Elizabeth Anne Freedman
Curriculum Vitae
Elizabeth Freedman
Museum of the Rockies
600 W Kagy Blvd
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-3170
eafreedman@gmail.com
Education:
2005: B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Geosciences with an Exploration in Biology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Advisor: Dr. Roger Thomas.
In progress: Ph.D. in Earth Science, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana. Advisor: Dr. John R. Horner.
Awards and Honors:
2001-2005: John Marshall Scholarship
2005: Nancy Juerges Geomorphology Award
2005: Black Pyramid Senior Honor Society
2005: Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Work Experience:
2001-2002 (summers): Paleontology field crew member, Museum of the Rockies, Garfield County, Montana.
Duties: Assisted in the discovery and excavation of vertebrate fossils from the Hell Creek Formation. Gained experience in prospecting and making large plaster jackets. Sites included a partially articulated Tyrannosaurus rex and a disarticulated Triceratops skull and postcrania.
Supervisor: Dr. John R. Horner.
2004-2005: Geosciences teaching assistant, Introduction to Environmental Science (Fall 2004), Field Studies (Spring 2005), Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Duties: Assisted professor of introductory geoscience courses with lab instruction and activities. Led exam review sessions and edited students' research paper drafts. Led labs in professor's absence.
Supervisors: Dr. Christopher Williams and Dr. Robert Sternberg.
2004-present (summers): Paleontology field crew chief, Museum of the Rockies, Hill County, Montana
Duties: Led crew of four to ten students and other volunteers in the discovery and excavation of vertebrate fossils from the Judith River Formation at the Redding Field Station. Sites included two over 50% complete hadrosaurs, several less complete hadrosaurs, and over a dozen microsites. Instructed crew members in prospecting, digging, plastering, and data collection techniques, as well as the surface collection and matrix screenwashing of several microsites. Trained graduate students and advanced undergraduates for future crew chief responsibilities. Guided school groups, donors, and other visitors in prospecting and working in the quarry. Supervised budgeting and management of base camp, equipment, and supplies. Oversaw data collection in the field, and organized field logs, specimen data, quarry maps, locality maps, photographs, and stratigraphic sections into standard MOR Collections format. Was scientific advisor for the Rudyard Depot Museum; identified and labeled fossils on display; corrected misspelled and inaccurate labels; taught docents about fossils and geology of the area.
Supervisor: Dr. John R. Horner.
2005-2008: Paleontology research assistant, Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, Montana
Duties: Worked in MOR Paleontology Collections, one of the largest repositories of dinosaur fossils in the United States; curated new additions to fossil collections, organized and maintained current fossil collections, and improved quality of existing computer database and online interface; was in charge of Collections during transitions between and absences of official Collections Managers. Led organization of the largest field program in the United States; created online application to recruit over 70 volunteers for summer field crews and coordinated their transportation, site assignment, and possible internships; organized and led meetings to train eleven field crew chiefs; created budgets for the Redding Field Station and assisted other crew chiefs with their budgets; was contact person for any fieldwork questions from volunteers or crew chiefs; continued these leadership duties throughout the field season.
Supervisor: Dr. John R. Horner.
2008 (fall semester): Graduate Teaching Assistant, BIOL 214: Molecules to Cells, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Duties: Taught two sections of weekly labs; instructed students in lab protocols and use of equipment, guided students during experiments, administered quizzes, edited and graded biweekly lab reports; supervised four Student Assistants as they refilled lab supplies, maintained equipment, and helped answer students' questions during labs. Lab topics included: the effects of pH on lactose digestion; diffusion of solutes across red blood cell membranes; cellular respiration in yeast, spinach, and liver; and Drosophila genetics, including F1 and F2 crosses, salivary gland chromosome squashes, and eye pigment chromatography.
Supervisor: Meagan Snodgrass, Lab Coordinator, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
2008: Instructor, Identifying Rocks and Minerals, Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, Montana
Class description: 1 hour to 1.5 hour sessions repeated March 11, March 13, and twice May 9
Duties: Designed interactive mineral identification and rock cycle activities for elementary and middle school students; led class instruction with assistance of another graduate student.
Supervisor: Jenny Schnaidt, Early/Elementary Education Specialist, Museum of the Rockies
2009 (spring semester): Graduate Teaching Assistant, BIOL 207: Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Duties: Taught two sections of semiweekly labs; lectured with Powerpoint; taught students how to identify and understand functions of human anatomy and physiology using models, cadavers, and isolated human organs; administered and graded lab exams; assisted in grading lecture exams; supervised three Student Assistants as they helped teach identifications and answer students' questions. Lab topics included: skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems.
Supervisor: Scott Taylor, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
2009 (fall semester): Graduate Teaching Assistant, BIOL 208: Human Anatomy and Physiology II, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
Duties: Taught three sections of weekly labs; lectured with Powerpoint; taught students how to identify and understand functions of human anatomy and physiology using models, cadavers, and isolated human organs; administered and graded lab exams; assisted in grading lecture exams; supervised two Student Assistants as they helped teach identifications and answer students' questions. Lab topics included: cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, excretory, digestive, and reproductivew systems.
Supervisor: Scott Taylor, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience
Volunteer Positions:
2006-2008: President, Dead Lizard Society (MSU Paleontology Reading Group), Bozeman, Montana
Duties: Selected 3 articles to read for each monthly meeting, arranged meeting locations, and led discussions.
Supervisor: Dr. David J Varricchio.
2008-present: Student Representative, Ethics Education Committee, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Duties: As part of seven-member committee, investigated allegations of violations of the SVP code of ethics.
Supervisor: Blaire Van Valkenburgh, Committee Chair, Vice-president, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Other Courses and Training:
2003: Albion College Geology Field Camp, 5-week summer course
Learned a variety of mapping techniques using topographic maps, aerial photos, Brunton compasses, and GPS. Produced several stratigraphic columns and gained proficiency with a Jacob's staff. Studied sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks dating from the Precambrian to the Paleocene, as well as Tertiary glacial landforms. Field areas included Elk Basin, WY; Big Horn Basin, WY; Yellowstone National Park, WY; Grand Teton National Park, WY; Absaroka Mountains and Heart Mountain fault blocks, WY; Alpine, MT; Bear Butte, SD; Black Hills, SD; and Custer, SD.
Instructors: Dr. Beth Z. Lincoln, Dr. Timothy N. Lincoln, Dr. William S. Bartels, and Dr. Thomas I. Wilch
2008: Paleobiology Database Intensive Summer Course in Analytical Paleobiology, 5-week course
Gained proficiency in using and programming R statistical software for multiple paleontological topics, including multivariate paleoecology, diversity and biochronology, morphometrics (using Dave Sheets' morphometric software packages), phylogenetics, and phenotypic evolution.
Instructors: Dr. John Alroy, Dr. Tom Olszewski, Dr. Mark Webster, Dr. Pete Wagner, and Dr. Gene Hunt
2008: Red Cross First Aid Certification
Instructor: Ronda Harrison, Security Chief, Museum of the Rockies
Publications:
2009: Fowler, D.W., Freedman, E.A., Scannella, J.B. Predatory functional morphology in raptors: Interdigital variation in talon size is related to prey restraint and immobilisation technique. PLoS ONE, 4(11): e7999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007999
2009: Freedman, E.A. Variation in nasal crest size of Brachylophosaurus canadensis (Dinosauria: Hadrosauridae): Ontogenetic and stratigraphic implications of a large new specimen from the Judith River Formation of northcentral Montana. Abstracts of papers, Sixty-ninth Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29(3): 99A-100A.
2008: Freedman, E.A. Bayesian modeling of vertebrate paleocommunities in the Judith River Formation (Upper Cretaceous: Campanian), northcentral Montana. Abstracts of papers, Sixty-eighth Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(3): 80A.
2006: Freedman, E.A., Wilson, L.E. Faunal turnover determined using taphonomically equivalent elements from microvertebrate accumulations in the Judith River (Campanian) and Hell Creek (Maastrichtian) Formations of Montana. Abstracts of papers, Sixty-sixth Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26(3): 63A.
2005: Freedman, E.A., Wilson, L.E. Faunal comparison of microvertebrate accumulations in the Judith River Formation (Campanian) and Hell Creek Formation (Maastrichtian) of Montana with consideration of collection method biases. Abstracts of papers, Sixty-fifth Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 25(3): 60A.