Curriculum Vitae

ALEX J. MAILE

University of Kansas | Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum |

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone: 320-761-7815 | Email: alexmaile@ku.edu

EDUCATION

2023 – (Current) Ph.D. Ecology and Evolution

University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Graduate Advisor: Dr. W. Leo Smith

2023 – M.S. Biological Sciences

Thesis: Evolutionary Relationships of the Anglerfishes (Lophioidei) with a Total Evidence Approach: Illuminating Habitat Transition Impacts on Anglerfish Lures and Body Shapes

St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Graduate Advisor: Dr. Matthew P. Davis

2020 – B.S. Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution (Honors)

St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Undergraduate Advisor: Dr. Matthew P. Davis

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2023 – Current Graduate Teaching Assistant: Introduction to Biostatistics (BIOL 370), University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Supervisor: Dr. Maggie Wagner and Dr. Tara Marriage.

· Assisting undergraduate students with lecture problems, supervising multiple lab sessions, and help students utilize R to compute and demonstrate statistical concepts for lab questions.

2023 Graduate Media Production Assistant, Innovating the Science Classroom for Widespread Student Engagement, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Supervisor: Dr. Matthew P. Davis

· Collaborating with experts in producing high-quality short scientific videos for open-source access used specifically toward targeting underrepresented STEM groups and provide digital and technological equity to students from various backgrounds.

2022 – 2023 Graduate Teaching Assistant: Genetics (BIOL 262), St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Kvaal

· Assisting and lead genetics laboratories including practicing DNA techniques, PCR, and exercises related to evolution and agriculture.

2022 – Current Banking Consultant Expert: Magnifi Financial Credit Union, St. Joseph, Minnesota. Supervisor: Olivia Droogsma

· Heavily involved in training new employees in credit union activities as well as mentoring interns.

· Individually planned and coordinated a continuing community outreach event at the St. Joseph’s local farmer marker, working with local farmers and businesses to give back to the community and grow community relationships.

2021 – 2022 Graduate Teaching Assistant: Cell Biology and Function (BIOL 151), St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Supervisor: Dr. Michelle Wagner

· Supervised introductory biology laboratories including coordinating of student lab scheduling, grading, and running labs involving cell biology, inheritance, and function.

2016-2021 Invertebrate Aquaculturist and Custom Aquaria 3D Designer, Maile Made Reef Supplies, Avon, Minnesota. Personal Business

· Production of invertebrate aquaculture products to be sold directly to consumers and aquarium stores in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

· Consult, collaborate, and design aquaria supplies and equipment through 3D modeling and 3D printing by custom request from direct consumers and aquarium stores in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

2019 Huskies Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Supervisor: Dr. Matthew P. Davis.

· Studying the evolution of color and pattern changes in deep-sea fishes.

2017 – 2020 Undergraduate Researcher, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Supervisor: Dr. Matthew P. Davis

· Studying the evolution of body shape changes and habitat transitions in Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes).

· Studying biofluorescence and venom association in marine Rabbitfishes (Siganidae).

2018 – 2019 Undergraduate Lab Assistant, Xcel Energy Larval Fishes Identification Project, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota. Supervisor: Dr. Matthew P. Davis

· Identifying larval and juvenile fishes of the Mississippi River in Minnesota contributing to Xcel Energy’s Biological Impact Assessment of water intake from coal plants.

2016 – 2018 AIS Watercraft Inspector Level 2, Lamb Labor Services, Paynesville, Minnesota

· On site coordinator for removal and decontamination of watercraft at multiple public lake access points. Work also involving coordinating AIS Inspector Level 1s in large scale fishing events requiring watercraft decontamination.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

· Aquaculture of aquatic invertebrates (copepods, brine shrimp and freshwater blackworms)

· 3D design modeling and 3D printing translation and troubleshooting

· Vertebrate specimen preservation

· Digitizing and imaging specimens

· Specimen photography under white and other lighting conditions (e.g. fluorescence, UV)

· Phylogenetic analyses for genomic data (gene fragments, ultraconserved elements)

· Maintaining marine aquaria with fish and coral and freshwater aquaria with fish

· Collecting spectroscopy data

· Geometric morphometric methods

· Identifying freshwater larval fishes of North America

PUBLICATIONS

2021 Ghedotti, M. J., DeKay, H.M., Maile, A.J., Smith, W. L., & Davis, M. P. 2021. Anatomy and evolution of bioluminescent organs in the slimeheads (Teleostei: Trachichthyidae). Journal of Morphology 282. doi: 10.1002/jmor.21349

2020 Maile, A.J., DeArmon, E.S, May, Z.A., Martin, R., & Davis, M.P. 2020. Marine Habitat Transitions and Body Shape Evolution in Lizardfishes and their allies (Aulopiformes). Copeia 108(4): 820-832. Awarded Best Student Paper in Copeia (Journal of Ichthyology and Herpetology) 2020

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

2022 Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Evolutionary Relationships of Anglerfishes Based on Genomic and Morphological Data. Huskies Showcase, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 2022. Poster Presentation.

2020 Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Evolution of Biofluorescence in Rabbitfishes (Siganidae). Huskies Showcase, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 2020. Poster Presentation.

2019 Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Evolution of Biofluorescence in Rabbitfishes (Siganidae). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Snowbird, Utah, June 2019. Poster Presentation.

Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Body Shape Changes Across Habitat Transitions in Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes). Huskies Showcase, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 2019. Poster Presentation.

2018 Maile, A.J. & Davis, M.P. Body Shape Changes Across Habitat Transitions in Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes). Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Rochester, New York, July 2018. Poster Presentation.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND ASSOCIATIONS

2022 - Current Secretary of the Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA), St. Cloud State University

· Mentoring BGSA newly elected officers while striving to regain and increase graduate student participation and membership.

2022 Best Ichthyological Papers in Ichthyology and Herpetology Committee

· Requested in helping selecting Best Papers in Ichthyology and Herpetology. Evaluated publications in Ichthyology and Herpetology (formerly Copeia) to rank the papers according to the categories of Best Paper Overall, Best Paper Young Scholar, and Best Student Paper.

2021-2022 President of the Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA), St. Cloud State University

· Leading in developing a comprehensive strategy focused on rejuvenating a biological graduate student organization stifled by COVID 19 to help ensure the organization’s short and long-term objectives and success.

· Assisted the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology club in designing a Research Open House to allow students to get first-hand experience in the levels and types of research conducted in the School of Science and Engineering.

2020-2021 President of Into the Wild Society (ITWS), St. Cloud State University

Vice President of Into the Wild Society (ITWS), St. Cloud State University

· Founder of a student-led organization on campus dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive community of individuals with a strong interest in ecology and evolution while organizing workshops and networking with experts of their field.

2019-2020 COSE Strategic Planning Committee, St. Cloud State University

· Articulating the needs and concerns of biological students to collaborate with faculty in creating a transformative educational strategic plan that responds to students, our society, and the world.

· Discussed with department heads of the School of Science and Engineering about the implementation of required student-teacher evaluations.

2018-2020 Dean’s Student Advisory Board, St. Cloud State University

· The student nominee for the department of biological sciences tasked with creating a direct line of communication voicing the needs and concerns of unvoiced students directly to the dean of the school of science and engineering.

2017 Huskies Cinema – Huskies Events and Activities Team, St. Cloud State University

2017- Current Member of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologist

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

2023 Student Research Travel Grant ($500), St. Cloud State University

2022 George W. Friedrich Wildlife Protection Fund ($3000), St. Cloud State University

Dorthy Esler Memorial Scholarship ($500), St. Cloud State University

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Student Collections Study Award ($1344), Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

2021 Student Research Grant ($962), St. Cloud State University

Raney Grant ($1000), American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

George Friedrich Scholarship ($1000), St. Cloud State University

2020 Student Research Grant ($1000), St. Cloud State University

Charles and Ellora Alliss Scholarship ($1500), St. Cloud State University

Harold and Gladys I. Hopkins Scholarship Fund Scholarship ($1000), St. Cloud State University

Jackie Hanson Environmental Studies Scholarship ($200), St. Cloud State University

2019 SCSU Scholarship ($1500), St. Cloud State University

Student Research Grant ($1000), St. Cloud State University

Huskies Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship SURF($500), St. Cloud State University

2018 Harold and Gladys I. Hopkins Scholarship Fund Scholarship($1000), St. Cloud State University

Jackie Hanson Environmental Studies Scholarship ($200), St. Cloud State University

Student Research Grant ($950), St. Cloud State University

Huskies Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship SURF($500), St. Cloud State University

2017 Avon Sportsmen’s Club ($200), Albany High School

AWARDS AND HONORS

2021 Copeia 2020: Best Student Paper in Ichthyology

· See Maile et al., 2020. First undergraduate ever selected as Best Student Paper in Ichthyology by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

2020 Deans Student List, Spring Semester & Fall Semester

2019 Deans Student List, Spring Semester & Fall Semester

Best Our Husky Compact Reflection, Husky Showcase