Curriculum Vitae
Postdoctoral Fellow at IRSS | Scientific Coordinator of Silva21
Department of Forest Resources Management
Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia
2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
amy.wotherspoon@ubc.ca
Education
Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC
​2015 - 2021
​Doctorate of Philosophy in biology; ecology path
Faculty of Science
Research focus: Interactions between silvicultural treatments, climate and geological deposit in controlling black spruce growth in Québec, Canada.
Microprogramme en Pédagogie de l’Enseignment Supérieur
Faculté d’Éducation
Program focus: Reflect and critically analyze learning and teaching at the university level and the professional culture of university pedagogy from a teacher-researcher perspective. Develop learner-based teaching strategies for student success, adapt teaching strategies to students’ needs and characters, and evaluate student learning in line with university objectives. Develop personal skills in university teaching as they relate to curricula, social dynamics of training and innovative pedagogy.
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
2011 - 2014​
Master of Science (Environmental Biology)
School of Environmental Sciences
Research focus: Carbon sequestration potential of five tree species in a 25-year-old temperature tree-based intercropping system
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Graduate Student Teaching Development Program
Office of Teaching and Learning
Certification of completion of 12 hours of workshops designed for graduate students to explore teaching, lesson planning, active learning, teaching with technology and leading discussions in order to develop confidence in teaching, identify interdisciplinary and disciplinary approaches to teaching at the university level.
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University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
2006 - 2011
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
School of Environmental Sciences
Major: Environmental Biology; minor: Forest Systems
Undergraduate Research Project: The effects of fertilization on short rotational willow crops via aboveground biomass and foliar nutrient concentrations, for their use as a sustainable biofuel
Work Experience
Scientific Coordinator, Silva21
August 2022 - Present
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Liaison between highly qualified personnel (HQP), investigators and stakeholders across Canada, oversee input and maintenance of project data, organize and chair administrative meeting as well as the annual meeting, develop recruitment strategies, website development and promotion, communication of administrative and research highlights and assist the project scientific director as required.
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of British Columbia
May 2021 - Present
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Produce spatially-explicit climate layers of historic trends and future projections for key variables for each of the 12 research hubs across Canada. I assess likely changes in 12 Canadian key managed forests and provide insight into how the drivers of tree growth are likely to evolve over time.
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Mitacs - Globalink Mentor
April - September, 2018
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Provide academic and social support for undergraduate research interns from various countries during their summer at the Université de Sherbrooke.
Bureau du Forestier en Chef – Mitacs Internship
November 2015
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Internship understanding WOODSTOCK growth models and its limitations in predicting future timber harvests while integrating climate change data into growth projection models.
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University of Guelph – Laboratory Technician
January - May 2014
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Provided assistance to students of the agroforestry and soil sciences laboratory in the School of Environmental Sciences, particularly with preparation and analysis of soil samples for organic and inorganic carbon analysis.
Teaching Experience
University of Guelph
September 2011 - December 2012
Graduate Student Teaching Assistant
Courses:
Agroforestry, ENVS*3230
Forest Biodiversity, ENVS*3270
Forest Ecology, ENS*4350
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Responsibilities:
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Student consultation, running seminars for simulate discussion groups, facilitate online discussions using Desire2Learn website, and grading technical lab reports, midterms, final term papers and literature reviews.
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Also responsible for preparing and conducting field and laboratory experiments as they relate to carbon cycling, plant community and structure, nitrogen mineralization and nutrient analysis. Class size ranged from 30 – 50 students.
University of Guelph Teaching Assistant Advisory Council
September 2013 - February 2014
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SES Teaching Assistant Representative
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Shared knowledge of teaching experience and provided advice to motivate and inspire academic excellence by enhancing Teaching Assistant training and professional development opportunities for graduate students.
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Worked in collaboration with Open Education to provide continual improvement opportunities to TAs through conferences, workshops, discussion groups and peer feedback.
Responsibilities also included the promotion and management of the group’s Facebook page.
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Volunteer Work
Faculty of Forestry Climate Action Committee
January 2022 - present
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Help the Faculty of Forestry develop a 5-year action plan to reduce our collective carbon footprint informed by recommendations of themed working groups surrounding forest management, buildings and energy, travel, food and waste.
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RECSUS (Regroupement étudiants des chercheurs et chercheuses en science de l’Université de Sherbrooke) – VP Promo Science & Biology Department Representative
April ​2018 - 2020
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Act as the liaison between Promo Science and the executive committee
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Assist with planning, organizing, volunteer-recruitment and executing events that promote science across campus and in the community
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Represent the biology department in all relevant decision making procedures of RECSUS
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University of Guelph Teaching Assistant Advisory Council – SES Teaching Assistant Representative
September 2013 - February 2014
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Shared knowledge of teaching experience and provided advice to motivate and inspire academic excellence by enhancing Teaching Assistant training and professional development opportunities for graduate students.
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Worked in collaboration with Open Education to provide continual improvement opportunities to TAs through conferences, workshops, discussion groups and peer feedback.
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Responsibilities also included the promotion and management of the group’s Facebook page.
Ontario Agricultural College Graduate Student Council – President and Communications Director
September 2012 - January 2014
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Prepared and orchestrated bi-weekly meetings, over-saw, organized and promoted events in accordance with Student Risk Management regulations, maintained relationships with student representatives from all departments within OAC, the Student Federation for Ontario Agricultural College and The Dean’s Council.
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Was responsible for funding application including sponsorships, grant applications and professional development reimbursements.
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Also responsible for the promotion and management of the group’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
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My world, my choice! – School Coordinator, Simulation Chair, Mentor
September 2009 - December 2011
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Coordinated classroom presentations and simulation days with hands-on activities, workshops and project planning in elementary schools to help students further understand concepts of environmental sustainability.
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Responsible for communications with classroom teachers, training new mentors and organizing and facilitating meetings.
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Publications
Wotherspoon, A.R., Achim, A., Coops, N.C. 2023. Assessing future climate trends and implications for managed forests across Canadian ecozones. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2023-0058
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Wotherspoon, A., Burnett, M., Bernard, A., Achim, A., Coops, N.C. 2022. Climate Scenarios for Canadian Forests. Silva21, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18449.92009.
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Chagnon, C., Wotherspoon, A.R., Achim, A. 2022. Deciphering the black spruce response to climate variation across eastern Canada using a meta-analysis approach. Forest Ecology and Management, 520:120375.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120375.
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Wotherspoon, A. R., Duchesne, L., Barrette, M., Houle, D. 2022. Pre-commercial thinning could mitigate drought stress of black spruce stands, Forest Ecology and Management, 517:120278.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120278.
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Wotherspoon, A., Thiffault, N., Bradley, R.L. 2020. Resource availability and physiological response of black spruce to scarification in two climatic regions of Québec (Canada). Silva Fennica, 54:10375.
https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.10375
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Wotherspoon, A., Bradley, R., Houle, D., Tremblay, S., Barrette, M., Reicis, K. (2020) Mechanisms by which pre-commercial thinning increases black spruce growth in different climates and soil types. Forests 11:599.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050599
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Reicis, K., Bradley, R., Gilles, J., Houle, D., Tremblay, S., Barrette, M., Wotherspoon, A. (2020) Pre-commercial thinning enhances competitive traits of boreal ericaceous shrubs and reduces soil fertility. Forest Ecology & Management. 458:11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117801
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Wotherspoon, A., Voroney, R.P., Thevathasan, N.V., Gordon, A.M. 2015. Comparison of three methods for measurement of soil organic carbon. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 46:362-374.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2014.989111
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Wotherspoon, A., Thevathasan, N.V., Gordon, A.M., Voroney, R. P. 2014. Carbon sequestration potential of five tree species in a 25-year-old temperate tree-based intercropping system in southern Ontario, Canada. Agroforestry Systems 88:631-643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-014-9719-0
Certifications
Summer Institute in Project Management
Postdoctoral Fellows Office
University of British Columbia
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Higher Education Pedaogogy
Faculty of Education
Université de Sherbrooke
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Graduate Student Teaching Development Program
Office of Teaching & Learning University of Guelph
Skills
Website design (Wix, Weebly, SquareSpace, WordPress)
Graphic Design (Canva)
Social Media Management (HootSuite, Buffer)
Languages
English
French
R Software