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Caroline R. Van Hemert Title: Research Wildlife Biologist Address: 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508-4626 Phone: (907) 786-7167 Fax: (907) 786-7021 Email: cvanhemert@usgs.gov

Education and/or Training

Ph.D.	2012	University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK	Biology and Wildlife
M.A.	2005	Western Washingto Univesity, Bellingham, WA	English/Creative Nonfiction
B.S.	2000	University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ	Ecology and Evolution
B.A.	2000	University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ	Gender Studies

Areas of Specialization and/or Research Interests

Avian health and disease, ecology of landbirds, beak deformities in Alaska (“avian keratin disorder”), anatomy and structure of keratinized tissues, wildlife pathology

Professional Experience

2012 - Present	Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2005 - 2012	Wildlife Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2003 - 2005	Teaching Assistant, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington
2001	Volunteer Field Assistant, Wild Dog Research Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
2000 - 2002	Bioscience Technician, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1999	Research Assistant, Wildlife Conservation Society, Haines, Alaska
1998	Field Research Assistant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska
1997 - 1998	Research Assistant, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Professional Activities and/or Memberships

American Ornithologists’ Union
Boreal Partners in Flight
Cooper Ornithological Society
EcoHealth
The Wildlife Society
Wildlife Disease Association
Wilson Ornithological Societ

Honors and/or Awards

• Performance Award, USGS Alaska Science Center, 2011
• Best Student Presentation Award, Wildlife Disease Association International Meeting, 2011
• UAF Dissertation Completion Fellowship Award, 2011–2012
• UAF College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Student Travel Grant, 2011
• UAF Institute for Arctic Biology Director’s Travel Award, 2011
• Best Student Presentation Award, Alaska Bird Conference, 2010
• IdEANetwork of Biomedical Research Exellence Student Travel Awards, 2010, 2011
• Betty A. Anderson Memorial Scholarship, 2010
• Student Travel and Presentation Awards, Alaska Bird Conference, 2008
• Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation, 2008–2011
• Angus Gavin Memorial Bird Research Grant, University of Alaska Foundation, 2008
• Graduate Research Fellowship, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2007–2008

Significant Recent Publications

Van Hemert, C., J. Pearce, K. Oakley, and M. Whalen. 2013. Wildlife Disease and Environmental Health in Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2013-3027, 4 p.

Van Hemert, C., A. G., Armien, J. E. Blake, C. M. Handel, and T. M. O’Hara. 2013. Macroscopic, histologic, and ultrastructural lesions associated with Avian Keratin Disorder in Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). Veterinary Pathology, In Press.

Van Hemert, C., C. M. Handel, and D. M. O’Brien. 2012. Stable isotopes identify dietary changes associated with beak deformities in Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus). The Auk 129:460-466. doi: 10.1525/auk.2012.12037

Van Hemert, C., C. M. Handel, T. M. O’Hara. 2012. Evidence of accelerated beak growth associated with avian keratin disorder in Black-capped Chickadees Poecile atricapillus. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 48(3):686-694.

Van Hemert, C., C. M. Handel, J. E. Blake, R. M. Swor, T. M. O’Hara. 2012. Microanatomy of passerine hard-cornified tissues: Beak and claw structure of the Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus). Journal of Morphology 273:226-240.

D'Alba L., C. Van Hemert, C. M. Handel, M. D. Shawkey. 2011. A natural experiment on the condition-dependence of achromatic plumage reflectance in Black-capped Chickadees. PLoS ONE 6:e25877. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025877

Van Hemert, C., and C. M. Handel. 2010. Beak deformities in Northwestern Crows: Evidence of a multispecies epizootic. Auk 127(4):746-751. (976kb PDF) Online Supplement. (134kb PDF)

Handel, C. M., L. M. Pajot, S. M. Matsuoka, C. Van Hemert, J. Terenzi, S. L. Talbot, D. M. Mulcahy, C. U. Meteyer, and K. A. Trust. 2010. Epizootic of beak deformities among wild birds in Alaska: An emerging disease in North America? Auk 127(4):882-898. (11.9mb PDF high resolution) or (719kb PDF lower resolution)

Van Hemert, C., C. M. Handel, M. N. Cady, and J. Terenzi. 2006. Inventory of landbirds in Kenai Fjords National Park. National Park Service Final Report. Anchorage, AK.

Websites of Interest

Beak Deformities