EDUCATION

• Ph.D., University of Mississippi Elasmobranch Physiology
  Directed by Dr. Glenn Parsons
  Estimated Graduation 2009
  
• M.S., 2004, The University of Southern Mississippi - Marine Immunology
  
• B.S., 2001, The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire - Biology and English
  
  
  

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My current research focuses on the measurement of 1-alpha hydroxycorticosterone (stress hormone) levels and subsequent secondary stress responses in three different species of elasmobranchs: Carcharhinus limbatus, Carcharhinus isodon, Rizoprionodon terraenovae.

 

 

AWARDS

I received the Walter B. Jones Memorial Award (NOAA) in 2008 for graduate student academic study that promises to contribute materially to the development of new or improved approaches to coastal or ocean management.

I was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship (2005-2007) to participate in the North Mississippi Grades K-8 Project. During this time I will be writing hands on science and math lesson plans for elementary level children and will be implementing these lessons in the classroom. All lessons will in some way be associated with Mississippi, the Mississippi river, and/or the Mississippi River Basin.

• Bisc 103 General Biology Lab for Non-Majors (4 sections)
  
• Bisc 330 Introductory Physiology Lab (3 sections)
  
• COA 422/522 Elasmobranch Biology Lab – 5 week field course at the
  Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS through The University of Southern Mississippi
  
• Bisc 206 Anatomy and Physiology for nursing and exercise science majors
  (4 sections)
• Bisc 207 Anatomy and Physiology for nursing and exercise science majors
  (4 sections)
• North Mississippi Grades K-8 Project (NSF) – Development of hands on science and math lessons for elementary age students.
  
  

MASTER'S RESEARCH

I isolated, purified, and characterized the IgG immunoglobulin in the Spectacled Eider, Somateria fischeri.I then developed a sandwich ELISA to measure IgG levels in Spectaled Eider serum and measured levels in 140 serum samples from both captive and wild eiders. Also, I developed several monoclonal antibodies specific for Spectacled Eider IgG. This research was completed at The University of Southern Mississippi, in coordination with the Alaska SeaLife Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geologic Survey.

CURRICULUM VITAE

GUEST LECTURER

Alaska SeaLife Center. 2004. "Characterization of the G Immunoglobulin in the Spectacled Eider, Somateria fischeri." Ocean Alaska Science and Learning Center.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Parsons, G.R., Hoffmayer, E.R., Hendon, J.M., Bet-Sayad, W. 2008. "Review of shark reproductive ecology: life history and evolutionary implications." In: Fish Reproduction Eds. Rocha, M.J., Arukwe, A., and B.G. Kapoor. Science Publishers.

Jill Frank, Bobby Middlebrooks, and Rhonda Patterson. 2005. "Assay development and measurement of immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in the spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri." Proceedings for the Mississippi Academy of Sciences. 75th Annual Conference. Abstract.

Jill Frank. 2004. "Evaluation of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri, and development of monoclonal antibodies for use as a species specific reagent." Thesis defense. The University of Southern Mississippi.

Jill Frank, Bobby Middlebrooks, and Rhonda Patterson. 2004. "Characterization of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri." Proceedings for the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine. 35th Annual Conference. Abstract.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

American Elasmobranch Society
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine
Sigma Xi
Minnesota Vikings Fan Club