DEREK A. COSS

www.linkedin.com/in/derek-coss-aa8450113

cossderek@gmail.com

 

EDUCATION

Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland

M.S. in Applied Biology, May 2020

Thesis: Soundscapes and multimodal noise: Complex signaling environments alter mate choice in túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus)

Advisors: Dr. Kimberly L. Hunter and Dr. Ryan C. Taylor

 

University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland

B.S. in Biology, May 2018    

Thesis: Migratory return rates and breeding fidelity in eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

Advisor: Dr. Kevin E. Omland 

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Hagerstown Community College, Hagerstown, Maryland

A.S. in Biology, December 2015

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RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Salisbury University, Department of Biology, Salisbury, Maryland

2018-20 Graduate Student

 

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Gamboa, Republic of Panama

2018 Research Intern

 

University of Maryland Baltimore County, Department of Biology, Baltimore, Maryland

2016-18 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Omland Lab

 

PUBLICATIONS

1. Coss DA, Ryan MJ, Page RA, Hunter KL, Taylor RC. 2022. Can you hear/see me? Multisensory integration of signals does not always facilitate mate choice. Behavioral Ecology. 33:903-911.  https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arac061
    

2. Coss DA, Hunter KL, Taylor RC. 2021. Silence is sexy: soundscape complexity alters mate choice in túngara frogs. Behavioral Ecology. 32:49-59. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/araa091
    

3. Rose EM, Coss DA, Haines CD, Danquah SA, Hill R, Lohr B, Omland KE. 2020 Female song in eastern bluebirds varies in acoustic structure according to social context. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 74. doi.org/10.1007/s00265-020-2824-3
    

4. Coss DA, Omland KE, Rose EM. 2019 Migratory return rates and breeding fidelity in Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 131:598-605. doi.org/10.1676/18-181
    

5. Rose EM, Coss DA, Haines CD, Danquah SA, Studds CE, Omland KE. 2019 Why do females sing?—pair communication and other song functions in eastern bluebirds. Behavioral Ecology. arz130. doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arz130
    

6. Rose EM, Mathew T, Coss DA, Lohr B, Omland KE. 2018 A new statistical method to test equivalence: an application in male and female eastern bluebird song. Animal Behaviour. 145:77-85. doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.09.004

 

TEACHING

2023- Assistant Language Teacher. Interac Kansai South Central, Wakayama, Japan.

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2018-20 Graduate Teaching Assistant - Anatomy and Physiology I, Anatomy and Physiology II,  and Genetic Analysis. Salisbury University, Department of Biology, Salisbury, Maryland.

 

PRESENTATIONS

2020

Derek A. Coss, Kimberly L. Hunter, Ryan C. Taylor. Can you hear me? Multisensory integration means multimodal noise. Invited talk at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama via Zoom. 

   

Derek A. Coss, Kimberly L. Hunter, Ryan C. Taylor. Soundscapes and multimodal noise: Complex signaling environments alter mate choice in túngara frogs. Thesis defense at Salisbury University. Salisbury, Maryland.

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2019   

Derek A. Coss, Kimberly L. Hunter, Ryan C. Taylor. Croaking for love at a cocktail party. Science on Tap public talk at Specific Gravity, Salisbury, Maryland.

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Derek A. Coss, Kimberly L. Hunter, Ryan C. Taylor. Soundscape complexity alters female mate choice in túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus). Frog Talks at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Republic of Panama.

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Derek A. Coss, Kimberly L. Hunter, Ryan C. Taylor. Soundscape complexity alters female mate choice in túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus). Seminar Talk at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland.

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2018   

Evangeline M. Shank, Thomas Mathew, Derek A. Coss, Bernard Lohr, Kevin E. Omland. Eastern Bluebirds Have Complex Female Song: A new statistical approach to demonstrate equivalence. Animal Behavior Society in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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2017   

Derek A. Coss, Evangeline M. Shank, Michael G. Rowley, Kevin E. Omland. Migratory return rates and breeding fidelity in eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis). Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences at University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Derek A. Coss, Evangeline M. Shank, Michael G. Rowley, Kevin E. Omland. Migratory return rates and breeding fidelity in eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis). American Ornithology Society Conference at Michigan State University. Lansing, Michigan.

 

OTHER POSITIONS

Maryland Park Service, Maryland

2023 Crew Leader, Susquehanna State Park

 

Maryland Conservation Corps, Maryland Park Service

2022 Member, Assateague Island State Park

2021 Member, Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary

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Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland

2019-20 Treasurer, Graduate Student Council

                                                          

University of Maryland Baltimore County, Honors College, Baltimore, Maryland

2016-18 Honors College Transfer Team Leader

 

SERVICE IN SCIENCE

2019- Ad-hoc Reviewer: Scientific Reports, Herpetologica

2018-19 Seminar Planning Committee Member, Salisbury University, Department of Biology

2014 STEM Festival Volunteer, Hagerstown Community College

                                                  

AWARDS AND HONORS

2024 Assistant Language Teacher Excellence Award, Interac Kansai South Central (Japan)

2022 Member of the Month, Maryland Conservation Corps

2018-19 Graduate Research and Presentation Grant, SU

2018 Desk Staff of the Year, UMBC Residential Life

2016-18 President’s List, UMBC

2017 Conference Travel Award, UMBC

2017 Honors Scholarship, UMBC

2017 Honors College Research Award, UMBC

2016 Transfer Student Scholarship, UMBC

2015 Graduated with high honors, HCC

2014-15 Dean’s List, HCC

 

MEMBERSHIP

2020-  Animal Behavior Society

2017-  American Ornithology Society

2014-  Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society