Education
2006-2012
PhD, Biology-Ecology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Advisor: Dr. James A. MacMahon
2004-2005
MSc, Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, Imperial College London,
Silwood Park, UK
Advisor: Dr. Ian P. F. Owens
2000-2004
BSc, Population and Ecosystem Biology
2000-2004
Utah State University, Logan, Utah
2002-2003
Licence Biologie des Organismes, Université de Rennes 1, France
(Mention Bien)
2000-2002
Diplôme d’Etudes Universitaires Générales, Sciences de la Vie,
Université de Rennes 1, France
Primary and secondary schooling in France and Canada
Research Experience
2004
Laboratory assistant, Utah State University (Dr. M.E. Pfrender)
Life history responses to predation pressure and the genetic mechanisms of UV resistance in Daphnia, in high-alpine lakes of the Sierra Nevada. Six months, undergraduate research.
Development of genetic markers for Pine Beetles (Ips spp.).
2004
Field assistant, Utah State University
Home range, movement patterns, and habitat use in willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii),
Fish Creek, Utah.
2002
Field assistant, Université de Rennes 1 (Dr. A.Guéguen)
Biological cycles and adaptations of two species of cricket to their environment in Mercantour National Park, French Alps.
2002
Field and laboratory assistant, Université de Rennes 1
Consequences of the spreading of Elytrigia sp. on the distribution of spider populations in the Bay of Mont Saint Michel, France.
2000
Field assistant, CIES research centre, Iguazu National Park, Argentina
Behavior of Cebus apella monkeys, and the possibility of their social status being transferred from one generation to another (Dr. M. Dibitetti).
Conservation and management of jaguars (Panthera onca), inside and around the park (Dr. K. Schiaffino).
Research Techniques
Languages
Fluent in French, English and Spanish
Scholarships
2010-2011
Ecology Center PhD Assistantship, Utah State University. $ 12,000.
2010-2011
Ecology Center Graduate Research Support Award, Utah State University. $4,000.
2008-2009
Ecology Center Graduate Research Support Award, Utah State University. $4.500.
2006-2008
Eccles Fellowship, Utah State University. $62,000.
2004-2005
Imperial College London, UK. £2,500.
2003-2004
Bourse Ulysse, Conseil Regional de Bretagne, France.
Experience and Outreach
2012
Teaching assistant, Ornithology, Utah State University
2011
Teaching assistant, General Biology, Utah State University
2010
Teaching assistant, Ornithology, Utah State University
2009
Teaching assistant, Ornithology, Field Ecology, Utah State University
2009
Team arachnologist, Antelope Island Bioblitz, Utah
2007
Interviewer for the Utah State University NSF ADVANCE program, at the 92nd Annual
Meeting of the Ecological Society
2002-2003
Member, CNER (Cercle Naturaliste des Etudiants Rennais), Université de Rennes 1, France
2001
Volunteer, Iguazu National Park Information Center, Argentina. Provided information on the park and its wildlife in English, French and Spanish.
Publications
In review
Cobbold SM, MacMahon JA. Guild mobility and the perception of adjacent habitat structure in spiders of semi-arid shrubs.
In press
Cobbold SM, Supp SR. Patch shape alters spider community structure: links between microhabitat choice and sensitivity to increased edge habitat. Journal of Insect Conservation.
2010
Cobbold SM, Su Y-C. The host becomes dinner: possible use of Cyclosa as a nuptial gift by Argyrodes in a colonial web. Journal of Arachnology. 38:132-134.
2010
O'Donnell RP, Supp SR, Cobbold SM. Hindrance of conservation biology by delays in the submission of manuscripts. Conservation Biology. 24:615-620. (Press coverage in Nature and The Scientist)
2008
Kulmatiski A, Beard K H, Stevens JR, Cobbold SM. Plant-soil feedbacks: a meta-analytical review. Ecology Letters. 11(9):980-992.
Presentations
2012
Cobbold SM, MacMahon JA. Fine-scale topography shapes spider community structure along an elevational gradient: links between guild identity, temperature, and habitat structure. Oral presentation, Intermountain Graduate Symposium, Utah.
2010
Supp SR, O'Donnell RP, Cobbold SM. Hindrance of conservation biology by delays in the submission of manuscripts. Poster session, Cambridge, England.
2010
O'Donnell RP, Supp SR, Cobbold SM. Conservation biology is hindered by delays in the submission of manuscripts. Medford, OR.
2009
Cobbold SM, MacMahon JA. Do elevation and slope aspect predict spider guild abundance and distribution? Poster session, 94th meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
2008
Kulmatiski A, Beard KH, Stevens JR, Cobbold SM. Plant-soil feedbacks: a meta-analytical review. Contributed oral paper, 93d meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
2007
Cobbold SM, Owens IPF, MacMahon JA. Comparative analysis of an adaptive radiation: origins of the variation in extinction risk among Hawaiian honeycreepers. Poster session, 92d meeting of the Ecological Society of America.