Braelei Hardt

4570 NW University Place #8 Corvallis, OR, 97330

541-337-1952
hardtb@oregonstate.edu

Education
Degrees in Progress at Oregon State University
B.S. (Honors): Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences (expected March 2017)
Specialization: Avian Research and Conservation; Statistics
Overall GPA: 3.83

Employment and Research History

Independent Research
Embryonic Learning of a Vocal Password in Horsfields Bronze Cuckoos (Sept 2015 Jan 2016)
Collected audio recordings of Superb Fairy-wren songs and Horsfields Bronze Cuckoo begging
calls. Extracted bioacoustic data with Syrinx and analyzed via Dynamic-Time Warping in
Luscinia. Statistical analysis done in R.

The Effects of Brood Size on Nestling Growth and Stress Response (May 2015 Present)
Designed and conducted research on nestling Tachycineta Swallows, and recruited and managed
a team of eight interns. Duties included timed bleeding and nestling relocation, as well as
supervising, training, and scheduling interns; and use of R and HOBOware programs.
Publication in process.

The Role of the Physiological Stress Response in Mediating Behavior (May 2014 August 2015)
Designed, funded, and conducted thesis research on adult Tachycineta Swallows. Field and lab
techniques included trapping, bleeding and banding adult swallows; behavioral trials; chemical
preparation and CORT assay analysis; and intraperitoneal injection. Trained and managed a team
of twelve volunteer assistants.

Paid Positions
Studio Consultant: Oregon State University Writing Center (January 2017 present)
Tutored undergraduate students in writing within a designated writing center. Students can bring
class assignments, theses, or personal pieces and receive one-on-one writing assistance (grammar,
style, content, or otherwise) from trained tutors such as myself.

Learning Assistant: Oregon State University Department of Statistics (September 2016 present)
Assisted in introductory undergraduate statistics courses by guiding students during in-class
activities. Held office hours and study sessions in which students could come for help with
concepts and assignments.

Superb Fairy-wren Field Assistant: University of Melbourne (September January 2015)

Located and monitored Superb Fairy-wrens nests in Victoria, Australia through behavioral
observations; measured and bled nestlings (tarsus and/or alar vein), and moved eggs between
nests. Also resighted and mist-netted adult color-banded wrens (approx. 80 extractions). Field
conditions included extreme heat as well as insects and dangerous animals.
 Avian Demography Nest Searcher: Oregon State University (June August 2013 and July 2014)
Located and monitored White-crowned Sparrow nests through behavioral cues and systematic
searching; measured, banded, and bled (alar vein) passerine species. Radio telemetry tracked
fledglings and observed their behavior. Conducted nest vegetation surveys and entered data and
observations daily. Field conditions included backpacking in steep terrain, cold, and wet
conditions.

Riparian Habitat Technician: McKenzie Watershed Council (September 2010 August 2013)
Measured the morphology of streams in the McKenzie watershed and analyzed the streams
surrounding habitat, beaver activity, and indicator species populations. Counted and catalogued
invertebrate species. Trained and assessed incoming volunteers. Field conditions included wet
and insect-infested conditions.

Volunteer and Teaching

Volunteer Work
OSU Vertebrate Collection: Assistant Curator (September 2016 present)
Catalogued and organized the avian section of the universitys vertebrate collection after 30+
years of neglect (ongoing). Soon, I will be adding to the collection through specimen preparation.

Cascades Raptor Center: Raptor Handler and Public Educator (February 2011 May 2014)
Trained resident raptors (vultures, falcons, hawks, kites, and eagles), led educational programs
and guided tours, assessed and administered medication to patients, released and hacked out
patients, trained incoming volunteers, prepared food for raptors, and cleaned aviaries.

Public Outreach
Avian Research as an Undergraduate (September 2016)
Presented my involvement in research along with tips and lessons for getting and enjoying early-
career research experience. This presentation was given to a class of incoming undergraduate
students in OSUs Fisheries and Wildlife Department.

Introduction to Radio-telemetry Tracking for Passerine Birds (February 2016)

Taught two one-hour hands on field classes on the use and practice of radio-telemetry for tracking
the movements of passerine birds. These courses were part of a biology/forestry exploration
program for high school students in the area.

Avian Identification and the World of Birding (September 2014)

Taught two half-day courses on identification of diagnostic features for common birds in the
Willamette Valley and the basics of counting birds for competitive, casual, or scientific purposes.
These classes were for high school students attending A3, a school focused on the arts.

Leadership
Oregon State University Bird Nerds: Vice President (2015-2016)
Duties included coordination with the President and management of leadership team members, as
well as creating bird-related events such as birding competitions and field trips and research
technique workshops. Created the first annual Oregon Birdathon, raising almost $1000 for the
club in a single day.
 The Oregon Wildlife Society Student Subunit: Vice President (2014-2016)
Duties included creating and hosting club trips, events, and workshops and serving as a liaison
between the Fisheries and Wildlife department and the College of Agriculture. The club strives to
provide networking opportunities and professional development in several areas related to Fish
and Wildlife (field techniques, grant writing, interviewing workshops, etc.).

Oregon Falconers Association: Social Media Chair (2014)

Duties included regulation of social media etiquette between the falconry community and the
outside world, reinforcement of respectful online dialogue concerning the sport, and
encouragement of acceptance of falconry in mainstream media. The OFA is a state-wide club for
licensed falconers and those interested in becoming falconers.

Publications and Conference Presentations

Hardt, B. 2017. Early competitive environments differentially influence stress axis development in
sympatric, ecologically similar songbirds. Honors thesis, Oregon State University.

Hardt, B., Carlson, A., Reeves, A. and Meyer, M. 2016. Midterm Exams as a Metacognitive Tool. Oregon
State University Pedagogy Poster Session. Poster.

Hardt, B. 2016. Co-evolution in the Wren-Cuckoo System: Does a Provisioning Password Actually
Exist? Willamette Valley Bird Symposium. Presentation.

Hardt, B. and J. Rivers. 2015. The Role of the Physiological Stress Response in Mediating Behavior. The
Oregon Wildlife Society Annual Conference. Poster.

Hardt, B. 2015. Similar Species, Similar Responses? Assessing potential differences in the stress response
between sympatric Tachycineta swallows. Willamette Valley Bird Symposium. Presentation.

Grants and Awards

Research Grants

Undergraduate Research, Innovation, Scholarship, & Creativity Grant, 2014 ($1800)

Oregon State Honors College Excellence Award, 2014 ($1000)
ER Jackman Internship Support Award, 2014 ($1000)
North American Bluebird Society Grant, 2014 ($300)

Academic Awards

Janet Richens Wiesner Scholarship for Undergraduate Women in Science, 2017 ($2500)
Oregon Chapter of the Wildlife Societys Outstanding Undergraduate Award, 2014 ($500)
OSU Academic Achievement Award, 2012 ($14,000)
Elks Legacy Award, 2012 ($4,000)
References
Dr. James Rivers: Thesis Mentor jim.rivers@oregonstate.edu +1 (541)-737-2244
Dennis Bennett: Writing Center Supervisor dennis.bennett@ oregonstate.edu +1 (541) 737-2932
Dr. Michelle Hall: Fairy-wren Project Supervisor hall.m@unimelb.edu.au +61 8344 6251