Rachel Laurie, MS student

Rachel Laurie, MS student MS candidate
Conservation Biology
Email Rachel

Personal Statement

I am interested in using field research in order to improve the lives of captive non-human primates in the sanctuary world. There are not nearly enough sanctuaries for the victims of bio-medical research, the pet trade, and the infants orphaned from human-wildlife conflicts. I hope to obtain a post as a director or manager of a sanctuary and therefore am passionate about increasing my working knowledge in a wide range of issues, including how primates establish and maintain mutually beneficial social relationships and how to prevent disease and parasite spread in captivity. Eventually, I hope to help tropical countries establish their own sanctuaries from obtaining funding to designing enrichment. I would like to aid in coordination of sanctuaries across regions and on an international level to increase standards in welfare and care. In addition, I would like to participate whenever ecologically and ethically responsible in the release of primates back into the wild.

Education

Antioch University New England, Keene NH
MS Candidate Conservation Biology
2008-Present

Salisbury University
BA International and Comparative Politics
Minor: Spanish
1999-2001, Summa Cum Laude
Ecuador Winter Semester Abroad

College International de Cannes
French Semester Abroad
September-November 2006

Internships, Volunteerism, Research

Volunteer, Moggil Koala Hospital, May-August 2008, Moggil, Australia

Provided temporary rehabilitative care for injured and ill wild koalas
Care included giving baths and eye washes, performing skin checks, applying topical treatments, administering oral medicines, handling koalas under general anesthetic, and performing routine keeper duties

Project Assistant, January- July 2006, Orangutan Health Project, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Led (with Indonesian guide) five day treks with volunteers to perform transects (nest counts)
Responsible for daily operations and logistics at a small research station, including coordinating efforts and budget of local staff
Oversaw the entirety of volunteer stay, including planning activities and supervising contributions

Primate Keeper (Volunteer), February-August 2005, Fundación Mona, Riudellots de la Selva, Spain

Responsible for the daily care of 11 chimpanzees and 3 macaques. Work included feeding, cleaning, behavioral observation and preparing enrichment
Additional responsibilities included translation of documents (Spanish to English) and Fundraising

Employment

Fund-raiser, May-August 2008, The Wilderness Society, Brisbane

Motivated mall shoppers and pedestrians to pledge funds to prominent environmental not-for-profit
Educated the public and received feedback on two major campaigns: Cape York World Heritage and Tasmania's Forests

Communications and Public Policy Intern, September-December 2005, The Wilderness Society Washington DC

Involved in successful campaign to defeat legislature that would have opened Arctic Wilderness to oil drilling.
Wrote official correspondence and co-wrote official opinion on conservation plan of a wildlife refuge.
Participated in promotion efforts for rally and art auction including designing all promotional material for art auction.

Environmental and Outdoor Educator, August-November 2004, Betsey Jeff Penn 4-H Center Reidsville NC

Planned and presented interactive and experiential learning for children in ecology and history.
Led children (4-8th grade) through adventure programming (high ropes, team challenges, canoeing, rock climbing)

Fire Education Corps Individual Placement, May-October 2003, Great Basin National Park Baker, Nevada, Americorps Award Recipient

Researched and presented weekly campfire programs for visitors on topics of regional concern in wildland fire; designed daily activities to promote fire knowledge
Performed outreach to the adjacent communities
Prepared text for informational brochure, Fire and the Great Basin and created a 30-page site report as guide for future placements
Mapped fireline with GPS/ GIS and participated in plant and tree surveys

Travel and Foreign Immersion:

French, Spanish, and Indonesian Language
Irish Monkey Sanctuary, Volunteer, Nov-Dec 2007
WWOOF, Volunteer, Portugal, January 2007
Independent Travel, Morocco, February 2007
WWOOF, Volunteer, Independent Travel, France April- June 2007
Independent Travel, Ireland/England/Latvia/ Russia/ China/Southeast Asia: January-April 2008

Last Updated: 5/19/09