1. Relevant Work Experience
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve (CCESR - University of Minnesota) September 2016 – Present
• Assist in Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) experiments on biodiversity in light of climate change
• Sample and process biomass at Nutrient Network sites in CO, NE, KS, IL, NM, and TX for Dr. Sarah Hobbie’s research on
biogeochemical cycling in prairie ecosystems
• Participate in prescribed burns and plant identification of 60+ species
Cucumber Gulch Nature Preserve (Town of Breckenridge, CO) May – September 2016
• Provided biology education to visitors of Cucumber Gulch as the preserve’s naturalist/docent
• Participated in monthly wildlife surveys and recorded trail camera data for the town’s records
• Enforced town ordinances by educating visitors and town employees of annual closures and regulations
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve (University of Minnesota) June – August 2014
• Continued milkweed hybridization research with funding from the Cedar Creek Lawrence Award
• Led groups of 6-8 interns in ID and weeding of 30+ plant species in the LTER experiment
• Assisted my supervisor in identifying plants unidentifiable by interns through dichotomous keys and field guides
GVSU Conservation Biology Study Abroad (Ecuador) May 2014
• Collected macroinvertebrate, water quality, and stream analysis data in the Andean cloud forest
• Designed and conducted a study on the effects of tree-fall gaps on Coleoptera abundance in the cloud forest
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve (University of Minnesota) June – August 2013
• Worked as a research intern on the LTER experiment identifying 20+ plant species
• Investigated a putative case of hybridization between two milkweed species with funding from an REU Grant
• Contributed written results on milkweed pollen viability to a paper submitted to Annals of Botany
• Collaborated with three other interns on a photo field guide of 30+ species found at the reserve
Teaching Experience
Math Tutor (Kalamazoo, Michigan) March – May 2016
• Tutored a middle school student with a learning disability in basic math skills
• Helped a sixth grade student bring her failing grades to passing by teaching math skills and facilitating organization, goal-setting,
and student-teacher communication
Frederick Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors (GVSU) August 2014 – Dec 2015
• Conducted 200+ writing consultations with undergraduate and graduate writers from 158 unique classes
• Facilitated 2-4 peer review groups of 3-5 undergraduate students per week
• Served as the sole writing consultant in two freshman writing labs for one semester each
Indian Trails Camp (Allendale, Michigan) June – August 2012
• Developed and taught an interactive sensory program for 60+ campers with mental and physical disabilities
Colleen K. Unsworth
Grand Valley State University (Honors) (‘15), B.A. Biology (Spanish)
Honors College GPA: 3.9 Cumulative GPA: 3.6
GRE: Verbal 158 (80% percentile), Quantitative 159 (73%), Analytical 4.0 (59%)
7516 Primrose Lane, Portage, MI 49024 — (269) 270-4164 — unswortc@mail.gvsu.edu

2. Relevant Coursework
• Ecology ** (4)
• Evolutionary Biology (3)
• Animal Behavior** (3)
• Organic Chemistry** (4)
• Biological Chemistry**(4)
• Cell and Molecular Biology** (6)
• Genetics** (4)
• Physics** (5)
• Global Agricultural Sustainability** (3)
• Plant-Animal Interactions (3)
• Natural Resources and Society** (3)
• International Field Biology** (3)
• Global Petroleum Geosystems (3)
• Independent Research in Biology (2)
• Calculus II (4)
• Applied Statistics (3)
Credit hours ()
Course with lab**
Lab Experience
• DNA extraction, purification, and PCR amplification (eg. effects of chemicals and pH on cAMP signaling in Dictyostelium)
• Gel electrophoresis (running and analyzing gel)
• Genotyping (eg. restriction digestion, cloning, and gene sequencing of Drosophila)
• Embryogenesis (eg. effects of hormones on Daucus carota somatic embryos)
• Basic antibiotic resistance tests (eg. ampicillin)
• Media preparation and cell culturing (pour, streak, and spread plating)
• Light and electron microscopy (simple and differential staining (eg. gram staining))
• Chemistry techniques (titrations, solution preparation, calorimetry, colorimetry, chromatography)
• Hand pollinations (120 Asclepias flowers); seed germination and proliferation (eg. 1,199 Asclepias seeds)
Presentations & Symposiums
Michigan Writing Centers Assn. Ideas Exchange Conference (Dowagiac, MI) October 2015
• Discussed the necessity of interdisciplinary knowledge in college writing centers with tips on consulting scientific writing
Grand Valley State University’s Student Scholars Day (Allendale, MI) April 2015
• Provided a detailed overview of the hybrid project for my Honors Senior Project to GVSU faculty and students
Intern Independent Project Symposium (East Bethel, MN) August 2014
• Presented on the pollination mechanisms, viability, and statistical analysis of the putative hybrid at CCESR
Cedar Creek Summer Symposium (East Bethel, MN) June 2014
• Provided an overview of the hybrid project and plans for Summer 2014 to interns and staff at CCESR
Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (Dayton, OH) March 2014
• Presented on the morphological intermediacy and viability of the putative hybrid at a regional ecology conference
Intern Independent Project Symposium (East Bethel, MN) August 2013
• Reported on the morphological intermediacy and viability of the putative milkweed hybrid at CCESR
Publications
Status: Manuscript in-progress
Unsworth, Colleen K., Peter D. Wragg, Allison Dunn, Jennifer L. Ison, and Mark Fishbein. A putative hybrid between Asclepias
syriaca and Asclepias ovalifolia.
Status: Under review
Erlandson, Stephanie K., Gregory T. Nelson, Molly Kreiser, Karen L. Beck, Kaylie C. Lukas, Gretchen M. Wilbrandt, Peter
Blum, Noelle Alexander, Colleen K. Unsworth, Ariel B. Demarest, and Peter D. Wragg. Inefficient ant pollination
disrupts reproduction in self-incompatible milkweeds. Annals of Botany.

3. Grants & Awards
OURS Project Supplies Grant ($500)
• Assembled a funding proposal and itemized budget
summary for the GVSU Office of Undergraduate Research
& Scholarship Project Supplies Grant in 2014
• Received funding for the microsatellite genotyping of my
putative hybrid project for my Honors Senior Project
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($1,493)
• Awarded an education award for 450+ hours of AmeriCorps
service at Whiskeytown NRA in 2015
• Worked overtime (up to 60 hour weeks) to fulfill 150 more
hours than my 10 week program required
REU Grant
• Awarded the Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Grant to conduct research at CCESR in 2013
• Project title: A putative hybrid between Asclepias syriaca
and Asclepias ovalifolia
Lawrence Award
• Obtained Lawrence Award funding to conduct research at
CCESR in 2014
• Project title: A putative hybrid between Asclepias syriaca
and Asclepias ovalifolia
Volunteering & Community Engagement
AmeriCorps Trail Maintenance & Construction (Whiskeytown, CA) June – August 2015
• Maintained trails for the National Park Service & Student Conservation Association at Whiskeytown NRA
• Earned a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($1,493) for 450+ hours of service
Damar Services Inc. (Indianapolis, IN) March 2013
• Worked with children with special needs at Damar Academy through GVSU Alternative Breaks
GVSU Eyes Wide Open (Allendale, MI) August 2012 – May 2014
• Designed and gave presentations on sexual assault and domestic violence to the public and campus community
• Treasurer/Fundraiser & Chair of Clotheslines Project (’13-’14); Co-chair of Sexual Assault Awareness Week (’14)
Personal Care Assistant (Allendale, MI) Sept – Dec 2011
• Tended to the personal care (transportation, bathing) of a lady with cerebral palsy
Extracurricular Activities
GVSU Women’s Club Rugby Sept 2011 – Dec 2013
• Wing and Scrum-Half
• Division II National Collegiate Playoffs (’12-‘13), #2 National Ranking (’11), #5 National Ranking (’12), Regional Title (’11-‘12)
GVSU Women’s Club Soccer Sept 2014 – Dec 2015
• Risk Manager (’15), Central Midfielder
Skills & Certifications
• Experience with SAS, JMP, and R statistical software
• Proficient in Spanish (reading, writing, speaking)
• Prescribed Burn Technician (2016)
• I100, L180, S130/190 Wildland Firefighting Certified (2014)
• CPR/AED Certified (2012)