Publications

My degree courses enhanced my technical report writing skills. I also attended a two-day scientific writing workshop, aimed for postgraduate researchers at the University of Kent, which enhanced my ability to write for specialist audiences. My ability to adapt my writing style to cater for specific audiences and in response to criteria set out by employers is demonstrated by my previous achievements as follows:

I wrote a technical report for Natural England characterising the distribution of Usnea florida (a UK BAP priority species of lichen) within a Nature Reserve in south west England. The purpose of the report was to inform management of the reserve and surrounding SSSI by Natural England and the Woodland Trust, as well as providing benchmark information for ongoing monitoring of the species at the site.

I wrote a 12,000 word thesis (entitled: “Anuran abundance, diversity and microhabitat use in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru”) detailing independent research I conducted for my undergraduate degree. I was awarded Upper Second Class Honours for this work.

I am second author to a peer reviewed publication (Upton, K et al. (2011) Amazonian frog diversity and microhabitat use. Herpetological Bulletin 118: 10 – 17) which was written based on the results of my undergraduate research project.

I was commissioned and wrote a promotional article for the Dartmoor Chilli Farm website describing the non-intensive and environmentally friendly cultivation practices adopted by the company, as well as the benefits these reflect on nature conservation.

I wrote a 30,000 word thesis (entitled: “Valuing the mangroves of north east Madagascar; an interdisciplinary perspective”) detailing independent research I conducted for my postgraduate degree.

I have taken the lead on at least one of the four research publications that are currently being written based on the results of a Temple University (Philadelphia, USA) biological sciences project (entitled: “The effects of natural resource use on biodiversity in Madagascar”) on which I worked as lead Project Manager and Researcher from May to August 2013.

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