CURRICULUM VITAE
SKILLS
The ability to conduct scientific research in a laboratory and field setting. Advanced written and oral communication skills, demonstrated by communicating with clients, colleagues, and other professionals. Veterinary Nurse and veterinary student placement experience. Science interpretation skills reflected in my ability to convey complex ideals to an audience.
EDUCATION
December 2020
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
December 2014
Bachelor of Science in Biology (Zoology)
California State Polytechnic University Pomona, Pomona, CA, USA
August 2010 – June 2011
Spanish language and literature
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
VETERINARY WORK EXPERIENCE
July 2022 - Present
Recent Graduate Representative, Executive Committee of the Australian Small Animal Veterinarians (ASAV), Australian Veterinary Association.
The ASAV’s purpose is to support our members by providing leadership and direction in promoting the advancement of small animal veterinary practice. The ASAV is the largest special interest group within the AVA and represents members with interests in small animal veterinary practice.
January 2020 - August 2023
Veterinarian, RSPCA Victoria, Australia.
Providing high quality veterinary care to all sick and injured animals including shelter and private clinic patients, which involves facilitating veterinary consults for private clinic patients, desexing pre-adoption shelter animals and providing veterinary services to Inspectorate animals which have been subject to acts of cruelty.
April 2020 - December 2020
Veterinary Nursing Assistant, Advance Vetcare, Kensington, VIC, Australia.
Recording animal health status, keeping cages clean and sanitized, animal handling during medical procedures, walking and feeding animals, setting up fluid therapy and administering medications.
February 2019 - October 2020
Veterinary Nurse, Bird and Exotic Animal Clinic, Williamstown, VIC, Australia.
Administration of drugs, anaesthetics and injections in exotic animal species, preparing animals for surgery, holding and monitoring animals during operations, maintaining, sterilising and laying out surgical equipment, completing diagnostic tests, preparing and sending laboratory samples, taking radiographs, client education, reception and record keeping.
January 2019 - December 2019
Australian Veterinary Association Student Webinar Host.
Hosting veterinary webinars using Zoom technology, introducing speakers, and assisting viewers.
VETERINARY WORK PLACEMENTS AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
March 2021 - Present
January 2017 - November 2020
January 2020 - November 2020
Fenruary 2020 & January 2019
January 2020
September 2017
September 2012 - June 2014
Fall 2013
Veterinary Volunteer, Pets in the Park Organisation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Providing free veterinary consultation services and treatments to pets of people who are experiencing homelessness.
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Veterinary Nurse Volunteer, Pets in the Park Organisation, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Record keeping, assist veterinarians during examinations, consults, and treatments, TPR, and administering medications.
Veterinary Clinical Rotations. UVet Animal Hospital, Werribee, Australia. Rotations included: Anaesthesia, Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, Equine General Practice, Equine Referral Practice, Production Animal Practice, Radiology & Ultrasound, Shelter Medicine and Surgery, Small Animal Emergency Care, Small Animal Intensive Care, Small Animal Patient Care, Small Animal Primary Care, Small Animal Referral Medicine, Small Animal Referral Surgery, Veterinary Public Health, Veterinary Research.
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Veterinary Clinical Placement. Sunset Vet Animal Hospital, Bali, Indonesia. Assisted the veterinary team in consults, treatments, and surgical procedures.
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Veterinary Clinical Placement. Illawarra Animal Hospital, NSW, Australia. Assisted the veterinary team in consults, treatments, rehabilitation, and surgical procedures.
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Veterinary Clinical Placement. Lake Tyres, Victoria, Australia. Provided de-sexing and neutering, parasite control and general health checks of community pets in an indigenous mission.
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Foal Watch Volunteer, Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, Pomona CA, USA. Walk, groom, and help with veterinary visits for the mares and foals at the stables.
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Veterinary Job Shadow, Coast to Coast Cardiology Veterinary Service, Los Angeles CA, Prepared vaccinations and medications; assisted in taking X-rays; observed physical examination, treatments, and surgery.
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RESEARCH
Duke University Intern, Research Experience for Undergraduates.
June 2014–August 2014, Organization for Tropical Studies, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.
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Social Organization in Day and Night Roosts of the Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso).
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Individual signatures of the echolocation calls of the Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso).
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Using playback experiments to investigate the social significance of echolocation-like calls in the Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso).
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Undergraduate Researcher, Ronald E. McNair Scholar, A.K. Lappin Laboratory.
Intraspecific geographic variation of body size dimorphism in the Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea). December 2012 - February 2015. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA.
PUBLICATIONS
Coaching Cards for New Dog & Cat Owners, Smith Street Books | Publication date April 2023
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Coaching Cards for New Cat Parents includes 50 illustrated cards that cover the topics a new cat owner will need to know, including picking the best cat for your lifestyle, selecting the right food, dealing with issues like furniture scratching, and knowing when to visit a vet.
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Coaching Cards for New Dog Parents includes 50 illustrated cards that cover the topics a new dog owner will need to know, including picking the best dog for your lifestyle, selecting the right food, dealing with issues like separation anxiety, and knowing when to take your dog to the vet.
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Distribution in the US & Canada by Rizzoli New York, in Australia by Simon & Schuster, and in the UK by Abrams and Chronicle.
Gunther L, Lopez M, Kornschild M, Reid K, Nagy M, and Mayer F. From Research To Female Defence: The Impact of Roosting Ecology On A Bat's Mating Strategy. Royal Society Open Science 3.11 (2016): 160503.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS
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Marlena Lopez, Peter Muckton, Heath Stewart. Economic Forum. Veterinary Business Group Summit, Australian Veterinary Association, October 2020.
Lopez M, Nagy M. Social Organization in Day and Night Roosts of the Proboscis Bat (Rhynchonycteris naso).
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Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference, Washington D.C., USA (February 2015).
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Southern California Conference for Undergraduate Research, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA (November 2014).
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Southwest Organismal Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA (September 2014).
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La Selva Biological Station Summer Research Symposium, Costa Rica (August 2014).
Lopez M, Marino T, Lappin AK. Intraspecific geographic variation of body size dimorphism in the Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea).
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Ronald E. McNair 22nd Annual National Research Symposium, University of California Berkeley, CA, USA (June 2014).
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Cal Poly Pomona Ronald E. McNair Research Symposium, CA, USA (June 2014).
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Cal Poly Pomona Student Research Conference, CA, USA (March 2014).
Marino T, Lopez M, Lappin AK. A comparative analysis of sexual dimorphism in California Alligator Lizards (Elgaria): lineage and population level divergence in form and function. Cal Poly Pomona College of Science Student Research Poster Presentations, CA, USA (June 2014).
WORK EXPERIENCE
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Learning Assistant and Tutor, March-June 2014. Biology Learning Center, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA.
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Science Interpreter and Exotic Animal Tour Guide, January- March 2014. Biotrek, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA.
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Sales Associate, American Eagle Outfitters, San Francisco, USA, Sep 2008-June 2010. Implemented training for new employees and acted as lead associate on duty.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
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Laboratory Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Vertebrate Zoology (ZOO 238), Winter 2013. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA.
Learning Assistant and Tutor, March-June 2014. Biology Learning Center, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA.
LEADERSHIP
Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (SVECCS) First & Second Year Student Representative. The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. March 2015 – December 2015.
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Served as a student liaison, representing the interests of the first year cohort, as well as organized guest speakers and events.
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program President. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA. August 2013-August 2014.
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Managed and work with executive board to plan, organize, and publicize for an array of events and programs to promote cohort bonding, and community involvement.
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Regular meetings with the University President to manage funding and was able to successfully raise fifteen thousand dollars to send low income and first generation university students to present their research at a national conference
​Student Interest Council Representative. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA. August 2013-August 2014.
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Facilitated communication between university clubs and the associated student body, as well as organized and sponsored council meetings and events.
Cancer Awareness Fundraising Chair. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA. September 2012-June 2013.
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Organized monthly information booths on campus promoting health attention, planning meetings with club members, advisors, and members of the community to plan fundraisers on and off campus to support club activities as well as help people affected by cancer in our community.
Pre-Veterinary Club Vice President. San Francisco State University, CA. September 2009-August 2010.
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Organized volunteer activities at local zoos, animal shelters, and veterinary clinics for club members, as well as campus adoption days and fundraising activities.
HONORS AND AWARDS
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Best New Talent 2021-22, Dogie Award, in recognition and celebration of a contribution to building RSPCA Victoria’s profile in media and communication.
RSPCA SAVE Award Nomination for exceptional work at RSPCA Victoria, January 2022.
Veterinary Business Thought Leader of the Year 2020, Veterinary Business Group, Australian Veterinary Association
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Australian Small Animal Veterinary (ASAV) Association Student Scholarship 2020
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Australian Small Animal Veterinary (ASAV) Association Student Scholarship 2018
Guild Insurance Veterinary Student Ambassador​
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
Ernest Prete Jr. Environmental Science Student Research Fellowship
Kellogg Undergraduate Scholars Program (KUSP)
Beta Beta Beta Biological Sciences Honor Society
California State University, Pomona President’s Scholarship
TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS
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CPR: Basic Life Support by RECOVER Initiative (22/8/23)
Fear Free Veterinary Professional Certification (6/7/20)
CPR: Advanced Life Support by RECOVER Initiative (24/6/20)
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Animal Behaviour and Welfare by The University of Edinburgh on Coursera (4/7/2019)
Mental Health First First Aid Certificate (17/04/18)
​Large Animal Handling, GoTafe Certificate (10/07/2015)
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training
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Certified in Animal Biosafety (21/6/2013)
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Certified in When Working with Non-traditional Species (21/6/2013)
ACUC/EH&S Animal Safety and Training
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Risk Assessment Screening (21/6/2013)
MEMBERSHIPS
Australian Veterinary Association
Australian Small Animal Veterinary (ASAV) Association
Veterinary Business Group (VBG)