Zachary M. Burman
Tagline:Teaching Assistant at Temple University
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
DownloadAbout Me
Hello! My name is Zach Burman (he/him), and I am currently a teaching assistant in Temple University's Department of Biology. I am also a paleontologist, as well as a natural history volunteer at the Indiana State Museum (ISM) in Indianapolis, IN. Projects I have worked on at ISM include:
Operating, maintaining, and repairing air abrasion equipment used to prepare invertebrate fossils
Sorting through a modern raptor roost to identify organic materials, including bones of prey
Identifying Mississippian fish teeth and other anatomical parts found at Indiana localities
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
from: 2025, until: presentField of study:BiologySchool:Temple UniversityLocation:Philadelphia, PA
DescriptionFirst-year PhD student exploring different labs via rotations
Master of Science
from: 2023, until: 2025Field of study:GeologySchool:University of MissouriLocation:Columbia, MO
DescriptionMember of Dr. John Warren Huntley’s lab. Thesis title - Calamari through time: Exploring biotic interactions victimizing cephalopods throughout geologic time
Bachelor of Science
from: 2016, until: 2020Field of study:Planetary SciencesSchool:Purdue UniversityLocation:West Lafayette, IN
DescriptionB.S. in Planetary Sciences with a minor in physics. Engaged in research projects related to planetary science and atmospheric science.
Research Interests
- Paleontology
- Ecological modeling
- Collections research
- Functional morphology
Publications
Biodiversity loss and the simplification of trophic webs: Lessons from cephalopods in deep time
GraphicPublisher:European Geosciences UnionDate:2025Authors:Zachary M. BurmanKenneth De BaetsJohn Warren HuntleyDistinguishing anatomical features from taphonomic artifacts in a Silurian Dawsonoceras with computed tomography
GraphicPublisher:American Association for AnatomyDate:2025Authors:Zachary M. BurmanJohn Warren HuntleyTara SellyJames D. Schiffbauer
Exploring the relationship between biodiversity and biotic interactions in fossil cephalopods
GraphicPublisher:Society for Integrative and Comparative BiologyDate:2025Authors:Zachary M. BurmanKenneth De BaetsJohn Warren Huntley
Teaching Assistantship (* denotes Lab Instructor)
Principles of Ecology
From: 2026, Until: present
Organization:Temple UniversityField:Department of Biology
Introduction to Paleontology with Laboratory*
From: 2025, Until: 2025
Organization:University of MissouriField:Department of Geological Sciences
Organismal Biology*
From: 2025, Until: 2025
Organization:Temple UniversityField:Department of Biology
Environmental Geology with Laboratory*
From: 2024, Until: 2024
Organization:University of MissouriField:Department of Geological Sciences
Introduction to the Earth with Laboratory*
From: 2023, Until: 2024
Organization:University of MissouriField:Department of Geological Sciences
The Planets
From: 2018, Until: 2018
Organization:Purdue UniversityField:Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Department
Experience
Graduate Teaching Assistant
from: 2025, until: presentOrganization:Temple UniversityLocation:Philadelphia, PA
Description:Responsible for teaching BIOL 1111 (Organismal Biology) labs and grading relevant assignments. I also assisted with BIOL 2227 (Principles of Ecology).
Volunteer
from: 2023, until: presentOrganization:Indiana State Museum and Historic SitesLocation:Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Description:Volunteer preparator of invertebrate fossils using abrasion machine and air scribes at the Indiana State Museum. A second project involves separating inorganic materials from organic materials of a modern raptor roost, and further identifying the organic materials. A third project revolves around identifying Mississippian shark teeth and other fossilized parts from an Indiana cave. Over 130 hours combined.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
from: 2023, until: 2025Organization:University of Missouri-ColumbiaLocation:Columbia, Missouri, United States
Description:Graduate Teaching Assistant, responsible for teaching laboratory sections and grading relevant assignments.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
from: 2019, until: 2020Organization:Purdue UniversityLocation:West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Description:Ran raindrop disdrometer data using a python module to produce meteograms and drop size distributions (DSDs). Gained exposure to Anaconda.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
from: 2018, until: 2018Organization:Purdue UniversityLocation:West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Description:Research Assistant under the tutelage of Dr. David Minton. Used JMARS software and Microsoft Excel to create crater size-frequency distributions. Used Gnuplot to plot functions. Used academic journal articles to compute quantitative characteristics regarding the surface of Deimos.
Teaching Assistant
from: 2018, until: 2018Organization:Purdue UniversityLocation:West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Description:Teaching Assistant for EAPS 10500 “The Planets.”Graded late quizzes and entered scores into the grade book. Developed an efficient method of exam distribution for a class of over 300 students. Answered general questions regarding planetary sciences.
Honors & Awards
Best Visualization of Research at the Purdue University English Department’s Introductory Composition Poster Symposium
date: 2017-05-011st place winner in Beginner Mandarin at Indiana Chinese Contest
date: 2013-05-01Description:1st place winner in competition designed around Mandarin speaking and listening comprehension.