Honor Society® member
Sarah Rubelowsky
Graduate Teaching Assistant Coordinator at Texas A&M University at Galveston for the Department of Chemistry in Foundational Sciences. My duties include being the lead TA responsible for coordinating all laboratories for all chemistry courses, managing online components for all laboratories for all chemistry courses, organizing general lab meetings and section meetings, and working hand in hand with the department head on ways to improve laboratory meetings for students due to COVID-19.
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Marine Biology
- Class of 2017
- Hattiesburg, MS
Member since May 2014
About
I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences with an Emphasis in Environmental Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2017. During my time at Southern Miss, I was an active member of several honor societies on our campus and have continued to support them since graduating. While at Southern, I gained teaching experience working as a biology laboratory teaching assistant, educating undergraduates in the fundamentals of biology. I also worked in an ichthyology laboratory as a research technician under Dr. Jake Schaefer, where I wrote an undergraduate honors thesis studying the salinity tolerances of an invasive freshwater fish in Mississippi. I learned about the different frameworks it takes to execute a successful research program and because of that, my research has been continued since graduating and is in preparation for publication.
After graduating from college, I accepted a seven-month scuba diving internship at Rainbow Reef Dive Center, the largest dive shop in North America, located in Key Largo, Florida. Once I completed my internship, I worked for two years as a full-time PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with 24 instructor specialty ratings, Diveheart Adaptive Buddy, and Conservation Coordinator for Rainbow Reef. I enjoyed the time I spent working in diving the industry and have always wanted to utilize my diving skills for research.
I am proud to say that I am currently enrolled in one of the nation's top-ranked Marine Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs at Texas A&M University at Galveston, where I am pursuing my doctoral degree. I am working in a biospeleology laboratory studying marine cave biology, ecology, and marine cave conservation under world-renowned cave diver and scientist, Dr. Thomas Iliffe. Dr. Iliffe's research is what inspired me to apply to Texas A&M’s graduate program. I spent the past year getting certified as a Full Cave Diver and Technical Diver. I am excited to utilize my advanced diving skills for scientific research diving in marine cave systems. I believe I am in the right program to research specific topics in Dr. Iliffe's lab that will allow me to answer questions that could have significant implications on the conservation and future of aquatic ecosystems in caves.
Education
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Texas A&M University at Galveston
Marine Biology
2020 – 2025
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The University of Southern Mississippi
Biological Sciences
2013 – 2017
Honors and awards
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NSS - CDS Full Cave Diver
August 2020
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Ambassador for Hulya Swim
A new, innovative, eco-friendly swimwear brand with one mission in mind - to save the ocean. Hülya Swim uses high tech recycled fabric made out of recycled ghost nets and other marine debris (June 2019 - Present)
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PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
24 Instructor Specialty Ratings
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Biological Ambassador
Fall 2016 - Spring 2017
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Student Advisor of National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society
Fall 2015 - Spring 2017
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President of the National Leadership Council of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society
Served on the Board of Directors Fall 2015 - Spring 2016
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Chapter President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars Honor Society
Fall 2014 - Spring 2015
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Founded and Started the National Society of Collegiate Scholars at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Sister Chapter
Fall 2014
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Founded the National Society of Collegiate Scholars at The University of Southern Mississippi
Star Status Coordinator - Spring 2014
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HonorSociety.org Undergraduate Achiever Scholarship
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University of Southern Mississippi Leadership Scholarship
Fall 2013 - Spring 2017
Goals and interests
- Career goal
After I finish my Ph.D., I ultimately want to be a contributing scientist to society, focusing on marine cave conservation. I would like to utilize my advanced diving skills for scientific research diving in marine cave systems.
- Graduate school interests
I am currently enrolled in one of the nation's top-ranked Marine Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs at Texas A&M University at Galveston, where I am pursuing my doctoral degree.
- Outside the classroom
My hobbies including swimming, scuba diving, hiking, and running! I love to stay active and enjoy being outdoors as much as possible.
Experience
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Graduate Teaching Assistant Coordinator
Texas A&M University at Galveston for the Department of Chemistry in Foundational Sciences. My duties include being the lead TA responsible for coordinating all laboratories for all chemistry courses, managing online components for all laboratories for all chemistry courses, organizing general lab meetings and section meetings, and working hand in hand with the department head on ways to improve laboratory meetings for students due to COVID-19.
Jan 2021 – May 2025
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Graduate Teaching Assistant
Texas A&M University at Galveston for the Department of Chemistry in Foundational Sciences. My duties include instructing and supervising students for the laboratory component of the course, preparing supplemental resources for students due to COVID-19, assigning and grades pre-lab, post-lab, and final exam as well as keeping an organized record for grading purposes, and gaining experience teaching remotely (via zoom) and in person at the same due to COVID-19 regulations.
Aug 2020 – May 2025
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Marketing and Sales Associate
Randy Price and Company in Hattiesburg, MS. My duties included representing the company’s environmentally friendly and sustainable brands, being responsible for assisting customers and educating them on sustainable shopping practices, using QuickBooks as point of sales software system, and was responsible for planning community events.
Nov 2019 – Jul 2020
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Florida Keys Sales Representative
Stream2Sea in Key Largo, FL. My duties included educating the public on the detrimental effects chemical sunscreen and body care products have on the environment and human bodies, maintaining professional relationships with current accounts as well as established new partnerships throughout the Florida Keys, gaining experience using Method as the point of the sales software system, reviewing budget reports each month to ensure sale efficiency, and improved sales efficiency by 60% from May-August of 2018 to May-August of 2019.
Jan 2019 – Oct 2019
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Conservation Coordinator and Blue Star Liaison
Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo, FL. My duties included being responsible for coordinating all conservation-related events for the largest dive shop in North America and conducting field research through scientific scuba diving with the Coral Restoration Foundation by participating in coral nursery dives, outplanting sessions, and spawning events. I founded Rainbow Reef’s clean up data software method and was responsible for reporting, analyzing, and submitting all Dive Against Debris data to Project AWARE. Project AWARE is a nonprofit organization associated with PADI that focuses on ocean protection. I lead initiatives in making the dive shop more eco-conscious by requiring reef-safe sunscreen on all dive boats and eliminating plastic water bottles, gained experience in successful grant writing and fundraising programs, and worked hand in hand with conservation-related organizations such as Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA, 4Ocean, Project AWARE and Stream2Sea. I was also the Blue Star Liaison for RRDC and worked directly with NOAA and The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to ensure Rainbow Reef Dive Center had completed all Blue Star requirements, all staff had completed Blue Star & NOAA training and educated customers on regulations of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Aug 2018 – Oct 2019
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Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Rainbow Reef Dive Center in Key Largo, FL. My instructor number is #415735. My duties included instructing, guiding, and being first mate for Rainbow Reef. I am proficient in working on 30’ Island Hopper, 42’ Newton, and 46’ Newton. I also worked as part of the office staff responsible for scheduling, reservations, and payments using EVE as our point of sales system. I attended DEMA (Diving Equipment & Marketing Association) in Las Vegas, Nevada in Fall of 2018 with Rainbow Reef
Jul 2018 – Oct 2019
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Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Biological Sciences. I taught Biology and Society Laboratory. My duties included instructing and supervising students for the laboratory component of the course, developing strong public speaking skills, assigning and grading lab reports, homework and quizzes as well as kept organized records for grading purposes. I prepared lectures and demonstrated biological experiments, as well as proctored exams.
Aug 2016 – Dec 2017
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Marketing Agent and Leasing Professional
Southgate Realty, LLC. at The Lakes at Turtle Creek Apartment Homes. My duties included being responsible for all promotional material and social media for the community and leasing out rentable apartment homes and responsible for obtaining all required paperwork in a timely manner.
Jan 2015 – Jul 2016
Volunteering
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Ambassador
Hulya Swim - eco-friendly swimwear brand with one mission in mind - to save the ocean. Hülya Swim uses high tech recycled fabric made out of recycled ghost nets and other marine debris. I am still currently representing this company.
Jun 2019 – Jan 2021
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Blue Star Liaison
NOAA - Worked directly with NOAA and The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to ensure Rainbow Reef Dive Center had completed all Blue Star requirements, all staff had completed proper training, and customers were aware of all regulation before diving
Aug 2018 – Oct 2019
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Coral Restoration Foundation Featured Volunteer of the Month in July 2019
Coral Reef Foundation - Conducted field research through scientific scuba diving with the Coral Restoration Foundation by participating in coral nursery dives, outplanting sessions, and spawning events
Jan 2018 – Oct 2019
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Volunteer Diver & Event Organizer
Project AWARE - Dive Against Debris
Jan 2018 – Oct 2019
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Volunteer
Passion of the Pinebelt
Mar 2015
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Volunteer
Homes of Hope for Children
Dec 2014
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Volunteer
Salvation Army
Nov 2014
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Volunteer
Aspire Center
Oct 2014
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Volunteer
Bedfor Care Center of Hattiesburg Nursing Home
Sep 2014 – Nov 2014
Languages
- English (US)
Additional information
Organizations
