EDUCATION:

• 1997-2002 - Ph.D. in Zoology and Genetics, Iowa State University (with Dr. Fredric Janzen)
• 1996 - M.S. in Biology, The University of Texas at El Paso (with Dr. Carl Lieb and Dr. Jerry Johnson)
• 1992 - B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Texas A&M University (with Dr. James Dixon)

RESEARCH:

Iowa State University

• Ph.D. research in molecular evolution focusing on the molecular evolution of softshell turtles (Apalone)
• Ph.D. research in zoology and genetics focusing on genetic patterns and processes in hybrid zones.
• Genetic variability in Thamnophis sirtalis and its implications on its biogeography.

The University of Texas at El Paso

• M.S. research in biology with a focus on systematic herpetology. Thesis work focused on the variation, systematics, and interspecific position of Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Xenodontidae).
• Parasite loads in sympatric species of Cnemidophorus with Dr. Carl Lieb and Christine Carranza.

Texas A&M University

• Geographic variation in Haliplid beetles (Fam. Haliplidae).
• Survey of lacustrine and riparian habitats of the endangered Concho Water Snake, Nerodia harteri paucimaculata with Dr. James R. Dixon and the Colorado River Municipal Water District.
• The effects of different timber harvesting practices on the herpetological fauna.
• Assessing populations of the endangered Houston Toad, Bufo houstonensis, by call recognition and identification with Horizon Environmental Services, Inc., Espey, Huston & Associates, Inc. and Texas Power and Light.
• Survey of the animal fauna in the state of Taumalipas, Mexico.
• Specimen preparations in the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection.

FIELD EXPERIENCE:

• 2004 - Population sampling of turtles and tissue collecting for DNA extraction in northern Mexico
• 2001 - Trapping turtles for tissue collection in Montana
• 2000 - Trapping turtles for tissue collection in Texas and Oklahoma
• 1997 - 1998 - Monitoring a nesting population of painted turtles, Chrysemys picta, at the Thompson Causeway, Thompson, IL.
• 1995 - On site collection of Cnemidophorus lizards, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
• 1995 - Teaching assistant for undergraduate field study in Puerto Penasco, Mexico.
• 1995 - Teaching assistant for undergraduate field study at the Indio Mountains Research Station, Van Horne, TX.
• 1994 - Teaching assistant for undergraduate field study in Puerto Penasco, Mexico.
• 1994 - Teaching assistant for undergraduate field study at the Indio Mountains Research Station, Van Horne, TX.
• 1993 - On-site call identification of anurans, Bastrop and Robertson counties, TX.
• 1992 - Mark and recapture studies of the herpetofauna using drift fences, funnel traps and pit-fall traps, East Texas.
• 1991 - Mark and recapture study of snakes of the genus Nerodia using PIT (Passive intergrade transponder) tags, radio telemetry, funnel traps and scale clipping, Texas.
• 1990 - On-site study and collection of Haliplid beetles, East Texas.
• 1990 - Mammal surveying using Sherman, Hav-a-heart, and funnel traps, Quitman, Texas and Taumalipas, Mexico.
• 1990 - Bird banding using mist nets, Mad island biological reserve, TX.

 LAB EXPERIENCE:

• Molecular: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA's (RAPD's) analysis.
•  Curatorial: Preparation of reptiles, amphibians, mammals and insects for collections.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

• DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College)
  • Biol 133 - Principles of Human Anatomy
  • Biol 134 - Principles of Human Physiology
  • Biol 126 - Field Biology
  • Biol 118 - Environmental Conservation
  • Biol 119 - Environmental Conservation Lab
• ISU (Iowa State University)
  • Molecular Phylogenetics
  • Evolutionary Genetics lecture and laboratory
  • Principles of Biology I laboratory
  • Principles of Biology II laboratory
  • Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology (2 semester)
  • Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab
• EPCC (El Paso Community College)
  • Concepts in Biology I lecture and laboratory
  • Concepts in Biology II lecture and laboratory
• UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso)
  • Human Biology laboratory
  • Biology for education majors lecture and lab
  • Field Biology
  • Graduate seminar
  • Zoology laboratory
  • Ecology laboratory
  • Anatomy and Physiology I laboratory
  • Anatomy and Physiology II laboratory
  • Biology laboratory for majors
  • Biology laboratory for non-majors 

PRESENTATIONS:

• 2000 - The state of the formalin barrier address. ASIH/SSAR/HL/AES/CAH annual meeting
• 1999 - Breaking down the formalin barrier: The use of preserved specimens in molecular analysis. ASIH/SSAR/HL/AES/CAH annual meeting.
• 1998 - Hognose snakes and the gulf coast corridor: An explanation of pattern or another spandrel? Animal Ecology Departmental seminar series, ISU.
• 1998 - A reevaluation of the subspecies within the western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus. ASIH/SSAR/HL/AES/CAH annual meeting.
• 1997 - Teaching population genetics in the lab. National Association of Biology Teachers.
• 1996 - Breaking the formalin barrier. Southwestern Association of Naturalists.
• 1995 - The Taxonomic Status of the Dusty Hognose Snake, Heterodon nasicus gloydi (Serpentes: Colubridae). Southwestern Association of Naturalists.
• 1994 - Geographic Variation in the Western Hognose Snake, Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Colubridae). Southwestern Association of Naturalists.
• 1993 - The Natural History of the Concho Water Snake, Nerodia harteri paucimaculata. El Paso Herpetological Society.
• 1993 - Preliminary Analysis of Geographic Variation in the Western Hognose Snake, Heterodon nasicus. Texas Herpetological Society.

MEETINGS ATTENDED:

• 2000 - Joint meeting of the ASIH and SSAR, La Paz, Mexico
• 1999 - Evolutionary Diversification: Insights from Studies of Geographic Variation and Hybridization, Columbia, Missouri.
• 1999 - Joint meeting of the ASIH and SSAR, State College, Pennsylvania.
• 1998 - Joint meeting of the ASIH and SSAR, Guelph, Canada.
• 1998 - Texas Herpetological Society meeting, Tyler, TX.
• 1997 - National Association of Biology Teachers meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
• 1997 - Texas Herpetological Society meeting, Tyler, TX.
• 1996 - Texas Herpetological Society meeting, El Paso, TX.
• 1996 - Southwest Association of Naturalists meeting, McAllen, TX.
• 1995 - Texas Herpetological Society meeting, Alpine, TX.
• 1995 - Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologist's League, Athens, GA.
• 1994 - Southwest Association of Naturalists meeting, Shreveport, LA.
• 1993 - Texas Herpetological Society meeting, Arlington, TX.
• 1993 - Southwest Association of Naturalists meeting, Emporia, KS.
• 1993 - Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologist's League, Austin, TX.
• 1991 - Texas Society of Mammalogists meeting, Junction, TX.
• 1991 - Bat Conservation International meeting, Austin, TX.
• 1991 - Southwest Association of Naturalists meeting, Junction, TX.

PUBLICATIONS:

• Eckerman, C. M. 1995. Geographic distribution. Gastrophryne olivacea (Great Plains Narrowmouth toad). Herpetol. Rev. 26(4):207.
• Eckerman, C. M. 1996. Variation, systematics, and interspecific position of Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Xenodontidae). Unpublished M.S. thesis, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 198 pp.
• Pearse, D. E., C.M. Eckerman, F.J. Janzen and J.C. Avise. 2001. A genetic analogue of mark-recapture methods for estimating local population size: an approach based on molecular parentage assessments. Molecular Ecology 10:2711-2718.
• Smith, H.M. D. Chiszar, C.M. Eckerman and H. D. Walley. The taxonomic status of the mexican hognose snake, Heterodon kennerlyi Kennicott (1860). Journal of Kansas Herpetology, 5 (March 2003):17-20.
• Walley, H. D. and C. M. Eckerman. 1997. Heterodon nasicus. Catalogue of American amphibians and reptiles, (In press).
• Webb, R. G. and C. M. Eckerman. 1998. Neotype and type locality of the western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Colubridae). The Texas Journal of Science, 50(2):99-106.
• Whiting, M. J., B. D. Greene, J. R. Dixon, A. L. Mercer, C. M. Eckerman. 1992. Observation on the foraging ecology of the Western Coachwhip Snake, Masticophus flagellum testaceus. The Snake (24) 2.