CURRICULUM VITAE

HONORS AND AWARDS
Field Museum of Natural History Research Award | 2023 | $1,500
Forbes-Lea Research Award | 2022 | $2,700
Forbes-Lea Research Award | 2021 | $1,500
Lester Newman Research Award | 2021 | $1,000
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship | 2020 | Honorable Mention
Spike Wadsworth & Y. Sherry Sheung Fund | 2020 | $5,000
Lester Newman Undergraduate Research Scholarship | 2019 | $5,000
McNair Scholars Award | 2018 | $2,000

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ph.D. Candidate | 2019–present | Portland State University, OR | Advisor: Dr. Daniel Ballhorn

Investigated the influence of inselbergs on bat diversity in tropical ecosystems
Successfully raised $18,000 to fund the project, including two scholarships for students at Dschang University and Douala University (Cameroon)
Conducted the first bat diversity survey of the Mbam Minkom Massif (Centre Region, Cameroon), including the description of a new species, Pseudoromicia mbamminkom

Research Associate | 2020–present | Pritzker Lab, Field Museum, IL | Advisors: Dr. Bruce Patterson, Dr. Terry Demos

Systematics of the Rhinolophus landeri species complex
Secured $6,000 in funding to host and train a PhD student from Douala University (Cameroon) at the Field Museum, focusing on DNA extraction, amplification, and Sanger sequencing

Research Associate | 2019 | Alexander Koenig Zoological Research Museum, Germany | Advisor: Dr. Jan Decher

Examined bat museum specimens from Cameroon for species comparison as part of my doctoral research on the diversity of bats of Mbam Minkom Massif
Participated in Bat Conservation Workshop, gaining hands-on field research training in bat identification, handling, capture techniques, and certification in bat banding

Lab Technician | 2017 | University of Ghana | Marine Ecology Lab, Advisor: Dr. Benjamin Botwe

Performed water-quality testing of the Whin River estuary (Sekondi–Takoradi)
Worked with local communities on how to reduce impacts on regional water supplies

Lab Technician | 2017 | University of Ghana | Marine and Fisheries Lab, Advisor: Dr. Angela Lamptey

Designed surveys and conducted interviews with fishermen to collect data on local fishing practices
Identified and recorded daily catch numbers to develop sustainable fishing guidelines across the West African coastline

TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATIONS
Laboratory Instructor, Biology | 2019–present | Portland State University

Principles of Biology (I, II, and III)
Anatomy & Physiology (II and III)
Field Sampling
Mammalogy
Ornithology
Invertebrate Zoology
Comparative Vertebrate Zoology
Population Ecology

Shortlidge Biology Education Research Group | 2023–2024 | Portland State University

Weekly reading group on best teaching practices, DEI initiatives, and research

Research Assistant | 2024 | Portland State University

Assisted with a study comparing STEM undergraduate learning in online vs. in-person settings

Certificate of Innovation in College Teaching | 2022–present | Portland State University

MENTORED STUDENTS
Portland State University | Katie Armstrong, Elena Kilber, Eva Murray, Rebekah Wilkins, Courtney Volk, Paul Parodi, Malcolm Peavy, Ayana Rea, Travis Merrill, Danielle Newport, Hannah Gallart
University of Dschang | Yvette Ngueagni, Arnaud Talla
Douala University | Frank Meyo-Okono

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Grunwald, A. L., Demos, T. C., Nguéagni, Y., Tchamba, M. N., Monadjem, A., Webala, P. W., Peterhans, J. C. K., Patterson, B. D., & Ruedas, L. A. (2023). A review of bats of the genus Pseudoromicia (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) with the description of a new species. Systematics and Biodiversity, 21(1), 2156002. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2023.2156002

Grunwald, A. L., Demos, T. C., Atagana, P. J., Volk, C. M., Monadjem, A., Meyo Okono, F. P., Nguéagni, Y., Merrill, R. T., Bevers, I., Armstrong, K. D., Kilber, E. E., Talla, A., Bakwo Fils, E. M., Patterson, B. D., Ballhorn, D. J., & Ruedas, L. A. (2024). Uncovering the diversity of bats in the Mbam Minkom Massif, Cameroon: Insights into the importance of tropical inselbergs. Acta Chiropterologica. (Accepted, In Press)

Patterson, B. D., Webala, P. W., Torrent, L., Grunwald, A. L., Kerbis Peterhans, J. C., McDonough, J. C., Dick, C. W., Bartonjo, M., Goodman, S. M., Schoeman, M. C., Ruedas, L. A., Juste, J., & Demos, T. C. (2024). Systematics of the Rhinolophus landeri complex, with evidence for 3 additional Afrotropical bat species. Journal of Mammalogy, gyae085. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae085

MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION
Grunwald, A. L., Demos, T. C., Volk, C. M., Ruedas, L. A., Merrill, R. T., Atagana, P. J., Monadjem, A., Meyo Okono, F. P., Bevers, I., Armstrong, K. D., Kilber, E. E., Talla, A., Bakwo Fils, E. M., Patterson, B. D., & Ballhorn, D. J. (2024). Influence of inselbergs on bat taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity in Cameroon. Intended Journal: Journal of Mammalogy. Status: Finalizing manuscript; submission planned for December 2024.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
Inselbergs and Bat Diversity in Afrotropical Ecosystems, NASBR, Guadalajara, Mexico, Oct. 2024
Bat Faunal Diversity in Tropical Ecosystems, ASM & IMC, Alaska, July 2023
Two New Afrotropical Horseshoe Bat Species, ASM & IMC, Alaska, July 2023 (contributor)
Bat Diversity & Conservation in Cameroon, Western Bat Working Group, April 2023
Ecological Research in Cameroon, Portland State BIO Seminar, Feb. 2021
Taxonomy of Nycticeinops eisentrauti, McNair Scholars Conference, Sept. 2019
Ecological Importance of Bats & Sustainable Forestry, Univ. of Dschang, Cameroon, Aug. 2019

ACADEMIC OUTREACH & SERVICE
Officer, Portland State Biology Outreach and Investigation Club | 2021–2024
ASM NSF Leading Culture Change through Professional Societies of Biology | 2024
Portland State Promotion & Tenure Committee | 2023
Reviewer for Journal of Mammalogy | 2022
International Student Mentor Program | 2019–2020