CV

Objective and Research Interests

My interests lie in the interdisciplinary and applied areas of geomorphology, soil sciences, archaeology, and environmental sciences. I have a keen interest in the way that landscapes have changed over time, and in turn affected human cultures and societies throughout time. I also love to write and educate, which I wish to continue doing throughout my life. I wish to expand upon my current skills, methodologies and techniques in this area of research. I am also interested in working closely with and educating the public on various issues surrounding these diverse areas of research.

Education

2007 B.S. in Anthropology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. James G. Ogg, Advisor. Senior Thesis: Human Time Scale Development

2014 M.S. in Geology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. Darryl E. Granger, Advisor. Thesis: Meteoric 10Be budget in forest plants and soils.

Business Experience

2007 – Present Owner, Insanitek Research and Development, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

  • Organise people and inventions that will be used for science education.

  • Organise legal necessities for inventions and projects.

  • Collaborate with educators on designing and making special products they need for the classrooms.

  • Oversee general sales and marketing.

2010- Present Freelance science writing, telecommute

  • Work with individual clients to create documents, presentations, and posters that translate science to layman’s terms

  • Organise and direct a small team of individuals to work on large projects as needed

  • Collaborate with educators on designing and making special products they need for the classrooms, museums, and/or home-schooling

  • Work with general sales and marketing goals of the client

Research Experience

2009 – 2012 Research Assistant, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

  • Surveyed a forested area with a plane table, an auto leveller, and GPS devices.

  • Communicated my research to a diverse audience at public events and academic conferences.

  • Designed lab protocols to achieve my research goals.

2003 – 2009 Research Assistant, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

  • Collected and compiled data for the Geological Time Scale (J. Ogg, et al.) and Human Time Scale on Excel.

  • Designed posters and diagrams, as well as gave public presentations on the Time Scale.

  • Coordinated work with people in lab to ensure project completion.

  • Gained experience troubleshooting complex databases written in Java.

2006 – 2009 Research Technician, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

  • Developed a general problem solving technique for fixing some minor mechanical problems with the vacuum aspiration set up and equipment.

  • Ran an Elemental Analyzer, load and ran an isotope mass spectrometer IRMS, made calibration curves, and compiled data for analysis.

  • Prepared soils for analysis of particulate organic matter and soil organic matter.

  • Separated soils into micro and macro aggregates, flushed CO2 out of samples and for analysed CO2 in microbial samples.

  • Prepared soils for carbon and nitrogen analysis in anIRMS.

2005 – 2006 Research Technician, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

  • Collected data using chemical procedures for the purpose of testing life support systems for NASA.

  • Took weights and measurements of the samples, kept a chart of the changing pH and enzymes of the fluids in the experiment, and prepared all data for analysis.

  • Learnt to use basic chemistry equipment and safety measures.

  • Organise a large quantity of data.

  • Developed excellent basic computer skills with Windows, Macintosh, Linux (SuSE and Ubuntu distributions), Open Office, Star Office, Microsoft Office, and some HTML.

Teaching Experience

November 2014 – December 2018 — Brightwood College

  • Present a basic environmental science course to criminal justice majors
  • Tie in the material with their future careers so they can see the big picture

June 2014 — Present Harris Homeschooling

  • Construct lesson plans to teach science and math to middle school boys
  • Meditate and solve problems within the school team

Summer 2012 Physical Geology for non-majors 

  • Demonstrate, and teach physical geology concepts to non-geology majors

  • Collaborate with the teaching team to keep the learning environment and experience smooth for the students

  • Organise and lead hands on experiences and field trips to demonstrate and reinforce knowledge

Spring 2012 Earth and Space Sciences for Elementary Education Majors.

  • Design, demonstrate, and teach science and technology experiments that work on a budget for teaching elementary age students at public schools and according to state standards.

  • Collaborate with student-teachers to help them design and teach science and technology in their classes.

  • Facilitate a dialogue between future educators and scientists to increase science literacy.

Fall 2011 Environmental Geosciences for Elementary Education Majors.

  • Demonstrate and teach science and technology experiments that work on a budget for teaching elementary age students at public schools, pertain specifically to the environmental geosciences, and are aligned with state standards.

  • Collaborate with student-teachers to help them design and teach science and technology in their classes.

  • Facilitate a dialogue between future educators and scientists to increase science literacy.

  • Increase awareness of future educators of the impact of science literacy and politics on their future careers.

2009 – 2013 Volunteer educator, Imagination Station, Lafayette, Indiana, United States

  • Design, demonstrate, and teach science and technology experiments and classes for ages 4+.

  • Design and test hands on science exhibits.

  • Collaborate with other teachers to help them design and teach science and technology in their classes.

  • Public speaking events, workshops and classes on current events and issues in science and technology news.

Spring 2011 GK – 12 PFF Program Tecumseh Middle School, 7th grade, Lafayette, IN, United States

  • Worked with students to help them understand and cultivate interest in the sciences.

  • Worked with a professional teacher to prepare lessons to meet Indiana state standards.

  • Co-taught several classes and taught several more under supervision.

2008 – 2009 English Teacher, Hebei College of Finance, Baoding, Hebei Province, China

  • Prepared lessons and taught business and financial English to freshmen, sophomores and teachers with lectures and large group activities.

  • Engaged in cultural exchange and cooperative research with students and teachers

  • Co-founded the English club.

Archaeology Field Experience

Summer 2011 Anatolia Archaeology Field School, Purdue University, Gazipaşa, Turkey

  • Used GIS to analyse topography for best places to find ancient cedar tree pollen in a soil core.

  • Dug trenches and collected soils samples.

  • Recorded and analysed the soil profiles in the trenches.

  • Produced several diagrams and figures for publication related to the soil trenches.

  • Collected and recorded information on pottery sherds, tombstones, and other archaeological items of interest.

Professional Presentations

Akkemik, U., Caner H., Conyers, G., Rauh, N., Dillon, M.J., Karlioğlu, N., Theller, L.O., 2012, Landscape Ecology and the End of Antiquity: The Archaeology of Deforestation in South Coastal Turkey. Geomorphic Processes and Geoarchaeology: From Landscape Archaeology to Archaeotourism, Moscow-Smolensk, Russia.

Conyers, G., Granger, D. E. 2011. “Do fungi transport 10Be in wood degradation?” Geological Society of America, Northwest-Central Joint Meeting, PA .

Conyers, G., Guest Lecturer. 2008 “Trade Routes in and Around Asia”. Hebei College of Finance, Baoding, Hebei Province, China.

Conyers, G., J. Ogg. 2006. “Human Time Scale”. Undergraduate Poster Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Peer Review Publications

Akkemik, Ü., Caner, H., Conyers, G., Dillon, M., Karlioğlu N., Rauh, N., Theller, L. 2012 .Rough Cilicia Highland Archaeological Survey: Deforestation Research in 2011,ANMED Anadolu Akdenizi Arkeoloji Haberleri 2012-10 (News of Archaeology from Anatolia’s Mediterranean Areas), in press.

Akkemik, Ü., Caner, H., Conyers, G., Dillon, M., Doyle, M., Rauh, N., Theller, L. 2012. Landscape Ecology and the End of Antiquity: The Archaeology of Deforestation in South Coastal Turkey. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, in press.

Crow, S. E., Filley, T. R., McCormick, M., Szlavecz, K., Stott, D. E., Gamblin, D., Conyers, G. 2009 Invasive earthworms and forest successional stage interact to impact plant litter inputs and particulate organic matter chemistry. Biogeochemistry, 92:61-82 DOI 10.1007/s10533-008-9260-1

Meeting Abstracts

Granger, D. E., Conyers, G. 2012. “The importance of hickory trees (Carya) in biogeochemical cycling of meteoric 10Be”. Goldschmidt, Montréal, Canada

Conyers, G., Granger, D. E. 2010. “Do fungi transport 10Be in wood degradation?” American Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting, CA .

Conyers, G., Granger D.E. 2010. “Do fungi transport 10Be in wood degradation?” ESE Poster Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

A. Huang, G. Conyers, J. Ogg, 2009. “Viewing Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life Histories in Time Scale Creator”. Undergraduate Poster Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Crow, S.E., T.R. Filley, G. Conyers, D. Stott, M. McCormick, D. Whigham, D.L. Taylor. 2006. Potential rapid effects on soil organic matter characteristics and chemistry following a change in dominant litter inputs. American Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

G. Conyers, J. Ogg. 2006. “Human Time Scale”. Undergraduate Poster Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Grants and Scholarships

2012 Geoarchaeology 2012: Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology. Women in Science Travel Grant, to assist in travel to an academic conference, awarded to G. Conyers, $500

2012 Geoarchaeology 2012: Geomorphic processes and geoarchaeology. Departmental Travel Grant to assist in travelling to an academic conference, awarded to G. Conyers, $1000

2011 Anatolia Archaeology Field School. Provost’s Global Scholarship to assist in study abroad, awarded to G. Conyers, $1,000

2011 GK-12 PFF Program: Acids and bases in soils lab. Vice Provost for Engagement Student Grant Program, awarded to G. Conyers, $75

Awards and Honours

2009 2nd place in the Innovative Technology / Entrepreneurship & Design Award, A. Huang, G. Conyers, J. Ogg, “Viewing Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life Histories in Time Scale Creator”. Undergraduate Poster Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

2008 Certificate of Working Award, G. Conyers. Hebei College of Finance, Baoding, China.

2006 Dean’s Choice Award, G. Conyers, J. Ogg. “Human Time Scale”. Undergraduate Poster Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Professional Affiliations

2012 – present American Geographer Society (AGS)

2007 – present Geological Society of America (GSA)

2007 – 2016 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

2010 – 2014 American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Service

2019 – STEM Scouts Board of Directors

2013 – present Science Café host and organiser in Northern Indianapolis

2010 – present Science Olympiad

2010 – 2012 Imagination Station Science Museum community outreach volunteer

2004 – 2012 Purdue University Earth & Atmospheric Outreach Program volunteer