CV Last Updated: 3.6.18
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Lauren C. Breza
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
56 College Rd • 114 James Hall • Durham, NH • 03824
lb1064 [at] wildcats.unh.edu • laurenbreza.com
Education
Ph.D. University of New Hampshire, NRESS, Exp. 2020
Soil Biogeochemistry, Soil Fertility, Agroecology
Major Professor: Dr. A. Stuart Grandy
M.S. University of Tennessee, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2015
Ecosystem Ecology, Ecosystem Genetics, Phylogenetics
Major Professor: Dr. Joseph K. Bailey
B.S. University of Tennessee, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2011
Ecosystem Ecology
Academic Advisors: Drs. Aimée T. Classen & Nathan J. Sanders
Publications
Mueller, L.O., L.C. Breza, M.A. Genung, C. Giardina, N.E. Stone, L. C. Sidak-Loftis, J.D. Busch, D.M. Wagner, J.K. Bailey, J.A. Schweitzer. (2017) Ecosystem consequences of plant genetic divergence with colonization of new habitat. Ecosphere. DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1743
Breza L.C., L. Souza, N.J. Sanders, and A.T. Classen. (2012) Within and between population variation in plant traits predict ecosystem functions associated with a dominant plant species. Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.223
Kuebbing S., M.A. Rodriguez-Cabal, D. Fowler, L. Breza, J.A. Schweitzer, J.K. Bailey. (2012) Resource availability and plant diversity explain patterns of invasion of an exotic grass. Journal of Plant Ecology. DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rts018
Presentations
Breza L.C., 2017. J. Schnecker, T.M. Bowles, and A.S. Grandy. Soil management practices drive microbial uptake of carbon and nitrogen in agricultural soils. Ecological Society of America annual meeting, Portland, OR. USA. Poster presentation.
Breza L.C., 2015. A novel adaptive landscape: Urbanization as an Evolutionary Force. Departmental Exit Seminar. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. University of Tennessee. Knoxville, TN. USA. Oral presentation.
Breza L.C., J.A. Schweitzer, J.K. Bailey. 2014. Fragmentation drives selection in a model system. University of Kentucky, Annual Spring Symposium in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. Lexington, KY. USA. Oral presentation.
Breza L.C., L. Souza, N.J. Sanders, and A.T. Classen. 2011. Within and between population variation in plant traits predict ecosystem functions associated with a dominant plant species. University of Tennessee Office of Research undergraduate research symposium, Knoxville, TN, USA. Poster presentation
Breza L.C., L. Souza, and A.T. Classen. 2010. Intra-specific variation in ecosystem function of an old-field system. Association of Southeastern Biologists annual meeting, Asheville, NC, USA. Oral presentation.
Breza L.C., L. Souza, and A.T. Classen. 2010. Intra-specific variation in ecosystem function of an old-field system. University of Tennessee Office of Research undergraduate research symposium, Knoxville, TN, USA. Poster presentation.
Research Experience
2016-present – PhD Student, Soil Biogeochemistry Lab
Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire, Durham
Field and laboratory experimental design, soil sampling, soil analyses
2013-2015 – Masters Student, Ecosystem Genetics Lab
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Meta-analysis design and implementation, field, laboratory, and greenhouse experimental design, soil analyses, plant propagation
2012-2013 – Lab Technician, Ecosystem Ecology Lab
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Responsible for maintaining instrumentation, designing and performing field and lab experiments, maintaining organization, and ordering inventory.
2010-2011 – Post-Bachelor Intern
Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN
Undertook field and laboratory responsibilities essential for project goals
2010 – Undergraduate Intern
Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, TN
Assisted greenhouse manager and maintained experimental greenhouse plants
2006-2010 – Undergraduate Researcher
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Collected field samples, processed samples, and carried out laboratory analyses
Honors and Awards
2014 — University of Tennessee, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology $1,700
Departmental Research Grand & Chancellor Funds
2013 — University of Tennessee, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology $1,600
Departmental Research Grand & Chancellor Funds
2013 — Fellow, National Science Foundation $126,000
Graduate Research Fellowship Program
2011 — University of Tennessee, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Outstanding Undergraduate
2009 — Fellow, University of Tennessee Office of Research $2,000
Undergraduate Research Fellowship
2008 — Fellow, University of Notre Dame, GLOBES Program $4,500
Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellowship
Teaching and Outreach
2016-present — Co-coordinator, Women in Science, Student Organization
University of New Hampshire, Durham
2016 — Spring TA, Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ecology (BIOL 412)
University of New Hampshire, Durham
2015 — Fall TA, Organismal and Ecological Biology (BIO 150)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2015 — Summer Instructor on Record, General Ecology Lab (BIO 269)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2014 — Spring TA, Introduction to Biodiversity (BIO 130)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2013 — Fall TA, Introduction to Biodiversity (BIO 130)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2013-2015 — Board Member & Volunteer, Slow Food Tennessee Valley, Non-profit
Knoxville, TN
2011-2015 — Trail Builder & Volunteer, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, Non-profit
Knoxville, TN
2009-2010 — Departmental Char, Dean’s Student Advisory Committee, College of Arts & Sciences
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2009-2010 — Co-President and founder, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate Organization
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
References
Dr. A. Stuart Grandy
Associate Professor
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Email: Stuart.Grandy@unh.edu
Dr. Joseph K. Bailey
Associate Professor
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Email: Joe.Bailey@utk.edu
Phone: 865.974.0864
Dr. Aimée T. Classen
Associate Professor
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
University of Vermont
Email: Aimee.Classen@uvm.edu