Jennifer Mook, Ph.D.
Area(s) of Expertise: Herpetology, Genetics, Cell Biology (Advising Area of Expertise: Pre-Veterinarian)
Overview
Dr. Mook considers herself a "jack of all trades" in the education and work environment. She has cleaned trails at a wildlife conservation park, worked in an environmental testing lab, been a zookeeper, and helped the computer guy install equipment and train people how to use their email. She has also been involved in biology research with bioremediation, genetics, genomics and cell biology. Dr. Mook is particularly interested in all things reptilian, especially turtles and tortoises, as wells as sperm physiology, especially their motion and long-term storage for fertility studies.
Courses Taught
- BIOL 1101 - Biology-A Human Perspective online
- BIOL 1107K - Principle of Biology I
- BIOL 1108K - Principle of Biology II
- BIOL 2251K - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
- BIOL 2252K - Human Anatomy & Physiology II
- BIOL 3326K - Vertebrate Zoology
- BIOL 4700 - Senior Seminar
- ECOL 1000 - Field Ecology: Reptiles and Amphibians of Georgia
- ECOL 1000 - Field Ecology: Tropical Ecology of Costa Rica
Education
- Ph.D., Animal Physiology, Clemson University, 2007
- M.S., Zoology, Clemson University, 2000
- B.S., Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 1994
Research/Special Interests
- Detection of Salmonella spp. using molecular methods in Eastern Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina carolina, across different seasons. Collaborator: J Morgan, University of North Georgia.
- Chromogenic media as a diagnostic tool for Salmonella detection in poultry environmental samples. Collaborator: J Morgan, University of North Georgia, D Waltman, GA Poultry Lab
- Box turtle (Terrapene carolina) habitat utilization, population dynamics, and microhabitat – Radio telemetry to locate turtles and collect other data including: radiolocation assessment with Global Positioning System receiver, micro- and macro- habitat assessment, environmental data (temperature, etc.) collection, behavioral assessment of the turtles (i.e. mating for mounting for dominance). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map radiolocations (student projects), microhabitat assessment. Collaborator: N Hyslop, University of North Georgia.
- Does Engagement with Well-known Objects Improve Ability to Draw Phylogenetic Trees? Collaborator: E Lampert, University of North Georgia
- Bioinformatics as a means to introduce and develop phylogenetics analysis skills in a freshman biology lab course. Collaborator: E Lampert, University of North Georgia.
Work Experience
- Laboratory Coordinator/Instructor, Virginia State University (7/08-06/09)Position title, Institution, Year
- Postdoctoral Research Associate – Small Ruminant Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA (7/2006-6/2008)
- Zookeeper/Educator - Greenville Zoo, Greenville, SC (4/99-7/01)
- Wet Chemistry Analyst – Free-Col Laboratories, Meadville, PA (7/94-7/95)
- Government Intern – PA Dept of Environmental Resources, Meadville, PA (5/92-8/92, 5/93-8/93)
- Plant caretaker/Salesperson – The Plant Place, Meadville, PA (5/91-8/91)
- Youth Conservation Corps – Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Guys Mills, PA (6/90-8/90)