: Best Student Presentation, Genetic connectivity and landscape genetics of stream salamanders in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); North Eastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting 2018; Stockton University, NJ.
2018-2019: Freedman Fellowship for Women in Science; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary, $5000 research)
2017-2018: Centennial Scholarship; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary)
2016-2019: Professional Development/Student Support Grant, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University ($85, $800, $1500, $749)
2015-2019: Louis Calder Center Graduate Student Research Grant Biological Field Station, Fordham University ($1000, $1000, $857.74, $800, $1000)
2015-2017: Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship for Women in Science Fellowship; Henry Luce Foundation & Fordham University (tuition & salary, $10,000 research)
2014-2015: Centennial Scholarship; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary)
2014-2017: Research Assistant Program; Mianus River Gorge Preserve. Conducted research to analyze the genetic diversity of stream salamander populations in a suburban environment, and mentored a high-school student in creating and conducting her own experiment, ($15,000 research)
October, 2015: Student Conference for Conservation Science Honor Award; Exploring the effect of urbanization on the genetic variation within a stream salamander (Eurycea bislineata) population. American Museum of Natural History, SCCS 2015.
May 2007: Ralph T. King Memorial Award; SUNY ESF, highest departmental award for academic performance, and dedication to the field of Wildlife Science.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY/ TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Fall 2020: Evolution Lecture & Lab- Adjunct Instructor- (remote instruction); SUNY College at Old Westbury; Old Westbury, NY.
Fall 2020: Zoology: Form & Function Lecture & Lab- Adjunct Instructor- (hybrid: remote/in-person); Kean University; Union, NJ.
Fall 2020: Introduction to Human Physiology Lecture- Adjunct Instructor- (remote instruction); CUNY Queens College; Queens, NY.
Fall 2019 - Spring 2020: General Genetics Lecture- Instructor on Record; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
Spring 2019: Plant Structure- Adult Education; New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, NY.
Fall 2018: Amphibians- Adult Education; New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, NY.
Spring 2018: Plant Structure- Adult Education; New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, NY.
Summer 2018: Ecology for the Human Environment- Teaching Assistant; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2017-2018: Introduction to Biology Lab Coordinator- Coordinating, training and managing all Graduate Assistant and Teaching Fellow Staff & writing/implementing laboratory exams; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2015- 2018: Introduction to Biology Lab I & II- Teaching Fellow- biology lab instruction; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2014-2015: Introduction to Biology Lab I & II- Graduate Assistant, biology lab assistant; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2011-2014: Environmental Educator - Created curriculum & implemented environmental education programs, animal husbandry, & leading summer camp program for children grades 1-4; Stamford Museum & Nature Center; Stamford, CT.
2011-2012: Substitute Teacher- General biology, geology, earth science; Fox Lane High School; Pound Ridge, NY & Westhill High School; Stamford, CT.
June-Sept 2011: Teaching Fellow, Summer Camp- Created & implemented environmental, wildlife, & conservation education programs to summer camp children ages 5-12 years old, Bronx Zoo; Bronx, NY.
Sept 2010-June 2011: School Year Fellow- Teaching environmental, wildlife, & conservation education programs to school children pre-K-12th grade, Bronx Zoo; Bronx, NY.
May-Sept 2010: Co-lead on Herpetological Survey- Developed a herpetological survey of the Bronx Zoo grounds, and instructed amphibian survey techniques to middle school children for further application to a citizen science project & digital app developed in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, Bronx Zoo; Bronx, NY.
2009-2010: Environmental Educator- & implemented curriculum for environmental education programs for students, pre-K to 5th grade, New Canaan Nature Center; New Canaan, CT.
Jan-Sept 2009: Outdoor Educator; Special Education- Developed and implemented environmental education programs for students ages 5-21; program designed for students with various special needs, medical frailties, and students with autism, The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY.
March-Dec 2008: Education Intern- Created and implemented environmental education programs for students pre-school age to 12th grade, Stony-Brook Millstone Watershed Association; Pennington, NJ.
Aug-Dec 2007: Ecology Intern- Perform field work as an Ecology Intern including, white-tailed deer trapping and collaring, radio telemetry tracking white-tailed deer, performing a butterfly survey, an acorn mast survey, and a camera-trap predator survey along the Appalachian Trail (Supervisor: William McShea), Smithsonian National Zoological Park’s Conservation and Research Center; Front Royal, VA.
Spring 2007: Teaching Assistant- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, SUNY ESF.
PUBLICATIONS:
Fusco, N., Munshi-South, J. (In Preparation). Different stream and landscape features affect gene flow for stream salamanders in urban, suburban and rural habitats. Molecular Ecology
Fusco, N., Carlen, E., Munshi-South, J. (In-Review). Urban landscape genetics: are biologists keeping up with the pace of urbanization? Current Landscape Ecology Reports.
Fusco, N. A., Pehek, E., & Munshi‐South, J. (2020) Urbanization reduces gene flow but not genetic diversity of stream salamander populations in the New York City metropolitan area. Evolutionary Applications
Fusco, N., Zhao, A., Munshi-South, J. (2017). Urban forests sustain diverse carrion beetle assemblages in New York City metropolitan area. PeerJ, DOI 10.7717/peerj.3088
PRESENTATIONS:
October 2020: Invited Talk- Genetic connectivity of stream salamander populations in the New York City metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco (Fordham University); Biology Department Research Seminar; SUNY College at Old Westbury, Long Island New York.
February 2020: Invited Talk- Urban Ecology and Evolution: A case study for stream salamanders in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco (Fordham University); Biology Department Seminar; Barnard College, New York, NY.
February 2020: Invited Talk- Learning about salamanders. Nicole Fusco (Fordham University); 9th Grade Biology Secondary Education; The Dalton School, New York, NY.
July 2019: Oral Presentation- Genetic connectivity and landscape genetics of stream salamanders in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); North Eastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting 2018; Stockton University, NJ.
May 2019: Oral Presentation- Genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Ecological Society of America- MidAtlantic; Bowie State, MD.
August 2018: Poster Presentation- Establishing the Method and a Proposal to Use Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Understand Salamander in the NYC Metropolitan Area. Nicole Fusco & Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); North Eastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting 2018; Amherst, MA.
July 2018 : Oral Presentation- Genetic connectivity of stream salamander populations in stream networks in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists 2018; Rochester, NY.
June 2017: Poster Presentation- Exploring genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in an urban and suburban watershed. Nicole Fusco & Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Evolution 2017 Meeting; Portland Convention Center, Portland, OR.
October 2017: Poster Presentation- Exploring genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in an urban and suburban watershed. Nicole Fusco & Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Bronx Science Consortium; Bronx, NY.
October 2015: Poster Presentation- Exploring the effect of urbanization on the genetic variation within a stream salamander (Eurycea bislineata) population. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks Department), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Student Conference for Conservation Science- American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY.
March 2012: Oral Presentation- The Behavior of Asian Elephants During Mirror Exposure. Nicole Daurio (Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY), Joshua M. Plotnik (Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge) Frans B. M. de Waal (Living Links, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and Department of Psychology, Emory University), Diana Reiss (Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY); Comparative Cognition Society CO3 Conference 2012; Melbourne, FL.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
2018-Present: American Society of Ichthylogists and Herpetologists
2017- Present: Society for the Study of Evolution.
2015-Present: Sigma Xi Honors Society
SPECIFIED SKILLS:
GPS & Radio Telemetry
ArcGIS
R statistical software & Linux
Taxidermy
Proficient in ddRAD sequencing library preparation for Next-Generation Sequencing
Conventional and Quantitative PCR
DNA Metabarcoding
EDUCATION:
May, 2020: Fordham University; Ph.D in Biological Sciences/Ecology & Systematics,
Dissertation topic: Genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in urban, suburban, and rural habitats.
January, 2012: City University of New York Hunter College; MA, magna cum laude, Animal Behavior and Conservation,
Thesis topic: Behavior of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Front of the Mirror
May, 2007: State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry; BS, magna cum laude, Wildlife Science
FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS:
2019-2020: Senior Teaching Fellowship Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary)
July 2019: Award: Best Student Presentation, Genetic connectivity and landscape genetics of stream salamanders in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); North Eastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting 2018; Stockton University, NJ.
2018-2019: Freedman Fellowship for Women in Science; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary, $5000 research)
2017-2018: Centennial Scholarship; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary)
2016-2019: Professional Development/Student Support Grant, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University ($85, $800, $1500, $749)
2015-2019: Louis Calder Center Graduate Student Research Grant Biological Field Station, Fordham University ($1000, $1000, $857.74, $800, $1000)
2015-2017: Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship for Women in Science Fellowship; Henry Luce Foundation & Fordham University (tuition & salary, $10,000 research)
2014-2015: Centennial Scholarship; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Fordham University (tuition & salary)
2014-2017: Research Assistant Program; Mianus River Gorge Preserve. Conducted research to analyze the genetic diversity of stream salamander populations in a suburban environment, and mentored a high-school student in creating and conducting her own experiment, ($15,000 research)
October, 2015: Student Conference for Conservation Science Honor Award; Exploring the effect of urbanization on the genetic variation within a stream salamander (Eurycea bislineata) population. American Museum of Natural History, SCCS 2015.
May 2007: Ralph T. King Memorial Award; SUNY ESF, highest departmental award for academic performance, and dedication to the field of Wildlife Science.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY/ TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Fall 2020: Evolution Lecture & Lab- Adjunct Instructor- (remote instruction); SUNY College at Old Westbury; Old Westbury, NY.
Fall 2020: Zoology: Form & Function Lecture & Lab- Adjunct Instructor- (hybrid: remote/in-person); Kean University; Union, NJ.
Fall 2020: Introduction to Human Physiology Lecture- Adjunct Instructor- (remote instruction); CUNY Queens College; Queens, NY.
Fall 2019 - Spring 2020: General Genetics Lecture- Instructor on Record; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
Spring 2019: Plant Structure- Adult Education; New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, NY.
Fall 2018: Amphibians- Adult Education; New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, NY.
Spring 2018: Plant Structure- Adult Education; New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, NY.
Summer 2018: Ecology for the Human Environment- Teaching Assistant; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2017-2018: Introduction to Biology Lab Coordinator- Coordinating, training and managing all Graduate Assistant and Teaching Fellow Staff & writing/implementing laboratory exams; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2015- 2018: Introduction to Biology Lab I & II- Teaching Fellow- biology lab instruction; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2014-2015: Introduction to Biology Lab I & II- Graduate Assistant, biology lab assistant; Fordham University; Bronx, NY.
2011-2014: Environmental Educator - Created curriculum & implemented environmental education programs, animal husbandry, & leading summer camp program for children grades 1-4; Stamford Museum & Nature Center; Stamford, CT.
2011-2012: Substitute Teacher- General biology, geology, earth science; Fox Lane High School; Pound Ridge, NY & Westhill High School; Stamford, CT.
June-Sept 2011: Teaching Fellow, Summer Camp- Created & implemented environmental, wildlife, & conservation education programs to summer camp children ages 5-12 years old, Bronx Zoo; Bronx, NY.
Sept 2010-June 2011: School Year Fellow- Teaching environmental, wildlife, & conservation education programs to school children pre-K-12th grade, Bronx Zoo; Bronx, NY.
May-Sept 2010: Co-lead on Herpetological Survey- Developed a herpetological survey of the Bronx Zoo grounds, and instructed amphibian survey techniques to middle school children for further application to a citizen science project & digital app developed in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, Bronx Zoo; Bronx, NY.
2009-2010: Environmental Educator- & implemented curriculum for environmental education programs for students, pre-K to 5th grade, New Canaan Nature Center; New Canaan, CT.
Jan-Sept 2009: Outdoor Educator; Special Education- Developed and implemented environmental education programs for students ages 5-21; program designed for students with various special needs, medical frailties, and students with autism, The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY.
March-Dec 2008: Education Intern- Created and implemented environmental education programs for students pre-school age to 12th grade, Stony-Brook Millstone Watershed Association; Pennington, NJ.
Aug-Dec 2007: Ecology Intern- Perform field work as an Ecology Intern including, white-tailed deer trapping and collaring, radio telemetry tracking white-tailed deer, performing a butterfly survey, an acorn mast survey, and a camera-trap predator survey along the Appalachian Trail (Supervisor: William McShea), Smithsonian National Zoological Park’s Conservation and Research Center; Front Royal, VA.
Spring 2007: Teaching Assistant- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, SUNY ESF.
PUBLICATIONS:
Fusco, N., Munshi-South, J. (In Preparation). Different stream and landscape features affect gene flow for stream salamanders in urban, suburban and rural habitats. Molecular Ecology
Fusco, N., Carlen, E., Munshi-South, J. (In-Review). Urban landscape genetics: are biologists keeping up with the pace of urbanization? Current Landscape Ecology Reports.
Fusco, N. A., Pehek, E., & Munshi‐South, J. (2020) Urbanization reduces gene flow but not genetic diversity of stream salamander populations in the New York City metropolitan area. Evolutionary Applications
Fusco, N., Zhao, A., Munshi-South, J. (2017). Urban forests sustain diverse carrion beetle assemblages in New York City metropolitan area. PeerJ, DOI 10.7717/peerj.3088
PRESENTATIONS:
October 2020: Invited Talk- Genetic connectivity of stream salamander populations in the New York City metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco (Fordham University); Biology Department Research Seminar; SUNY College at Old Westbury, Long Island New York.
February 2020: Invited Talk- Urban Ecology and Evolution: A case study for stream salamanders in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco (Fordham University); Biology Department Seminar; Barnard College, New York, NY.
February 2020: Invited Talk- Learning about salamanders. Nicole Fusco (Fordham University); 9th Grade Biology Secondary Education; The Dalton School, New York, NY.
July 2019: Oral Presentation- Genetic connectivity and landscape genetics of stream salamanders in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); North Eastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting 2018; Stockton University, NJ.
May 2019: Oral Presentation- Genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Ecological Society of America- MidAtlantic; Bowie State, MD.
August 2018: Poster Presentation- Establishing the Method and a Proposal to Use Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Understand Salamander in the NYC Metropolitan Area. Nicole Fusco & Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); North Eastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting 2018; Amherst, MA.
July 2018 : Oral Presentation- Genetic connectivity of stream salamander populations in stream networks in an urban, suburban and rural habitat in the NYC metropolitan area. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists 2018; Rochester, NY.
June 2017: Poster Presentation- Exploring genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in an urban and suburban watershed. Nicole Fusco & Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Evolution 2017 Meeting; Portland Convention Center, Portland, OR.
October 2017: Poster Presentation- Exploring genetic connectivity of stream salamanders in an urban and suburban watershed. Nicole Fusco & Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Bronx Science Consortium; Bronx, NY.
October 2015: Poster Presentation- Exploring the effect of urbanization on the genetic variation within a stream salamander (Eurycea bislineata) population. Nicole Fusco, Ellen Pehek (NYC Parks Department), Jason Munshi-South (Fordham University); Student Conference for Conservation Science- American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY.
March 2012: Oral Presentation- The Behavior of Asian Elephants During Mirror Exposure. Nicole Daurio (Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY), Joshua M. Plotnik (Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge) Frans B. M. de Waal (Living Links, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and Department of Psychology, Emory University), Diana Reiss (Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY); Comparative Cognition Society CO3 Conference 2012; Melbourne, FL.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
2018-Present: American Society of Ichthylogists and Herpetologists
2017- Present: Society for the Study of Evolution.
2015-Present: Sigma Xi Honors Society
SPECIFIED SKILLS:
GPS & Radio Telemetry
ArcGIS
R statistical software & Linux
Taxidermy
Proficient in ddRAD sequencing library preparation for Next-Generation Sequencing
Conventional and Quantitative PCR
DNA Metabarcoding