BioSketch

Seth I. Wollney

Doctoral Student, Department of Biology

College of Staten Island, City University of New York (CSI, CUNY)

2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314

Tel: 718.982.3858; Fax: 718.982.5831; seth.wollney@csi.cuny.edu

Education

College of Staten Island,                       Biology                    BS 2013

City University of New York, NY                

Graduate Center,                                    Biology                   Master of Philosophy, 2016
City University of New York, NY

Graduate Center,                                    Biology                   PhD, 2019 (expected)

City University of New York, NY         Ecology, Evolutionary Biology

                                                               And Behavior

APPOINTMENTS
2018-2019       College of Staten Island, City University of New York 
                        Substitute Lecturer

2014-2018       College of Staten Island, City University of New York 

                        Graduate Assistant A and B
                        Adjunct Professor

2001-2013       Staten Island Museum, Staten Island, NY                                   

                        Program Associate

Publications

 

PRODUCTS

1. Wollney, S. I. 2015. An Environmental DNA (eDNA) Approach to Discovering Life in NYC Ponds, https://experiment.com/NYCeDNA
2. Nie, Y.M., Wollney, S.I., Naro-Macial, E, Environmental DNA Analysis of Freshwater Ponds on Staten Island. Poster presentation, Undergraduate Research Conference, College of Staten Island, New York, April 2015
3. Wollney, S. I., Naro-Maciel, E. 2013. Colonization of reconstructed habitat at Freshkills Landfill by painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), poster presentation, International Congress for Conservation Biology, Society of Conservation Biology, July 2013, Baltimore, MD
4. Naro-Maciel, E., Ashe, J., Mafla, J.S., Pantophlet, J., Sutton, J., Viola, E., Wollney, S.I. 2013, Feeding ecology of freshwater turtles at the reclaimed Freshkills Landfill: Insights from stable isotope analysis. Poster presentation, International Congress for Conservation Biology, Society of Conservation Biology, July 2013, Baltimore, MD
5. Wollney, S. I., Naro-Maciel, E. 2013 Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) ecology at Freshkills Landfill. Poster presentation, Undergraduate Research Conference, College of Staten Island, New York, April 2013

SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES

1. Broadening participation in science through mentoring activities. Urban Barcode Research Project Co-Mentor (CSI, CUNY): 7 students from Staten Island Academy, Staten Island Technical High School, Tottenville High School, 2013-present; Research Apprentice Co-Mentor, College of Staten Island, 2013-present; Taxon Leader for BioBlitz hosted by Macaulay Honors College, CUNY 2014-2017, 2019; Freshkills Turtle Project research assistant co-PI 2012-present; Teen Environmental Club at the Staten Island Museum (2007-2011).

2. Broadening participation in science through cultivation of citizen science initiatives.

Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas, Coordinator, 2008-present; Staten Island Christmas Bird Count, territory leader, 2002-present; New York Horseshoe Crab Monitoring Network, site coordinator, 2010-2012; Staten Island Big Day Bird Count, compiler/coordinator, 2012-present; Staten Island NaturaList listserv, owner/moderator, 2006-present; Section of Natural History of the Staten Island Museum, field secretary and president, 2004-2013.

3. Innovation in teaching:

Integrating Evidence-Based Teaching into existing courses: General Biology at College of Staten Island, 2014-2015.

Curricular development: Earth Camp at Staten Island Museum 2006-2013, including development of science writing module and ‘hands on’ science teaching activities

4. Service to the scientific community:

Freshkills Park Science Advisory Committee, member, 2015-2017; Staten Island Rare Bird and Checklist Committee, chair, 2008-present; Greenbelt Environmental Education and Nature Center Advisory Committee, Greenbelt Conservancy, member, 2015-present.

COLLABORATORS & OTHER AFFILIATIONS (within last 48 months)

Collaborators: Naro-Maciel, E, College of Staten Island, Mehr, S, AMNH and Old Westbury SUNY, DeSalle, R, AMNH, Joyner, J, Brooklyn College, CUNY.

Graduate Advisor: Eugenia Naro-Maciel, College of Staten Island and Graduate Center, CUNY (doctoral advisor), Richard R. Veit, College of Staten Island and Graduate Center, CUNY (doctoral committee member), William Wallace, College of Staten Island and Graduate Center, CUNY (doctoral committee member).

MEDIA:

2015           Audubon Magazine, New York’s Freshkills Gets A Epic Facelift

                   NY1, College Students Aim to Preserve Island Ponds

                   DNAinfo, Biologist Raises Funds to Study Health of Staten Island Ponds

                   Staten Island Advance, Student scientist needs Islanders to jump into the pond

2013           NY1, Turtles Provide Vital Clues About Fresh Kills' Ecological Recovery

                   CSI Today, Turtles of the Freshkills Park Reclaimed Ecosystem

                   Happenings in the Sciences, College of Staten Island Researchers’ study Fresh Kill’s Ecological Recovery