South African Citizen; DOB: 1980/09/19
petelaverbluebottle.com

(Printable/portable format: Size: Letter    Size: A4)

PO Box 187, Hoekwil, 6538, South Africa, (Cell) +27 76 729 8457, (Fax) +27 86 517 1393

Department of Fisheries & Wildlife Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech), 113 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, USA, www.fishwild.vt.edu, (Work) +1 540 231 5320, plavervt.edu

Centre for Conservation of African Resources: Animals, Communities and Landuse (CARACAL), PO Box 570, Kasane, Botswana, www.caracal.info (Cell) +267 712 71207



Research Interests

My interest lies in the spatial ecology of animals, particularly animal behaviour with respect to intra- and inter-specific interactions, and in the relationship between animal fitness, sociality, animal behaviour and habitat. I focus on developing techniques to model animal space-use in terms of fitness correlates, to be used in conservation planning.

I develop tools with which location and distribution data can be analyzed, work which stems from my background in Geographic Information Science (& Systems). I enjoy fieldwork and I enjoy theoretical work which provides insight into conservation management questions. I try to use non-invasive field techniques where possible and I attempt to make use of macro-ecological approaches in my theoretical work. I see great value in multidisciplinary work and I look forward to opportunities for diverse collaborations.



Education

In progress - Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic & State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, USA.

2003 - 2005 - Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic & State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, USA

1999 - 2002 - Bachelor of Science in Forestry (Nature Conservation) cum laude, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

2001 - 2002 - Forestry Students International Exchange Program, Virginia Polytechnic & State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, USA.



Awards, Fellowships and Scholarships

2003 - Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences International Student Graduate Fellowship.
2002 - Sir William Schlich Memorial Medal, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
1999 - 2001 - HJ Hofmeyr Scholarship, Johannesburg, South Africa.
1994 - 1998 - King Edward VII School Open Scholarship, Johannesburg, South Africa



Professional Experience

Oct 2007- Present:
Research Assistant, Centre for Conservation of African Resources: Animals, Communities and Landuse (CARACAL), PO Box 570, Kasane, Botswana, www.caracal.info
Managed and analyzed 13 years of Human Wildlife Conflict data from Botswana. Fieldwork on banded mongooses - behavioural observation, immobilization and sampling (serological, faecal), radio tracking, analysis of gastro-intestinal parasite loads, public relations. Managed volunteer field assistants. Assisted in problem animal control (snake capture and relocation) and public outreach. Chobe Snake Park public outreach - led interpretive tours through Snake Park.

March 2006 - July 2007:
Research Manager, Mogalakwena Research Centre, PO Box 60, Alldays, 0909, South Africa, www.researchlimpopo.com.
Developed research centre, field lab and volunteer program for ecological and anthropological research. Managed staff, volunteers and field projects. Marketing, financial management and website development, design and management. Hiring of personnel.

March 2006 - July 2007:
Activities Manager and Interpretive Guide, Mogalakwena River Lodge, PO Box 60, Alldays, 0909, South Africa, www.mogalakwena.com.
Managed staff and guest activities. Led guided tours of the Mogalakwena River Reserve and Mogalakwena Mountain Ranch. Managed and led excursions to Mapungubwe National Park (Cultural, Historical and Ecological Tours). Lodge website development, design and management.

Jan 2003 - Dec 2005:
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Department of Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Classes and labs taught: Wildlife Habitat Ecology and Management; Conservation Biology, Population Ecology; Wildlife Field Biology; Mammalogy.

April 2005 - July 2005:
Field Assistant, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Kanaryarmiut (Kanagyak) Field Station, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA.
Capture, handling, and banding of western sandpiper and rock sandpiper. Behavioural Observation. Developed GIS tools for use in analyzing Inter-nest distances for breeding shorebirds

Dec 2004:
Field Assistant, Serengeti Cheetah Project, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania; Tanzania National Carnivore Survey, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.
Behavioural observation and data collection. Set and tested remote camera traps.

July 2004 - Dec 2004:
Coordinator of Alumni Survey, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Developed, implemented and analyzed an online survey of alumni of the Virginia Tech Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.

May 2004 - June 2004:
Field Crew Leader, Conservation Management Institute, Horseshoe Crab Population Estimation project, Delaware, USA.
Led a crew of 5 field technicians. Managed field project and field station. Developed database for fieldwork. Behavioural and population ecology data collection. Helped develop and implemented aerial photography for remote sensing applications for the project.



Publications

Laver, P.N., and M.J. Kelly. In prep. Comparing home range estimators and a new application for ArcGIS.

Laver, P.N., Kelly, M.J., Caro, T.M., and S.M. Durant. Under review. Moss or a rolling stone? Home range in a "migratory" carnivore.

Laver, P.N., Kelly, M.J., Caro, T.M., and S.M. Durant. Under review. Moving in social circles: A spatial perspective on philopatry and interaction in Serengeti cheetah.

Laver, P.N. and M.J. Kelly. 2008. A critical review of home range studies. Journal of Wildlife Management 72(1):290-298.

Harrison, A-L, and P.N. Laver. In press. On conferences, collaborations, and pool-sharks. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

Laver, P.N. 2005. Abode: Kernel Home Range Estimation for ArcGIS, using VBA and ArcObjects. User Manual, Beta Version 2, pp 62.

Laver, P.N. 2005. Cheetah of the Serengeti Plains: A home range analysis. M.Sc Thesis, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg.



Contributed Papers at Academic Conferences (**Presentations, *Posters)

2007* - "Philopatry, dispersal and static interaction in Serengeti cheetah", International Felid Biology and Conservation Conference, Oxford, UK.

2006** - "Moss or a rolling stone? Home range in a 'migratory' carnivore: Serengeti cheetah", The Wildlife Society (TWS) Annual Conference, Anchorage, AK, USA.

2006** - "Moving in social circles: Philopatry and interaction in Serengeti cheetah", The Wildlife Society (TWS) Annual Conference, Anchorage, AK, USA.

2004** - "Female cheetah of the Serengeti Plains: Home ranges from 1969 to 1994", Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Annual Meeting, New York, NY, USA.

2004** - "Home range analysis - The science of agreement", Society for Conservation GIS Annual Meeting NCTC, USA.



Professional Service

2007 - Reviewer for Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Research Fellowship Program (RFP).
2007 - Reviewer for Journal of Mammalogy.
2007 - Presented a 2-day GIS seminar and GIS training for staff of the Endangered Wildlife Trust's Carnivore Conservation Group (EWT CCG), Johannesburg, South Africa.
2005 - Presented a Home Range Analysis seminar and training for faculty and staff of the Virginia Tech Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
2004 - pres. - Developed and maintained free GIS software extensions for wildlife conservation. Provided support to users worldwide on these products.
2004 - Fisheries and Wildlife Graduate Students Association, Virginia Tech, Virginia, USA. 1999 - 2001 - Forestry Students Association, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.



Professional Organizations

2007 - pres. - Society for Conservation Biology
2006 - 2007 - The Wildlife Society
2006 - 2007 - Field Guides Association of South Africa
2005 - The Wildlife Society - Virginia Tech Chapter
2004 - Society for Conservation GIS
1994 - 2003 - Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa



Community Service

2006 - 2007 - Taught English, Afrikaans and Basic Literacy to previously disadvantaged staff of the Mogalakwena River Lodge, Alldays, South Africa.
2005 - Presented a public outreach poster on cheetah conservation at the Virginia Tech Earth Day Fair.
2001 - 2002 - Volunteer Wildland Fire Fighter, United States Forest Service, Virginia, USA (Red card certification).
2001 - pres. - Member of New Life Christian Fellowship, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. Involved in student ministry.
1999 - 2002 - Member of Vineyard Christian Fellowship, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Involved in community outreach programs and student ministry.



General Interests

I enjoy interpretive guiding, conservation and ecological education, wilderness experiences, bird watching, black and white film photography and development, cooking, wine, classical music, hiking, mountain biking, travelling, and endurance sports.



Languages

English; Afrikaans; (Basic) Sepedi



Computer skills

Languages: Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), ArcObjects, HTML
Programming: MS Access, SAS, ArcMap



References

Dr Kathleen Alexander, Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech, +1 (540) 231 5059, kathyalxvt.edu.

Dr Elbé Coetsee, Director, Mogalakwena Group, +27 (0)15 575 1192, elbemogalakwena.com.

Dr Marcella Kelly, Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech, +1 (540) 231 7580, makelly2vt.edu.

Dr Dean Stauffer, Professor, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech, +1 (540) 231 7349, dstauffevt.edu.

Dr Steve Prisley, Associate Professor, Department of Forestry, Virginia Tech, +1 (540) 231 7674, prisleyvt.edu.

Dr Jack Cranford, Department Head, Department of Biology, Virginia Tech, +1 (540) 231 5371, jcranforvt.edu.