PERFIL - ELMA KAY
Presidente Capitulo Belice - SMBC
Elma E. Kay
Natural Resources Management Program
Faculty of Science and Technology
University of Belize
P.O. Box 340, Belmopan
Belize, Central America
EDUCATION
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biology Dissertation: Floral Evolutionary Ecology of Caribbean passionflowers. |
1997-2003 |
| Division of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO. | |
| Graduate Certificate in Tropical Ecology and Conservation | 1998-2003 |
| International Center for Tropical Ecology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO. | |
| Master of Science (Research), Biology. | 1995-1997 |
| Cell and Molecular Regulation, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO. | |
| Bachelor of Science, Biology & Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry | 1993-1995 |
| Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO. | |
| Associate of Science | 1991-1993 |
| Saint John’s College Sixth Form, Belize City, Belize, Central America. | |
Professional Experience
Lecturer - Science Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize, Belmopan Central Campus.
- Teach Biology and Natural Resources Management undergraduate courses (General Botany, Ecology & Evolution, Biodiversity, Tropical Forest Ecology, Terrestrial Research Design and Field Methods)
- Advising and mentoring students
- Develop scientific research program in Biology and Natural Resources Management, in collaboration with local and international NGO’s and institutions
- Organize field courses, trips, training programs, workshops and seek and manage all funds associated with these
- Conduct field research in botany, ecology and natural resources management
Principal Expert - Global Environmental Outlook (GEO) Belize Project, United Nations Environment Programme
- Collaborate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment on the development of an Environmental Outlook Report (GEO Belize) for the country
- Build capacity among stakeholders for environmental reporting through the organization and delivery of workshops
- Collaborate and consult with stakeholders on the elaboration of the GEO Belize report
Field Scientist - Darwin Initiative Secondary Forest Project, Wildtracks, Belize
- Collection and identification of plants at three sites in Belize including Cockscomb. Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Fireburn and Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
- Provide methodologies for data collection and analysis
Research Associate - Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG), St. Louis, MO
- Build MBG plant collections from Belize.
- Act as passionflower family expert
- Identify and collaborate on plant research projects that are mutually beneficial to Belize and MBG
Laboratory Manager/Postdoctoral Research Fellow - E. Desmond Lee and Family Laboratory of Molecular Systematics, Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis.
- Managed and reported on all lab grants ($400,000 USD + per year) and account balances
- Trained and supervised 20+ graduate students and visiting scientists conducting research
- Studied diversity and relationships among grasses and the evolution of reproductive systems and floral development in passionflowers
- Maintained communication with organizations outside the University on expenses related to their students or visiting scientists
Conservation Education Intern - Biblioteca Ambiental de Niños (BAN), Centro de Conservación de Biodiversidad de Guatemala (CCBG), Guatemala.
- Designed and taught conservation ecology classes at primary schools in Guatemala
- Participated in administrative and operational aspects of a Non-Governmental Organization (CCBG)
Research Assistant/ PhD candidate - Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO.
- Wrote and submitted numerous grant proposals
- Prepared publications and presentations
- Conducted fieldwork throughout the Greater Antilles and in parts of Central America, in diverse habitats (wet forests, savannas, dry coastal forests) and on numerous groups (plants, hummingbirds and bats)
- Studied distributions and assessed populations of rare endemic species
- Collaborated with local conservation partners when doing fieldwork
Volunteer Taxonomist – The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center (TEC), Belize.
- Collected, identified and prepared plant specimens for a TEC herbarium and the National herbarium
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Interim President - Belize Chapter of the Sociedad Mesomaricana para la Biología y Conservación (SMBC)
- Establish a new chapter of the SMBC in Belize
- Build up the professional, institutional and student membership of the Belize SMBC Chapter
- Organize a scientific research forum on natural resources management in Belize
Chairperson - Human Resources Committee, University of Belize Faculty and Staff Association (UBFSA), University of belize (UB), Belmopan
- Assist in the development of a UBFSA Strategic Plan
- Lead the coordination of activities outlined in the UBFSA strategic plan that benefit faculty and staff
- Liase with the University Administration to provide orientation to new faculty members and seek professional training opportunities for faculty and staff
- Assist in the revision of the UB Faculty and Staff Handbook and criteria for promotion
SELECTED GRANTS AND AWARDS
| Grant for multi-institution delegation to attend X Congreso de la Sociedad Mesoamericana para la Biología y la Conservación (SMBC) in Antigua, Guatemala, Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), Belize | 2006 |
| Training Grant for Scenario Development Workshop in Cuba, PACT, Belize | 2006 |
| Elizabeth E. Bascom Fellowship for Latin American Women Scientists, Missouri Botanical Garden | 2006 |
| St. Louis Rainforest Advocates Conservation Grant, St. Louis, Missouri | 2002-2003 |
| Alwyn Gentry Award for Best Poster Presentation, Association for Tropical Biology Meeting, Panama City, Panama | 2002 |
| Dr. Mary Louise Adams’ Dissertation Fellowship, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri | 2002 |
| Mickey Scudder Scholarship in Field Biology, Webster Groves Nature Society, St. Louis, Missouri | 2001 |
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Kay, Elma E., A. D. Doust and P. B. Bernhardt. Pollination, self -incompatibility and andromonoecy in Passiflora perfoliata L. (Passifloraceae). In prep. Plant Systematics and Evolution.
Sánchez-Ken, J. Gabriel, L. G. Clark, E. A. Kellogg and E. E. Kay. 2007. Reinstatement and emendation of the subfamily Micrairoideae (Poaceae). Systematic Botany 32(1): 72-80.
Kay, Elma E. 2003. Floral Evolutionary Ecology of Passiflora spp.: subgenus Murucuia, Pseudomurucuja and Astephia (Passifloraceae). Ph.D. Dissertation, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri.
Kay, Elma E. 2001. Observations on the Pollination of Passiflora penduliflora. Biotropica 33(4): 709-713.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
Kay, Elma E. 2006. Women in Science (Invited presentation), Galen University, Belize.
Kay, Elma E. 2006. Passionflowers and their pollinators. University of Belize, Belize.
Kay, Elma E. and P. Bernhardt. 2004. Passionflower pollination and the utility of a phylogenetic approach. Contributed Paper. Botany Meeting, Snowbird, Utah.
SELECTED WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS
X Congreso de la Sociedad Mesoamericana para la Biología y Conservación, Antigua, Guatemala, October, 2006
Scenario Development Workshop, United Nations Environment Programme, Havana Cuba, August, 2006
Belize National Marine Science Symposium, Hugh Parkey Foundation, Belize Biltmore Plaza, Belize, Central America, January, 2006
Workshop on National Research Priorities, University of Belize's Natural Resource Management Program, University of Belize, Belize, Central America, April, 2006
Coastal and Terrestrial Research Workshop, Earthwatch Institute, Punta Gorda Town, Belize, Central America, September, 2005