Irene Perry

Biology Program

Department of Biology

Education:

• Graduate
  Master of Science, December 1994
  Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
  Major: Plant Physiology (emphasis on wetland field ecology)
  Thesis title: Comparison of disturbed and undisturbed wetland communities using vegetation, aquatic macro invertebrate and landscape analyses
  
• Undergraduate
  Bachelor of Arts May 1989
  Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
  Major: Biology, Minors: Chemistry, Spanish

Professional Experience:

• Lecturer, UT Permian Basin (8/2002 - present) Teach General Biology and Ecology lecture classes. Supervise, teach and coordinate General Biology and non Science major labs. Prepare lecture materials, experiments, activities for all the sections each semester. Train and coordinate graduate and adjunct instructors and undergraduate student assistants.
• Environmental Consulting, (1997 - 2003) Consulted for information database updating and maintenance, regulatory compliance and results reporting for municipalities reporting to the state. Quality assurance and Quality control policy implementation and maintenance for an independent environmental laboratory. Safety policy implementation and maintenance for an independent environmental laboratory.
• Adjunct Lecture and Laboratory Instructor, UT Permian Basin and Odessa College (1/98 - 5/2002) Taught General Biology I and II Lecture and Laboratory.
• Assistant Laboratory Director, TRIES Environmental Laboratory (6/95 - 8/97) Coordinated graduate and undergraduate student activities involving purchasing, maintenance and general lab functions. Designated safety officer and involved in training, supplying and maintaining a comprehensive lab safety program. Performed, supervised and trained students in organic analysis using GC and GCMS. Coordinated and executed field on-site wetland delineations and prepared reports. Field work included use of GPS equipment, and reports contained GIS packages.
• Graduate/Teaching/Research Assistant (09/93 - 8/31) Department of Horticultural Sciences and Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M University Assisted the graduate and undergraduate coordinators with administrative work, taught labs in Range Plant Taxonomy, performed field research in wetland vegetation change dynamics and incorporated information into GIS analyses
• Research Technician (5/91 - 8/93) Stable Isotope/Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, Texas A&M University Performed preparation and analysis of plants, sol and bones for stable isotope and elemental composition, organization and presentation of results, maintenance and upkeep of equipment and supplies, training and supervision of others using laboratory facilities.
• Field and Lab Technician (5/89 - 9/89) Water Field Research Station, Institute of Applied Science, University of North Texas Assisted in herbicide and pesticide aquatic toxicology research
• Lab Technician (1/89 - 5/89) Dept Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University
• Performed preparation, demonstration and clean-up of Petroleum Engineering, Fluid Properties Lab.

Activities and Honors:

• College Board AP Reader 2007 to present
• Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Urban Watch certified monitor, July 1996
• Student paper award, Society of Wetland Scientists - South Central Chapter (11/94)
• Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Soil & Water Conservation Society - Texas Watch certified monitor (1992 - 1994)
• Gamma Sigma Delta, International Honor Society of Agriculture, Spring 1994
• Soil and Water Conservation Society, Texas A&M Univ., Student Chapter (1992 - 1994)
• Nature Conservancy
• Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars Alpha Eta chapter, Spring 1989
• Translator, interpreter and volunteer with Nicaragua Network reforestation brigade, Matagalpa, Nicaragua (summer 1989)
• Texas A&M Univ. Reciprocal exchange Student to Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey Mexico (08/87 - 05/88)
• Jordan Institute for International Awareness, Texas A&M Univ. (1987 - 1989)
• Aileen S. Andrews Scholarship, four year academic scholarship, (08/85 - 05/89)

Professional Affiliation and Certifications:

• National Science Teachers Association, 2006 to present
• Texas Academy of Science, 1997
• Registered Environmental Manager, National Registry of Environmental Professionals, Feb 1996
• 40 hour OSHA certification, HAZWOPER, 1995
• Certificate of Completion, Basic Wetland Delineation Course as per Sec 307(e) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 for the Wetland Delineation Certification Program (WDCP), 1995
• Society of Wetland Scientists, 1994

Professional Publication and Presentations:

• Leipnik, M.R., I. Perry, P. Shrestha and R. Evans. 1997. Geographic Information System based analysis of current and historical vegetation composition in East Texas. Texas Journal of Science 49(3) Supplement: 13 - 20.
• I. Perry, P. Shrestha and L. Graham. 1997. Issues in using historical vegetation maps for geographic information systems (GIS) analysis of vegetation change in east Texas. Program and abstracts of Papers of the Centennial Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science, p. 72.
• Huadong, Qiu, Irene H Perry, and Tye Ed Barber. 1997. Determination of organochlorine pesticides in blood. Program and abstracts of Papers of the Centennial Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science, p. 57
• Leipnik, M.R., I. Perry & P. Shrestha. Geographic Information system based analysis of historical and current forest composition in East Texas. Proceedings of the Big Thicket Science Conference, Beaumont, TX. October 1996.
• M. Edinburgh, I.H. Perry and D. Freile,. 1996. Pathogen and toxicity removal using a small on-site wastewater treatment wetland in east Texas. 52^nd Southwest Regional Meeting, American Chemical Society: 66
• Irene H. Perry, Deborah Freile and Michael Villa. 1996. Toxicity study of the green alga Halimeda using the Microtox test system: A comparison with standard bioassay studies. Program and Abstracts of Papers of the 99^th annual meeting of the Texas Academy of Science, p. 59 - 60
• Hakan Gurleyuk, Deborah Freile and Irene H. Perry. Analysis of organic compounds of the green alga Halimeda using supercritical fluid (SFE) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). 1996. Program and Abstracts of Papers of the 99^th Annual Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science, p. 62.
• Kathleen B. Sloan-Nelson, Irene Perry and Richard Rush. GIS determination and jurisdictional wetland delineation. 1996. Program and abstracts of Papers of the 99^th Annual Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science.
• Irene H. Perry and Jayne M. Zajicek. Proceedings of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences. Abstracts. 1994. "Comparison of Disturbed and Undisturbed Wetland Communities Using Vegetation, Aquatic Macro invertebrates and Landscape Analyses."

Technical Work Sited:

• "Stable carbon isotope ratios of soil organic matter and their potential use as indicators of paleoclimate." T.W. Boutton, L.C. Nordt, S.R. Archer, A.J. Midwood, I. Casar. International Symposium on "Applications of Isotope Techniques in Studying Past and Current Environmental Changes in the Hydrosphere and the Atmosphere." International Symposium on " Applications of Isotope Techniques in Studying Past and Current Environmental Changes in the Hydrosphere and the Atmosphere." IAEA/UNESCO, Vienna 1994.
• "Natural abundance of 2H and 18O in rainfall, soil moisture, and plants in a subtropical thorn woodland ecosystem: Implications for plant water use." A.J. Midwood, T.W. Boutton, S. Watts, S.R. Archer. International Symposium on "Applications of Isotope Techniques in Studying Past and Current Environmental Changes in the Hydrosphere and the Atmosphere." IAEA/UNESCO, Vienna 1994.