Zoe Willis

Experience

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  Clemson University

  Jun 2019 - Jul 2019

  Unpaid Lab Assistant

  • Assisted undergraduate student under Dr. Bill Baldwin with research on changes in lifecycle parameters of D. magna caused by sphingomyelin/sphingosine inhibitors.• Cared for D. magna cultures: fed, cleaned containers, and made hard water. • Counted and transferred experimental D. magna to new beakers daily.

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  Clemson Pool

  Jan 2020 - Jan 2022

  Assistant Swim Coach

  • Taught swimming strokes to younger swimmers and improved the times of older swimmers.• Planned interactive daily workouts.• Kept swimmers engaged through games and creative drill sets.

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  Mama Rae's Ice Cream

  Apr 2021 - Aug 2021

  Ice Cream Shop Associate

  • Made and served customers ice cream/milkshakes and ran the cash register. • Kept inventory and maintained health and safety guidelines. • Communicated with coworkers and customers to provide quick and friendly customer service.

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  College of Charleston

  Jun 2022 - now

  • Responsible for six tanks including touch tanks, coral tanks, and brackish tanks.• Feed and attend to the health of fish, turtles, coral, and other invertebrates. • Maintain all aspects of the aquaria including water quality testing, cleaning, equipment maintenance, and educational signage.• Educate visitors about local aquatic species and marine conservation. • Collaborate with research advisor Dr. Robert Podolsky to formulate questions and experimental designs.•Design an experiment on how crab pinching force relates to calcium content and cuticle stiffness.•Designed and conducted an experiment on how projected ocean acidification conditions affect the cuticle stiffness and carapace chemistry of the green porcelain crab P. armatus.•Analyzed data with statistical testing.•Created and presented a poster on these findings. • Certified as PADI Open Water Diver.• Trained in Caribbean coral and coral disease identification.• Trained in transect and roving diver surveying.• Surveyed multiple reefs for coral disease on high-risk species.• Analyzed and presented disease prevalence data.

  • Marine Lab Aquarist

    Aug 2022 - now

  • Undergraduate Researcher

    Jan 2021 - now

  • Coral Disease Research Student

    Jun 2022 - Jun 2022
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  Bali Conservation Diving

  Jul 2023 - Jul 2023

  Coral and Fish Survey Volunteer

  •Deployed artificial reef structures.•Trained in Indo-Pacific coral and fish identification.•Surveyed fish and coral populations of multiple natural and artificial reefs.•Attended lectures on artificial reefs and Pacific invertebrates.

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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

  May 2024 - Aug 2024

  NOAA Hollings Intern

  •Determined baseline water quality parameters at multiple SCTLD treatment sites using a Manta bio-optical sensor.•Compared site differences via PERMANOVA in R Studio.•Analyzed treatment data from yearlong SCTLD intervention efforts in comparison to temperature.•Worked to inform scientists and managers at Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez.•Presented findings to a broad scientific audience at the NOAA Science and Education Symposium. Show less