Curtis Eckerman

Post-Secondary Education

Texas A & M University
Bachelor of Science
Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences

University of Texas El Paso
Master of Science
Biological Sciences

Teaching Experience

ACADEMIC /TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Department Chair of Biology, Austin Community College, Austin, TX, 2022 - Present
Professor, Austin Community College, Austin, TX, 2014 - Present
Adjunct Instructor, Austin Community College, Austin, TX, 2014
Adjunct Instructor, Art Institute of Austin, Round Rock, TX, 2013-2014
District Chair of Science, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa, 2012 – 2013
Program Chair of Biology, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa, 2007 – 2013
Associate Professor, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny and Newton, Iowa, 2005-2013
Honors Instructor, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa, 2012-2013
Adjunct Instructor, Des Moines Area Community College, Boone, Iowa, 2003-2005; 2013-present
Lecturer, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 2001-2005
Adjunct Instructor, Grandview University, Des Moines, Iowa, 2005
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1997-2001
Lecturer, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 1996-1997
Adjunct Instructor, El Paso Community College, El Paso, Texas, 1996-1997
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 1993-1996

COURSES TAUGHT

Austin Community College

Cell & Molecular Biology, Structure & Function of Organisms, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Life on Earth, Genetics, Biology fundamentals, Biology for non-science majors I, Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II

Art Institute of Austin

Environmental Science

Des Moines Area Community College

General Biology I & II, Human Biology, Environmental Science, Field Ecology, Health Science Anatomy & Physiology, General Ecology, Field Studies, Honors Environmental Science, Biology of Aging

Grandview University

Comparative Anatomy, General Biology I

Iowa State University

Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, Molecular Phylogenetics, Evolutionary Genetics

El Paso Community College

Concepts in Biology I & II

University of Texas at El Paso

General Biology for education majors, Human Biology, Zoology lab, Ecology lab, Anatomy & Physiology I & II lab, Field Biology, Graduate seminar,

Professional Publications

iNaturalist.com. A guide to the macro moths of Austin and Travis County, TX. Ed. Curtis Eckerman. Texas, 2017. https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/4861
iNaturalist.com. A guide to the micro moths of Austin and Travis County, TX. Ed. Curtis Eckerman. Texas, 2017. https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/5062
iNaturalist.com. A guide to the reptiles of Austin and Travis County, TX. Ed. Curtis Eckerman. Texas, 2017. https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/3887
Iowa Biological Sciences Transition Guide: For a successful transfer experience from Iowa’s community colleges to public universities in Biology. 2011
Eckerman, C.M. 1995. Geographic distribution. Gastrophryne olivacea (Great Plains narrowmouth toad). Herpetol. Rev. 26(4): 207.
Eckerman, C. M. 1996. Variation, systematics, and interspecific position of Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Xenodontidae). Unpublished M.S. thesis, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, 198 pp.
Pearse, D. E., C. M. Eckerman, F. J. Janzen, and J. C. Avise. 2001. A genetic analogue of mark-recapture methods for estimating local population size: an approach based on molecular parentage assessments. Molecular Ecology 10:2711-2718.
Smith, H. M, D. Chiszar, C. M. Eckerman and H. D. Walley. The taxonomic status of the mexican hognose snake Heterodon kennerlyi Kennicott (1860). Journal of Kansas Herpetology, 5(March 2003):17-20.
Walley, H. D. and C. M. Eckerman. 1999. Heterodon nasicus. Catalogue of American amphibians and reptiles, 698:1-10.
Webb, R. G. and C. M. Eckerman. 1998. Neotype and type locality of the western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Colubridae). The Texas Journal of Science, 50(2):99-106.
Whiting, M. J., B. D. Greene, J. R. Dixon, A. L. Mercer, C. M. Eckerman. 1992. Observation on the foraging ecology of the Western Coachwhip Snake, Masticophus flagellum testaceus. The Snake (24) 2.
McGaugh, S.E., C. M. Eckerman, F. J. Janzen. 2008. Molecular phylogeography of Apalone spinifera (Reptilia, Trionychidae). Zoologica Scripta 37(3):289-304.

Research, Field and Lab Experience

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Austin Community College

Animal and Plant surveys of Austin and surrounding areas using iNaturalist.

Des Moines Area Community College

Reptile and Amphibian survey of Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt in Elkhart, IA.

Iowa State University

Research on molecular evolution of softshell turtles (Genus Apalone) with emphasis on evolutionary rates and phylogenetic position.
Research in zoology and genetics focusing on genetic patterns and processes in hybrid zones.
Genetic variability in Thamnophis sirtalis and its implications on its biogeography.

The University of Texas at El Paso

M.S. research in biology with a focus on systematic herpetology. Thesis work focused on the variation, systematics, and interspecific position of Heterodon nasicus (Serpentes: Xenodontidae).
Parasite loads in sympatric species of Cnemidophorus with Dr. Carl Lieb and Christine Carranza.

Texas A&M University

Geographic variation in Haliplid beetles (Fam. Haliplidae).
Survey of lacustrine and riparian habitats of the endangered Concho Water Snake, Nerodia harteri paucimaculata with Dr. James R. Dixon and the Colorado River Municipal Water District.
The effects of different timber harvesting practices on the herpetological fauna with Dr. Dan Foley.
Assessing populations of the endangered Houston Toad, Bufo houstonensis, by call recognition and identification with Horizon Environmental Services, Inc., Espey, Huston & Associates, Inc. and Texas Power and Light.
Survey of the animal fauna in the state of Taumalipas, Mexico.
Specimen preparations in the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection.

FIELD AND LAB EXPERIENCE

iNaturalist event coordinator for iNaturalist events and BioBlitz.
Field Ecology Instructor
Population sampling of turtles and tissue collecting for DNA extraction in northern Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma & Iowa
Monitoring a nesting population of painted turtles, Chrysemys picta, and snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina, at the Thompson Causeway, Thompson, IL.
On site collection of Cnemidophorus lizards, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Illinois.
Teaching assistant for undergraduate field study in Puerto Penasco, Mexico.
Teaching assistant for undergraduate field study at the Indio Mountains Research Station, Van Horne, TX.
On-site call identification of anurans, Bastrop and Robertson counties, TX.
Mark and recapture studies of the herpetofauna using drift fences, funnel traps and pit-fall traps, East Texas.
Mark and recapture study of snakes of the genus Nerodia using PIT (Passive intergrade transponder) tags, radio telemetry, funnel traps and scale clipping, Texas.
On-site study and collection of Haliplid beetles, East Texas.
Mammal surveying using Sherman, Hav-a-heart, and funnel traps, Quitman, Texas and Taumalipas, Mexico.
Bird banding using mist nets, Mad island biological reserve, TX.

Molecular: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA's (RAPD's) analysis.
Curatorial: Preparation of reptiles, amphibians, mammals and insects for collections.

Educational Development Experience

Educational Development

Austin Community College

Quality Matters (QM) development of BIOL 1407 (Structure and Function of Organisms) hybrid course.
Anatomy & Physiology I development committee
Anatomy & Physiology II development committee