Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Reference
Timeline
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Aidan Zaza

Aidan Zaza

St Louis

Summary

I'm a dynamic individual with a wide variety of experiences in the fields of ecology, animal sciences, and agriculture. I am particularly passionate about penguins and seabirds. I am always searching for new opportunities to get involved in natural resources, particularly with wildlife and fish ecology, before my anticipated college graduation in 2028.

Overview

3
3
years of professional experience

Work History

Bird Keeper Intern,

Saint Louis Zoo
St Louis
05.2025 - 08.2025
  • Worked at Penguin & Puffin Coast and Cypress Swamp with a variety of different bird species, including four species of penguins, two species of puffins, native waterfowl, and wading birds.
  • Assisted in the daily management and upkeep of birds, including cleaning habitats, preparing diets, feeding, censusing, making enrichment, recording observations, assessing quality of life.

Laboratory Assistant Intern,

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Creve Coeur
06.2024 - 08.2025
  • Worked in Dr. Nadia Shakoor’s lab, in which I was tasked biomassing, root-disinfection, and organization of microbial soil samples.
  • Had a project with a mentor studying the resistance and structure of sorghum crop of a variety of different genotypes based on the Circadian clock rhythm, in which I did both day and night sampling at the farm owned by the center.

Concessions Associate,

Saint Louis Zoo
St Louis
05.2022 - 09.2023
  • Worked at the Saint Louis Zoo in customer service preparing food and beverage for visitors. Also helped to direct them around the park and give information as to where specific attractions were.

Tyson Environmental Research Apprentice,

Washington University in St. Louis
Eureka
06.2023 - 08.2023
  • Was placed on the forest dynamics team working with undergraduates and technicians to census the trees for both the Smithsonian’s Forest Global Earth Observatory and Jonathan Myer’s seed dispersal fire plot, documenting the growth, death, and recruitment in each.
  • Worked on an individual research project with an undergraduate in his research on climate change in the Smithsonian’s plot over the course of 40 years presenting a poster at a symposium at the end of the summer.

Shaw Institute Field Trainee,

Missouri Botanical Garden
Pacific
06.2022 - 04.2023
  • Did a preparatory program for teens in the St. Louis area to get hands-on experience with ecological management and study.
  • Did a variety of projects throughout training week and workdays, including surveying for aquatic macroinvertebrates, monarchs, and different species of bees, as well as identifying invasive species from prairies and performing prescribed fire burning.

Education

Wildlife & Fisheries Biology

Missouri State University
Springfield, MO
05-2028

Skills

  • Habitat Management & Restoration
  • Wildlife Biology & Ecology
  • Customer Service
  • Forestry
  • Data Collection
  • Research & Poster Presentation
  • Laboratory Skills
  • Agriculture & Crop Management
  • Zookeeping/Animal Husbandry
  • Animal Care
  • Ornithology & Bird Management
  • R Studio Programming

Languages

English
Native/ Bilingual

Reference

  • Intern Exit Evaluation written by Marija Elden, Zoological Manager of Birds, Saint Louis Zoo (https://mystlcc-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/r/personal/azaza2_my_stlcc_edu/Documents/Intern%20and%20Extern%20Evaluation%20Form%20Aidan%20Zaza.docx?d=w17701e34ec734e90b157ae55d671b094&csf=1&web=1&e=4EHwfn)

Timeline

Bird Keeper Intern,

Saint Louis Zoo
05.2025 - 08.2025

Laboratory Assistant Intern,

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
06.2024 - 08.2025

Tyson Environmental Research Apprentice,

Washington University in St. Louis
06.2023 - 08.2023

Shaw Institute Field Trainee,

Missouri Botanical Garden
06.2022 - 04.2023

Concessions Associate,

Saint Louis Zoo
05.2022 - 09.2023

Wildlife & Fisheries Biology

Missouri State University

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