Samantha Killian 

Hello! My name is Samantha Killian and I recently finished student teaching to obtain a Teaching Certification in Composite Science 7-12 through the UTeach program. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in Spring 2014 with a degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology. I obtained my teaching certification in December 2014 and  I am currently seeking a Biology or Aquatic Science teaching position in RRISD. 

Along with my education and teaching, I have had amazing opportunities to travel for my studies and scientific research. Currently, I am working on a project in Dr. Daniel Bolnick's lab identifying parasite communities in Three-spined Stickleback fish along Salmon River. This project started this past summer with research field work in Canada, where the fish were collected from lakes. Now, I dissect the fish and identify the parasites. Another research experience was an independent research project in Akumal, Mexico studying the anthropogenic effects on algal growth on coral reefs. I have also taken classes at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. I hope to continue my education and have more field research opportunities in the near future. 

I grew up in Austin and I like that we keep it weird. I bleed burnt orange, the longhorns are my only team, Hook 'em Horns! You can find me at many football and basketball games cheering the teams on! As you probably can tell by now, I love the world under the sea (or most any water environment, really). There is so much undiscovered about the ocean and I am excited to be apart of many discoveries that lie in the deep blue sea. Science is awesome and I love sharing exciting science with other people, especially with youth. I also have a pretty big love for turtles, my favorite are green sea turtles. You can find me hanging out by the UT turtle pond on a regular basis, as it is my favorite place on campus. I have recently started bird watching, so if you see my looking around in the sky and in trees, I am just trying to identify a bird. 

I am looking forward to sharing my passion for biological science and aquatic life with my classroom. I believe in creating a classroom environment where students feel comfortable, are engaged, exploring, and always asking questions. I know every student can succeed, the right plan and effort just needs to be put into place. Students should respect themselves, respect others, and be prepared and inspired to change the world.