EDUCATION
Fall 2015 - Spring 2022
CLARK UNIVERSITY
Doctor of Philosophy, Biology
Advisor: Dr. Philip Bergmann
Fall 2011 - Spring 2014
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
Bachelors of Science, Biology
Research and WORK Positions
August 2014 - Present
SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATOR and DESIGNER
Basiliskos: San Diego, CA
Sole Proprietor, freelance scientific illustrator and graphic designer. Collaborates with scientists in the development of figures for manuscripts, designing of academic posters and PowerPoints, and other science communication pieces for both academic and general audiences.
August 2015 - May 2022
GRADUATE RESEARCHER
Clark University: Worcester, MA
Developed and conducted experiments based on functional morphology and biomechanics in locomotion of animals. Wrote manuscripts describing research findings and presented research at conferences. Collaborated with principle investigator and mentored undergraduate students.
January 2015 - June 2015
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
BioTox Sciences: San Diego, CA
Executing in-vivo pharmacokinetics, toxicology, physiology, and behavior based studies.
Model Organisms: mouse, rat, rabbit, canine, porcine, and non-human primate
June 2013 - August 2014
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
University of California, Riverside
Advisor: Dr. Tim Higham
Assisted lab members with research projects: data collection and filming related to terrestrial and aquatic biomechanics.
Model organism: lizards and centrarchid fishes
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Cheu AY, Reed SA, Mann SD, and Bergmann PJ. 2022. Performance and kinematic differences between terrestrial and aquatic running in Anolis sageri. Integrative and Comparative Biology 62: 840-851.
PUBLISHED ILLUSTRATIONS
Easterling C.M., Kolman M.A., and O’Donnell M.K. 2022. The Lesser-Known Transitions: Organismal Form and Function across Abiotic Gradients. Integrative and Comparative Biology 62: 829-839.
Cheu AY, Reed SA, Mann SD, and Bergmann PJ. 2022. Performance and kinematic differences between terrestrial and aquatic running in Anolis sageri. Integrative and Comparative Biology 62: 840-851.
Aguilar L.K., Collins C.E, Ward C.V, and Hammond A.S. 2022. Pathways to primate hip function. Royal Society Open Science 9: 211762.
McGowan C.P. and Collins C.E. 2018. Why do mammals hop? Understanding the ecology, biomechanics and evolution of bipedal hopping. Journal of Experimental Biology 211.
Higham, T.E., R.W. Clark, C.E. Collins, M.D. Whitford, and G.A. Freymiller. 2017. Rattlesnakes are extremely fast and variable when striking at kangaroo rats in nature: Three-dimensional high-speed kinematics at night. Scientific Reports. 7, 40412.
Higham, T.E., A. Birn-Jeffery, C.E. Collins, C.D. Hulsey, and A.P. Russell. 2015. Adaptive simplification and the evolution of gecko locomotion: Morphological and biomechanical consequences of losing adhesion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112
Integrative and Comparative Biology. 55, Cover image
Higham, T.E., W.J. Stewart, and P.C. Wainwright. 2015. Turbulence, temperature, and turbidity: The ecomechanics of predator-prey interactions in fishes. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 55, 6-20
Non-Academic Clients
Western Massachusetts Climbers’ Coalition
CRAG-Vermont
Presentations AND SEMINARS:
Cheu AY. and Bergmann PJB. Choose your own adventure: Performance and kinematics of multiple climbing and swimming strategies in lizards. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Virtual. Jan-Feb 2021, Talk, Contributed.
Cheu, AY. and Bergmann, PJ. 2019. Ontogenetic Allometry of Locomotor Performance in Basilisks. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference (SICB), Tampa, FL, USA, Poster.
Cheu, AY. 2018. Functional Implications of Ontogenetic Growth. Bumpus Symposium. Clark University, MA, USA. Poster.
Cheu, AY. 2018. Complex form-function relationships in basilisk lizard locomotion. Biology Departmental Seminar. Clark University, MA, USA. Oral.
Cheu, AY. and Bergmann, PJ. 2018. Basilisk Olympics: Multiple modes of locomotion influences the degree of functional constraint in a trait. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference (SICB), San Francisco, CA, USA, Oral.
Cheu, AY. 2017. Functional implications of ontogenetic scaling. Northeast Regional Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), Lowell, MA, USA. Oral.
Cheu, AY. 2017. Electromyography: Quantifying muscle activity patterns. Bumpus Symposium. Clark University, MA, USA. Oral.
Cheu, AY. and Bergmann, PJ. 2017. Increasing complexity when considering multiple modes of locomotion. Multidisciplinary Conference, Clark University, MA, USA. Poster.
Cheu, AY. and Bergmann, PJ. 2017. Increasing complexity when considering multiple modes of locomotion. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference (SICB), New Orleans, LA, USA. Poster.
Holden, RH, Cheu, AY., and Bergmann, PJ. 2017. Performance variation in basilisk lizards during different aquatic modes of locomotion. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), New Orleans, LA, USA. Poster.
Cheu, AY. 2016. Complex Form-Function Relationships in Whole Organism Performance. Bumpus Symposium. Clark University, MA, USA. Oral.
Teaching experience
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR Instructor of Record, Assumption University
BIO 310 Lecture – Animal Behavior (Fall 2019)
BIO 310 Lab – Animal Behavior (Fall 2019)
GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT, Clark University
BIOL 101 - Introductory Biology (Fall 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021)
BIOL 102 - Introductory Biology II (Spring 2021 - virtual)
BIOL 084 - Biodiversity (Spring 2016)
BIO 111 - Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy (Spring 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 - Virtual)
LECTURES, Clark University
BIO 111 – Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy, Spring 2018, 2020
"Musculoskeletal System"
BIO 111 – Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy, Spring 2019:
"Heterochrony and Scaling", "Musculoskeletal System", "Locomotion on Land", "Locomotion in Water & Air"
SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP, Clark University
Primary coordinator and instructor, Summer 2018, Summer 2019
Three day NSF-funded workshop in scientific illustration for non-art trained scientists. Focuses on technical drawing, traditional media, and digital media.
AWARDS
TRAVEL
2020: Clark University Biology Travel Award - $100 (Covid)
2019: Clark University Biology Travel Award - $500
2018: Clark University Biology Travel Award - $500
2017: Clark University Biology Travel Award - $500
ACADEMIC Services and OUTREACH
GRADUATE MENTORSHIP, Clark University
Rob Holden (Winter 2016 - May 2017) - MS Student
UNDEGRADUATE MENTORSHIP, Clark University
Hannah Guss (Fall 2019 - Fall 2022)
Isabel Tonelli-Sippel, MS (Fall 2018 - Spring 2021)
Kristen Glennie (Summer 2017 - Spring 2018)
Lana Le (Spring 2017 - Spring 2018)
Mary Molloy (Fall 2016 - Winter 2017)
Muhaj Azeez (Winter 2016 - Summer 2016)
Jordan Majka (Winter 2016 - Summer 2016)
CLARK UNIVERSITY SERVICES
Graduate Student Association (Fall 2015 - Present)
GSA Biology Department Representative (Fall 2017 - Spring 2019)
GSA Travel Award Judge (Fall 2017)
OTHER OUTREACH
Sherman Fairchild Summer Research Program. Clark University, MA
Imaging Across the Scales, Workshop: Summer 2017
Digestive System Anatomy Demo for University Park Campus School, MA
Anatomy demonstration for 9th graders: Spring 2017
Professional development
Diversity and Inclusion Certificate, Clark University
Workshops taken (Spring 2020-Spring 2021): Historical Overview: Power, Privilege and Oppression, Mental Health Stigma and the "Otherness" of Mental Illness, Social Construction of Race and Class, Racial Equity at Clark/Equitable Support for Students of Color, Microaggressions and the Workplace, Supporting International Students: Moving from Awareness to Competence, Introduction to Gender and Sexuality, AccessAbility: A Historical Overview.
ACADEMIC MEMBERSHIPS
SOCIETY OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY 2017 - Present
TECHNICAL SKILLS
* indicates high proficiency
SOFTWARE
Adobe Creative Programs* (Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, InDesign)
Additional Art Software* (Paint Tool SAI, GIMP)
Matlab, R Statistical Software*
Microsoft Office* (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher)
SignalExpress 2015*
EQUIPMENT / TECHNIQUES
Highspeed video cameras* (Photon FASTCAM, Phantom, CASIO, AOS)
Digital SLR Cameras* (All Canon models)
Electromyography*, Sonomicrometry
In-vivo dosing* (reptiles, rodent, porcine, canine, non-human primate) via: IM, IP, SQ, IV, Oral
Animal Husbandry* (reptiles, rodents, fish)
REFERENCES
Dr. PHILIP BERGMANN (Advisor)
Associate Professor
Clark University
Department of Biology
Worcester, MA 01610
pbergmann@clarku.edu
Dr. Elizabeth Bone
Associate Teaching Professor
Clark University
Department of Biology
Worcester, MA 01610
ebone@clarku.edu
Dr. NEVA MEYER
Associate Professor
Clark University
Department of Biology
Worcester, MA 01610
nmeyer@clarku.edu