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Nicole D. Cavender, Ph.D. Resume
Email: nicole@nicolecavender.com
EDUCATION
	Ph.D. The Ohio State University - Horticulture & Crop Science, 2001 Dissertation Title: Genetic Variation of Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and its Association with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Implications for Prairie Restoration and Reintroduction. B.S. Ohio University - Environmental and Plant Biology, 1996
EMPLOYMENT & APPOINTMENTS
	Director of Restoration Ecology, The Wilds, 2002-present Assess current ecological conditions, direct research and recommend land management strategies that encourage biodiversity and improve ecological function. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Conservation Science, Muskingum College, 2004-present Board Member, Foundation for Environmental Research, 2001-2004 Committee Member, Ohio University, Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Master’s Thesis, Kevin Lewis, 2003-present Environmental Research Consultant, Foundation for Environmental Research, Spring 2002 Graduate Research Assistant, Ohio State University, 1996-2001 Native Plant Rescue and Landscape Assistant, Genius Loci, 1997-2000 Research Assistant, Harvard University Biological Laboratories, Summer 1995
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
	Introduction to Plant Science, HCS 200 Teaching and lab assistant, Ohio State University, Winter Sessions 2000-2001 Landscape Horticulture, HCS 234 Teaching assistant, Ohio State University, Spring Sessions 1997-1999 General Biology (Intro to Zoology) BIOS 170 Teaching assistant, Ohio University, Summer Session 1994
GUEST TEACHING LECTURES & PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS/b>
	Muskingum College, Conservation Biology, Dr. James Dooley, instructor. Restoration Ecology: Introduction to Ohio’s reference Ecoregions, 2004. Restoration Ecology and Scientific Inquiry, 2003 Muskingum College, Conservation Biology, Dr. James Dooley, instructor. Forest Assessment and the Point-Centered Quarter Method (field laboratory exercise), 2004 Denison University, Environmental Assessment, Dr. Doug Spieles, instructor. Restoration and Ecological Assessment at The Wilds, 2004 Ohio State University, Introduction to Ecology, Dr. Maria Miriti, instructor. Introduction to Restoration Ecology, 2004 Ohio State University, Principles of Grassland Management, Dr. David Barker, instructor. Introduction to Prairie and its Natural History, 2004, 2003. Genetic Diversity of Big Bluestem, 2002 Relationship of Plant Origin and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculum Type to Plant Growth Response of Big Bluestem in Non-sterile Soils North American Prairie Conference, Madison, WI, August 2004 Cellular Slime Molds in Disturbed Forests at The Wilds The Ohio Academy of Science, April 2004 Ohio Invasive Plants: Bridging the Gap between Researchers and Land Managers. Ohio Invasive Plant Research Conference, March 2004 Ecotype Variation of Big Bluestem in Relation to Mycorrhizal Inoculant in Soils with High and Low Fertility. Mid-Atlantic States Mycology Conference, April 2000 The Influence of Vermicompost on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Infection of Sorghum bicolor and Plant Growth International Conference of the Soil Ecology Society, April 1999
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
	Grassland Management and Restoration Activities at The Wilds Ohio Prairie Conference, keynote speaker, August 2004 Creating and Restoring Habitat for Native Butterflies The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, keynote speaker, July 2004 Research & Restoration at the Wilds The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Chapter, June 2004 Opportunities for Research and Restoration at The Wilds Ohio University, Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, October 2002 Genetic Diversity of Big Bluestem Ohio Prairie Conference, August 2000 Introduction to Soil Microbes and their Processes The Ohio Natural History Society, 1999
MANUSCRIPTS AND PUBLICATIONS
	Cavender, N. & Knee, M. Genetic Diversity of Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) in remnant grasslands of the Midwestern, U.S. In preparation for International Journal of Plant Science. Cavender, N. Associated Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi of Big Bluestem in Remnant Prairies of Ohio. The Ohio Journal of Science (Submitted: November 2004) Cavender, N. & Knee, M. Relationship of Plant Origin and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculum type to Growth Response of Big Bluestem in Non-Sterile Soil. Proceedings of the 19th North American Prairie Conference (Invited Paper Submitted: September 2004). Cavender, N. 2004. Introduction to Ohio Invasive Plants in Ohio: Bridging the Gap between Researchers and Land Managers. Proceedings of the 2004 Ohio Invasive Plant Research Conference, Ohio Agricultural Research and Developments Center Special Circular (In Press). Cavender, J., Landolt, J., Stephenson, S., & Cavender, N. 2004. Comparison of Cellular Slime Mold Populations on Three Caribbean Islands Including Description of a New Species Polysphondylium equisetoides. Systematics and Geography of Plants (In Press). Cavender, N. & Cavender, J. 2004. Cellular Slime Molds in Forest Disturbance at The Wilds. The Ohio Journal of Science. Vol. 104(1):40 Cavender, N., Knee, M. & Atiyeh, R. 2003. Vermicompost Stimulates Mycorrhizal Colonization of roots of Sorghum bicolor at the Expense of Plant Growth. Pedobiologia 47(1): 85-89. Knee, M., Brake, R., Thomas, L. & cavender, N. 1999. Growth of Ornamental Plants in Compacted Soils and Media. Ornamental Plants: Annual Reports and Research Reviews. Special Circular 165. Ohio Agricultural Research and Developments Center. The Ohio State University. pp. 113-119. Knee, M., Brake, R., Thomas, L. & Cavender, N. 1998. Establishment of Prairie Forbs and Grasses after Production in Compacted Media. HortScience. Vol 33(3):479. Cavender, N. & Cavender, J. Dictyostelid Cellular Slime Molds of St. John, V.I. 1998. The Ohio Journal of Science. Vol. 98 (1):11.
GRANT WRITING
	N. Cavender. 2004 (October). Wetland Enhancement at The Wilds. The Ohio Wetlands Foundation. $8,000 - Status: Pending J. Dooley, N. Cavender, S. VanHorn. 2004 (August). Integrated Analysis of a Recovering Surface-Mined Ecosystem. National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates. $259,203 - Status: Pending N. Cavender. 2004. Grassland Habitat Improvement at The Wilds. Natural Resource Conservation Service, Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program. $56,497 - Status: Funded D. Barker, N. Cavender, R. Moore, F. Hitzhusen, S. Boyles. 2004. Creating Functional Prairie and Grassland on a Disturbed Landscape for Multiple Social Goals. USDA-NRI (Managed Ecosystems). $449,454 - Status: Unfunded D. Barker, (N. Cavender -Collaborator). 2003. Financial Implications of Non-toxic Endophyte-infected Fescue Pasture: Establishment Costs and Livestock Returns. NCR-SARE. $149,555 - Status: Funded N. Cavender, D. Porej. 2003. Amphibian Survey at the Wilds. Ohio Biological Survey. $500 - Status: Funded R. Allard, N. Cavender. (AZA, The Wilds, Columbus Zoo, Toledo Zoo, Akron Zoo, Cleveland Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo). 2003. Partnering for Ohio Butterflies. The George Gund Foundation. $40,000 - Status: Funded N. Cavender. 1999. Genetic Variation in Andropogon gerardii . OSU Graduate Student Alumni Research Award. $2,000 - Status: Funded N. Cavender. 1998. Distribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Ohio prairies. Ohio Biological Survey. $500 - Status: Funded
HONORS & ACTIVITIES
	Ohio Invasive Plant Working Group (2002-present) Phi Alpha Xi, OSU Chapter (President, 2000-2001) Ohio Natural History Society (Vice President/Program Chair, 2000-2001) OSU Horticulture & Crop Science Departmental Seminar Coordinator (1999-2001) Gamma Sigma Delta (2000) Ohio Buckeye Science and Engineering Fair Judge (1999) Ohio Academy of Science State Science Fair Judge (1996-1998) Outstanding Graduating Senior, Ohio University, Department of Environmental and Plant Biology (1996) Young Botanist Award, Botanical Society of America (1996)