Resume

hello@ashleyreynolds.ca

SUMMARY

I passionate about cat welfare and behaviour and I dream of living in a world where all cats are able to live in safety and good health.. I studied big cats for my PhD, but I am actively involved in helping homeless domestic cats as well. I currently volunteer with Cat Rescue Network, sit on the Ottawa Humane Society’s Community Cat Roundtable, and am known on the pet sitting app Pawshake for being comfortable with cats who are shy, fearful, aggressive, or need medication. I am a supporting member of the International Association for Animal Behaviour and am always pursuing continuing education on topics in cat behaviour.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

MITACS Accelerate Postdoctoral Fellow Apr 2023 — Apr 2025
Canadian Museum of Nature & University of Ottawa

  • Conduct independent research; manage deadlines; provide support and mentorship to junior researchers; communicate results to supervisors, the scientific community, and the public.

Cat Sitter Aug 2022 — present
Freelance, Pawshake

  • 5 star rating from 19 reviews, 11 recurring clients
  • Provide excellent care to cats, including feeding, watering, cleaning, and playing; administer medications as needed; maintain a consistent schedule to minimize disruptions to routines; communicate daily with pet parents to report on cat wellbeing.

Teaching Assistant Sep 2015 — Dec 2022
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto

  • EEB263, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (Fall 2022)
  • EEB322, Behavioural Ecology (Fall 2022)
  • EEB390, Vertebrate Palaeontology (Winter 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
  • BIO120, Adaptations and Biodiversity (Fall 2020)
  • EEB388, Diversity of Mammals (Fall 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
  • BIO220, From Genomes to Ecosystems (Winter 2016, 2017)

Course Instructor Fall 2020 & 2021
EEB388: Diversity of Mammals, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto

  • Developed lecture and lab content and assessments; delivered hybrid lectures (in-classroom and via Zoom); supervised two course Teaching Assistants; led students in specimen-based labs; managed course content via Canvas; managed student questions online via Discord and in-person; graded quizzes, tests, blog assignments, and exams.

Course Development Teaching Assistant Summer 2018 & Winter 2021
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto

  • EEB390, Vertebrate Palaeontology: composed course manual to integrate lecture and lab material; developed new course content with primers on bone biology, skeletal morphology, and tree thinking; to be distributed to students in future years.
  • EEB388, Diversity of Mammals: managed and reorganized teaching collection with specific focus on systematic organization.

Daily Planet Intern Jan 2015 — Apr 2015
Discovery Channel Canada

  • Researched possible news stories, wrote short segments (including “Discoveries,” “Weird Planet,” and “Ziyology”), contacted news sources to obtain materials releases, ensured all written work and tasks were completed in a timely manner, collaborated with producers, hosts, and other interns to produce content.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

Doctor of Philosophy Sep 2015 — Apr 2023
University of Toronto, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Bachelor of Science (Honours) Sep 2010 — Jun 2015
University of Toronto, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (Major), Biological Anthropology (Major), Geoscience (Minor) Graduated with High Distinction

VOLUNTEER HISTORY

Ottawa Humane Society Community Cat Roundtable Oct 2024 — present

  • Consult on how to support and manage community cat populations in Ottawa; collaborate with OHS Manager of Advocacy to create evidence-based policies

Cat Rescue Network Oct 2023 — present

  • Maintain list of adoptable cats including biographical details, vetting, and foster details; foster cats as needed; conduct home visits with potential adopters; upload profiles of adoptable cats to Petfinder; provide additional support as needed

Foster, Ottawa Humane Society Sep 2023 — present

  • Care for cats prior to adoption; administer medication as needed; attend veterinary visits

Chinatown Colony Caretaker, Annex Cat Rescue Aug 2022 — Feb 2023

  • Provided food and water for a small colony of TNR’d cats in the Chinatown neighbourhood of Toronto

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2024 — present
Int’l Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (Supporting Member) 2022 — present