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My Life is Crap

I love working at a zoo!

9/10/2019

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I have moved on from being a graduate student. Although I don't graduate until December, I have started a new position as a post doctoral scientist of conservation genetics at the Center for Conservation Research (CCR) at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium (OHDZA)! I will be working mostly on projects on lemurs and other species from Madagascar, throwing in the occasional elephant and big cat project to keep myself associated with main land Africa. I'm still settling in but it won't be too difficult a transition when I can see orangutans out the lab window and I get to take a daily safari walk to see all my favorite animals.
It will take only 15 minutes for me to get to these nuggets (born May 22nd) being introduced to the public today!

I, personally, don't get to do any snow leopard work but OHDZA is a dedicated member of the Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program that works to maintain a genetically stable assurance population of Snow leopards in zoos. Our neighbors in the CCR in nutrition and reproductive physiology do research on these floofs to improve care and management around the world.
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Being so close to the action I'll hopefully be able to get the inside scoop (like I did with the Indian rhino. The repro team showed us the birth video only hours after it happened!) and you know I'll be making regular visits to their enclosure to bask in the tail poof glory. I'd have to pass by sloth bears and tigers on the way there too. Darn.
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Love Trumps Hate

11/10/2016

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​Whatever the next four years hold for us (Americans AND the world) please remember to be kind. Be kind of each other, be kind to the environment, be kind to yourself.
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It's getting crowded in here!

5/19/2016

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Today I start my first stab at crowdfunding. My dissertation project has been selected to be a project in the Cat Challenge on the crowdfunding site Experiment.com. This site is different than most other crowdfunding sites in that it is strictly for research and all projects are vetted by a panel of professionals before being launched. On general crowdfunding sites, anyone can start a campaign so, really, anyone can claim they're doing research. On Experiment.com, every project is rigorously reviewed, provided feedback, and scientifically approved so you know, as a financial backer, you can be confident you are funding real research. And through their website, us researchers are able to easily keep our backers up to date on the progress of our research.
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My profile can be found at Experiment.com/liondiversity
​(Make sure to watch my promo video. It took me about 24 hours to write, research, film and edit!)
The Challenge is 2-fold:
  1. Raise the full value of my GOAL by
  2. getting lots of BACKERS (people like you) to support my research

The project with the most BACKERS will receive an extra $1,000 added to their GOAL.
Our GOAL is $5,000 and we must receive 100% of our GOAL to get any of the money donated by the BACKERS.

PLEASE HELP!

Go to Experiment.com/liondiversity and show some support by making a donation. Any little bit helps! The more people who make donations the better. You can also help by spreading the word.

The Challenge (# of BACKERS) runs from today to Friday, June 10 @ 6PM ET
The Campaign (100% of GOAL) runs from today to Saturday, June 18

​Your support is much appreciated! THANKS!!!
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Rolling with the Punches

4/15/2016

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Today, I found out I have to move my lab bench and the reason for the move is generally unnecessary so it annoys me. I am going to have to move and reorganize all of my stuff and settle into a new system I was fine and dandy with before having to move. 

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A lot of things have been changing lately. I'm not typically a big fan of change but I have always regarded myself as someone who is rather adaptable. The changes are nothing too horrible but the accumulation of generally undesirable changes has started to get a little much for me. This was my motivation for getting a color and cut out of the norm. And with my wonderful cousin getting married in a few weeks, I thought this was the opportune time. I made a change that was fully under my control that I knew I would be happy with. I now have rose gold hair and bangs (I feel so much more like me with bangs)!
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One step at a time I am adapting to all these changes and doing my best not to lose it (I've had a few close calls). So, what I hope will come from this shift in view of the lab while doing my work, will be a shift in successes toward my dissertation so as not to be for nothing.
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Hot damn Darwin, you might be onto something. Let's do this!
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The Writing Fun Never Ends

9/23/2015

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Big news!  This morning I got the long awaited email that my first manuscript made it through another step of the publication process: Review.  This journal is known for its quick turn-around time so we actually got a formal apology for how long it took (although it was a blessing in disguise that reviewer #3 held onto it until after my prelims were over.  I should bake them a cake.) So, now I have 45 days to really hit the grindstone and channel my inner Carl Sagan (scientist and Pulitzer Prize winner) because not only do I have to make the "major revisions" to my manuscript to ensure it's publication but I also have to finish writing and submit my dissertation proposal  as well as complete another $50,000 grant proposal all due by the end of October.  

The writing fun never ends! 

This is why it is important to include scientific writing in your graduate training.  If it's not part of your required coursework, my recommendation is to take every workshop offered.  Even repeat workshops when they're offered.  I do more grant writing than the average grad student, but every graduate student should be first author on at least one paper by the time you graduate.  And if you want it to be published in a good journal, you need to be a good writer.  And to be a good writer, you have to practice
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Thank You for the Inspiration

4/3/2014

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Happy 80th Birthday Jane Goodall!

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I am sure that if you talk to any person who is involved with animals they will tell you that Jane Goodall made an impact in their life in some way or another.  I  have always liked animals but it was reading Jane Goodall's book in the 4th grade that really influenced my decision that working with animals in a capacity more than just taking care of them was something I wanted to pursue as a career.  As a 10 year old I decided I wanted to BE her.  I went to college with the intentions of becoming an ethology primatologist and while my focus has changed from apes to terrestrial carnivores and I have thrown some biotechnology in the mix when I was convinced way back when that never wanted to do anything micro, I would not be where I am today without the drive and determination reading that book instilled in me.  The work she has done in the 80 years of her life has changed mine and I can't be anything but grateful.  Happy Birthday Jane!

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Adventure Bound

2/15/2014

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I have hinted in a couple of past posts about a big adventure I will be having this year.  And, now that all the plans are officially finalized and everything is paid for, I can share the big news.  

Three weeks from today I will be arriving in Africa for a three week adventure throughout South Africa and Namibia.

I will be spending two weeks in Nelspruit, South Africa with Wildlife Vets learning about wildlife conservation medicine, then, post course, I will be spending an extra week traveling South Africa and Namibia with Dr. Derr meeting with professional hunter organizations to discuss some ongoing research projects.  I might even have the chance to go hunting myself (eek!).
While it may be my third time on the continent, I will be experiencing it like I never have before.  My first time in Africa I was a tourist.  The second time I was a researcher.  Now I will be a student, partaking in an in-depth course on the various aspects of different chemical preparations and their use in wildlife.  Basically, I’m going to become an expert in how to dart and delouse.  Past participants in this program have had the opportunity to wrangle crocodiles, dehorn rhino as an anti-poaching precaution, treat sick and injured wildlife including wild dogs and lions, and take part in the translocation of Cape Buffalo.  I’ve had a lot of hands-on experience having worked at multiple zoos and the Cheetah Conservation Fund but nothing like this.  I am lucky enough to be going on the TAMU Continued Education trip with practicing vets as opposed to the study abroad trip with students.  I’m essentially going to get to be an honorary veterinarian for two weeks (of course with lots of help from the trained professionals).

I am super excited for this trip.  This program is a hands on opportunity to learn field methods no one can learn in a classroom but are incredibly important to know if I want to do field research in the future.  Knowledge of the chemicals used for wildlife tranquilization and capture and how tissue and blood samples are obtained in various capture methods is beneficial for the development of accurate and efficient laboratory protocols needed to process samples.  So, while my initial decision to make this trip was “OMG THAT WOULD BE SO COOL!”; my final decision was based on the fact that it really is an investment to my career.

I always try to find exciting adventures that will enhance my life personally with the added benefit of enhancing it professionally.  This trip will do just that and is totally worth the colossal hit to my bank account!

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New Years Resolutions

1/2/2014

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People have been making and breaking  New Years resolutions for millennia!  In Roman times, on January 1st the highest officials would swear oaths to the Emperor and make resolutions to remain loyal to the republic in celebration of the two-headed god of new beginnings, Janus (for which January is named for), who looked both into the past and future.   


I don't usually make "resolutions" but I, like many other people, do take the dawning of having to remember to add one when writing the year as a time to reflect on the past 365 days and determine what can be done to make this year even better.  And, after a two week - much needed - holiday vacation, I am ready to get back into the swing of things and start 2014 off right!  This includes getting my body back to a healthier and happier state preparing me for the loads of adventure ahead of me this year (more to come on that soon).  Due to the hustle and bustle of trying to see everyone while in California and falling victim to the sweets and good eats of the holidays, I am starting off 2014 with my back hurting worse than it has in a long while and bouts of fatigue are setting in with a vengeance.  I have been noticing the deterioration of my good habits and the development of ones which I am sure are the culprits for getting me to this point, most of which revolve around food.  So, while mentally I am happy, physically I am not, so, it's time to make a change!

To "restore [my] body's natural ability to heal itself" I will be doing a 21-day cleanse, detox and diet called Clean by cardiologist Dr. Alejandra Junger, M.D.  I have done "detox" diets before.  The detox phase of the FatSmash diet is my typical go to get myself back in-line and has never steered me wrong but, this time, I wanted something more.  I don't want to just re-teach myself to eat better and get myself back on track after two weeks of cheats; I want to help myself through the healing process of my illness and I think this program could do just that.   The program focuses on both inner and outer (mental and physical) health and there is a whole section on Nutrigenomics and gene expression, which really speaks to my scientist side.  This program is about rebuilding and restoring your whole body to become healthy and happy.

I will be going through this program with the help and support of the Curry Girl's Kitchen, my cousin and aunt's company which teaches healthy eating habits.  If you are interested in trying this type of program yourself, check out www.cleanprogram.com and contact the Curry Girl's Kitchen (tell them Caitlin sent you).  If you're in the Los Angeles area, you can even participate in weekly classes during the program where you will be guided through each week learning "clean" recipes.

2013 was an incredible year, but I have a feeling 2014 is going to be even better!
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HUGE NEWS!

2/24/2012

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This morning on my way to the San Diego Zoo to collect another panda fecal sample I got the most amazing news EVER!  I have been offered a spot in the Graduate Program in Genetics at Texas A&M!!!  I am officially going to graduate school!

This is one of those moments in life that proves that if you have a goal and you stick with it, you CAN succeed!  Never let anyone make you think that you aren't capable of pursuing your dreams.  I was shot down time and time again but I never gave up.  I persisted and sought to improve myself.  It took 5 years, a lot of blood, sweat, tears and rejection letters but I did it.  And while knowing I am going to graduate school is overbearingly exciting (it still doesn't quite feel real), I am even more excited for the next leg of this journey, actually BEING IN graduate school!
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    Caitlin Curry

    I am a biologist and my life is crap!

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