Teaching

PhD Program in Ecology and Evolution
University of Illinois at Chicago

Welcome!! Below you can find information about your course and your TA (me).  Visit this page throughout the semester to obtain information about any office hours changes and updates on lab assigments. You can also earn insightfull information about internship opportunities in the Chicago area, in and outside the USA. About Me    Previous to starting my graduate carrier here at UIC I was an intern with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in the Republic of Panamá. I was also an undergraduate student at the University of Panama (Universidad de Panamá) from which I graduated in December of 2006 with the title of : "Licenciada en Biología con énfasis en Biología Vegetal". In other words I am a botanist.  I am interested in a broad array of topics related to tropical ecology and as an undergrad I tried to obtain a taste of each. Besides my research experience I also had the opportunity to work as a naturalist guide at Barro Colorado Island (BCI). My responsabilities consisted on guiding tourist (foreign and national) through the trails of the island along with boat rides and often extended hikes to the penínsulas nearby. BCI is the oldest biological field station in the neotropics with hundreds of scientist visiting the island throughout the year. It is located in the Gatún Lake which is an artificial lake product of the Panama Canal construction. It is a very excinting place for undergraduate student. My country Panamá along with BCI are very different from Chicago so this experience is new and exciting for me. I hope you enjoy your college years as much as I did and study hard!!   Cheers, Mariana C. Valencia Information for Undergraduate Students Fall of 2008 Internship Opportunities    It is important to gain experience during college. I encourage you to visit the following websites in which you can find information about internship opportunities:   In the Chicago area   Chicago Field Musuem   Shedd Aquarium   Brookfield Zoo   Neotropics     OTS    Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute    ITEC   Others   National Science Foundation Teaching Experience University of Illinois at Chicago Fall 2007: Cellular and Organismal Biology (BIO 100) Spring 2008: Cellular and Organismal Biology (BIO 100)

University of Illinois at Chicago (Roosvelt St. and Morgan St.). View of the SES building from the Sears Tower (strange architecture). Office hours are in this Building. Barro Colorado Island and the Gatún Lake, Republic of Panamá. This is one of the BCI Spider Monkeys.