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General Information

Full Name Rachel M. Keeffe
Position Title Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Current Institution Mount Holyoke College

Education

  • 2022
    PhD
    University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
    • PhD Advisor - David C. Blackburn
    • Zoology
  • 2017
    BS
    University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
    • Major - Biology
    • Minor - Studio Art
    • Seven semesters live animal experience in the Hepetology Teaching Collections

Experience

  • 2022 - Present
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Mount Holyoke College
    • Co-instructor for Vertebrate Anatomy lab and lecture course with Dr. Patricia Brennan
    • Conducted research for PI’s NSF CAREER grant studying genital coevolution in snakes
  • 2018 - 2021
    Teaching Assistant
    University of Florida
    • Created, organized, and executed lab lessons for Herpetology & Vertebrate Biodiversity
    • Taught material via hands-on dissections, digital models, museum specimens, oral lecture
  • 2016
    REU Intern
    Clemson Universuty
  • 2015
    REU Intern
    Oregon State University
  • 2015
    Summer Intern
    Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

Books

  • 2019
    The Anthropology of Dragons - A Global Perspective

Honors and Awards

  • 2017
    • National Science Foundation - Graduate Research Program Fellowship
    • University of Florida Graduate Research Fellowship
    • Outstanding Student in Biology Award - University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • 2021
    • Florida Museum of Natural History Travel Award
    • Charlotte Mangum Student Support Program

Academic Interests

  • Biomechanics
    • X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morpholgy
    • Finite Element Analysis
  • Evolution
    • Phylogentic Comparative Methods
    • Morphmetrics

Other Interests

  • Hobbies: Illustraion, Reading, Cycling, Hiking, Keeping reptiles and amphibians