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CURRICULUM VITAE

Dr. MATTHEW VON KONRAT

Email: mvonkonrat@fieldmuseum.org

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

1996--2003 PhD (Biological Sciences), The University of Auckland, New Zealand. Research Title: A Biosystematic Study of the Liverwort Genus Frullania Raddi: Encompassing a Worldwide Monograph of Subg. Microfrullania (Schust.) Schust.; A Revision of the New Zealand Species; & Study of Subsidiary Species.  
1997 Certificate in Adult Learning and Teaching, UNITEC, Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.  
1993--1995 MSc (1st Class Hons.), The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Research Title: Studies of the Fern Genus Davallia in New Zealand.  
1989--1991 BSc (Botany), The University of Auckland, New Zealand.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2001--Present The Field Museum, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
Collections Manager
Responsibilities: Curation of bryophyte and pteridophyte herbaria; management of daily operations of these collections; contribute to the research program with a focus on liverworts from Australasia and southern South America.  
1998--1999 The University of Auckland (School of Biological Sciences), New Zealand
Research technician
Responsibilities: Design, research & assisting in construction of a website on New Zealand Plants: Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, and Gymnosperms  
1997--1998 Unitec Institute of Technology (Landscape and Plant Sciences), New Zealand
Lecturer, Plant Taxonomy
Responsibilities: Delivery and preparation of lectures; running laboratories; preparing the course guide; conducting field trips.  
1996 The University of Auckland (School of Biological Sciences), New Zealand
Tutor, Stage I Botany
Responsibilities: The practical component of the first year botanical paper.  
1993--1997 The University of Auckland (School of Biological Sciences), New Zealand
Teaching assistant, Stage I & II Botany
Responsibilities: Offering guidance to students during laboratory classes and field trips.  
1995 Transit New Zealand
Assistant to Environmental Consultant (Stephen King: Huia Conservators)
Responsibilities: revegetation of state highway through Waipoua Forest Sanctuary, Northland, New Zealand.  
1995 HortResearch (Postharvest), New Zealand
Temporary Research Technician
Responsibilities: Investigating non-chemical control measures for the post harvest treatment of fruit.  
1992--1993 The University of Auckland (UniServices), New Zealand
Pollen Analyst
Responsibilities: Analysing atmospheric pollen and spores for Hoechst Pharmaceutical Co.

RESEARCH CONDUCTED
2005--present Liverwort Tree of Life: A multi-institutional, collaborative project investigating evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships of the Liverwort phylum. Research partners include The Field Museum, Duke University, Yale University, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Michigan State. Supported by the National Science Foundation.  
2004--present Studies on the Liverwort Flora of the Fijian Islands: [In collaboration with Dr. Tamas Pócs, Eszterházy Károly College, Hungary; Dr. John E. Braggins, New Zealand; and Dr. Michael Heads, University of the South Pacific, Fiji] N.B., A research program that is at the initial stages of development.  
2004--present SEM Liverwort Surfaces Project: A Survey of Liverwort Gametophyte Surfaces: [In collaboration with Dr. John J. Engel, Field Museum, and John J. Braggins, Auckland War Memorial Museum]  
2002--present Revision of the Liverwort Genus Frullania in the Islands of Fiji . In collaboration with Tamás Pócs, Ph.D., D.Sc., Professor Emeritus, Department of Botany at the Eszterházy Károly College, Hungary.  
2002--present A Spore Atlas of New Zealand Liverworts: [In collaboration with Dr. John E. Braggins]  
2001--present Conservation of Rare and Endangered Liverworts in the New Zealand Botanical Region: [In collaboration with Landcare Research, New Zealand, The University of Auckland, New Zealand and the New Zealand Department of Conservation.]  
2001--present The New Zealand Liverwort Flora Project: [A support role to Dr. John J. Engel and Dr. David Glenny who are authoring a multi-volume The Liverwort Flora of New Zealand]  
1999--present Investigation of biologically and taxonomically significant chemical compounds in liverworts: [In collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Japan, and The University of Auckland, New Zealand.]  
1996--present Plant Systematics: A worldwide study of the liverwort genus Frullania Raddi. This is a large genus with over 1000 species worldwide.  
1996--2003 Plant Systematics (PhD thesis): A biosystematic study of the liverwort genus Frullania Raddi. The principal objectives include: 1) a revision of the New Zealand species; 2) worldwide monograph of Frullania subg. Microfrullania (Schust.) Schust.; 3) assess characters of taxonomic significance to aid regional studies and the monographic process; 4) investigate aspects of their ecology and reproductive biology.  
1993--1995 Plant Systematics (MSc thesis): Studied aspects of the cytology, ecology, reproductive biology, and systematics of the fern genus Davallia in New Zealand. The primary objective was to determine the taxonomic status of a supposedly endangered fern and to provide recommendations for a management plan.  
1992--1993 Pollen Analyst: Identified pollen grains and spores in the atmosphere and evaluated their intensity and duration at different time periods.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Peer-reviewed publications:
    • Von Konrat M., Braggins J., Asakawa Y., & Masao 2006. Recognition of Frullania congesta: A case study to present a species concept and a synthesis of significant taxonomic characters for the large liverwort genus Frullania (Frullaniaceae)., T. J Hattori Bot Lab 100: 553-576
    • von Konrat, M. and Braggins, J. E. (2006). Frullania chevalieri (Schust.) Schust.: A new and interesting record for the New Zealand liverwort flora. The Bryologist 109:XX-XX. [in press]
    • von Konrat, M. and Braggins, J. E. (2005) Frullania wairua, a new and seemingly rare liverwort species from Northland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany. 43: 885-893.
    • Von Konrat M.J., Glenny D.S., de Lange P.J., Engel J.J., Braggins J.E. & Renner M.A.M. (2005). Rare and Endangered Liverworts: A New Area of Conservation in the New Zealand Botanical Region. Australasian Plant Conservation. 14: 17-19.
    • Asakawa Y, Toyota, M., von Konrat, M. and Braggins, J. E. (2003) Volatile components of selected species of the liverwort genera Frullania and Schusterella (Frullaniaceae) from New Zealand, Australia, and South America: A Chemosystematic approach?. Phytochemistry, 62: 439-452.
    • von Konrat, M. and Braggins, J. E. (2003). A new and unusual species of Frullania (Jubulaceae) from Tasmania, Australia. New Zealand Journal of Botany. 41: 55-62 .
    • von Konrat, M. and Braggins, J. E. (2001). A taxonomic assessment of the initial branching appendages in the liverwort genus Frullania Raddi. Nova Hedwigia. 72: 283-310.
    • von Konrat, M. and Braggins, J. E. (2001). Notes on Five Frullania Species from Australia, including Typification, Synonyms, and New Localities. The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory. 91: 229-263.
    • von Konrat, M. and Braggins, J. E. (1999). A new technique to investigate cell layers of the capsule wall using Frullania (Hepaticae) as a case study. The Bryologist. 102: 240-248.
    • von Konrat, M. , Braggins, J. E., & de Lange, P.J. (1999). Davallia (Pteridophyta) in New Zealand, including description of a new subspecies of D. tasmanii. New Zealand Journal of Botany. 37: 579-593.
    • von Konrat, M. & Braggins, J. E. (1999). The epiphyllous habit in the hepatic genus Frullania Raddi. Tropical Bryology. 17: 103-113.
  • Invited manuscript:
    • Invited by the editor of The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory to submit a manuscript for its 100th volume in 2006 [in preparation].
  • Books:
    • In preparation, due to be published August 2006 by Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh. Tentative title: Frullania 100: The distribution, identification, & taxonomy of the most common Frullania species worldwide.
  • Manuscripts submitted or in preparation
    • Reinstatement of Frullania congesta (Hook. f. & Tayl.) Hook. f. & Tayl. (Jubulaceae) based on morphological and chemical data: Development of a model for defining Frullania species boundaries (submitted to Systematic Botany).
    • Unraveling confusion over a selection of Australasian Frullania species (submitted to The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory - by invitation as part of the 100th memorial volume).
    • A taxonomic assessment of characters associated with the sporophyte for the large liverwort genus Frullania Raddi (submitted to Cryptogamie Bryologie).
    • Biogeography of liverworts worldwide (in preparation).
    • A worldwide monograph of Frullania subg. Microfrullania (in preparation).
    • A revision of the New Zealand Frullania species (in preparation).
    • Chromosome numbers for some New Zealand liverworts (in preparation).
  • Book Reviews:
    • von Konrat, M. Review of Rudolph M. Schuster. Austral Hepaticae Part II. Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 119: viii+ 1-606, with 224 figures. J. Cramer in der Gebrüder Borntraeger Verlagsbuchbehandlung, Berlin and Stuttgart. 2003. [ISBN 3-443-51041-8] Price: EUR 159.00, The Bryologist 106: 493.
    • von Konrat, M. Review of Rudolph M. Schuster. Austral Hepaticae Part I. Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 118:vii + 1-524, with 211 figures. J. Cramer in der Gebrüder Borntraeger Verlagsbuchbehandlung, Berlin and Stuttgart. 2000. The Bryologist 105: 505-506.
  • Popular Publications:
    • von Konrat, M. and Engel, J. J. (2003). Collecting Liverworts Down Under. In The Field. Winter Issue, p. 12. (In The Field is a magazine distributed to over 30,000 members of The Field Museum).
  • Abstracts:
    • von Konrat, M. J. and Braggins, J. E. (2000). Studies on sporophytic characters in Frullaniaceae (Hepaticae) using novel techniques. American J. of Botany. 87: Number 6 (supplement). 15-16. (Abstract).
    • Braggins, J. E., Engel, J. J., von Konrat, M. J. & de Lange, P. J. (2001). An investigation of rare and threatened liverworts: an overlooked area of conservation in the New Zealand botanical region. In: Botany 2001 Abstracts, published by Botanical Society of America, ©2001 (http://www.botany2001.org/).
    • von Konrat, M. J., Braggins, J. E., Engel, J. J., & de Lange, P. J. (2005). Rare and threatened liverworts: An overlooked area of conservation in the New Zealand botanical region. In: XVII International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Abstracts, p. 610 ©2005 (http://www.ibc2005.ac.at/home.htm).
  • Unpublished Technical Reports, Seminars & Poster Presentations:
    • Technical Recovery Plan for Davallia "puketi". Report prepared for The Department of Conservation 1993, 1995.
    • A pollen and spore evaluation of the Auckland atmosphere. A report prepared for Hoechst Pharmaceutical Co. 1993
    • Poster presentation entitled 'Rare and threatened liverworts: An overlooked area of conservation in the New Zealand botanical region' at the XVII International Botanical Congress, Vienna (see Abstracts, p.610 ) http://www.ibc2005.ac.at/home.htm) (2005).
    • Poster presentation entitled 'Studies on the liverwort genus Frullania in New Zealand' at the joint conferences of the New Zealand Ecological Society and the Systematic Association of New Zealand (1997).
  • Seminars presented:
    • Invited seminars - Auckland Botanical Society (1995); Chicago Park District (2004; 2005); Royal Forest and Bird Society (West Auckland Branch) (1995); The Field Museum Research Seminar Series (2005)
    • Unsolicited Seminars - School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland (1997); Botany 2000, Portland, Oregon; and Botany 2001, Albuquerque, New Mexico (American Botanical Society, annual meetings in 2000 and 2001); Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria (2005).
  • Theses:
    • MSc - Studies on the fern genus Davallia Smith in New Zealand, The University of Auckland, New Zealand, Pp149, 24 figures.
    • PhD. - Volume One: A systematic study of the liverwort genus Frullania Raddi: Encompassing a worldwide monograph of subg. Microfrullania (Schust.) Schust.; a revision of the New Zealand species; & study of subsidiary species, The University of Auckland, New Zealand, Pp425, 9 figures; Volume Two: Plates to accompany Volume One, 75 plates.
  • Professional Website Projects - Public Outreach, Education, & Science Programs:
    • www.discoverlife.org -- Von Konrat is participating as editor of Bryophytes (http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Plantae/Bryophyta/). Features include online interactive and electronic keys, which are a novel development for liverworts; species checklists; construction of simple species pages with images, distribution, phylogeny, references etc.; interactive maps; and an automatic link to TROPICOS MOST at Missouri Botanical Gardens (Current information on bryophyte names).
    • http://emuweb.fieldmuseum.org/botany/search_bryo.php - Field Museum's Bryophyte collections database. Von Konrat is responsible for the bryophyte records, and the bryophyte sub-site of the Field Museum's Botany Department Collections Database, which is a recent initiative.
    • http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/ -- The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Von Konrat is editor of Liverworts see http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/liverwort/what_is_a_liverwort.asp
    • LLIF: A Liverwort Internet Information Facility -- There is no single website dedicated to the diversity of liverworts. This is easily demonstrated by a search for liverworts on the search engine Google, which turns up negligible results. This has provided the impetus for a new initiative, LIIF, which aims to be a multi-authored facility for liverworts containing information about ecology, phylogeny, biological diversity, and identification of liverworts. Established by von Konrat in 2003 and located at the url: www.liverworts.org In a state of progress and undergoing constant construction.
    • New Zealand Plants: http://www.sbs.auckland.ac.nz/info/schools/nzplants/home.htm A contributor to an educational website on plants of New Zealand, including descriptions and distribution, images, ecology, morphology, and medicinal uses.

AWARDS, HONORS, GRANTS

  • 2006 (Application pending with the National Science Foundation), Senior personnel (committed 2 calendar months to project), 'Collaborative research on the bryophytes of the Cape Horn Archipelago: floristics, phylogeography and implications for biodiversity conservation' [Primary Investigator, Dr. John Engel, Field Museum].
  • 2005, Principal Investigator, 'Studies on the Liverwort flora of the islands of Fiji' [The Field Museum Woman's Board].
  • 2005, Co-Principal Investigator, 'Assembling the liverwort tree of life- a window into the evolution and diversification of early land plants' [National Science Foundation, as part of the NSF ATOL or Assembling the Tree of Life program (budget of entire project $2,839,578 total for 5 years)]. N.B., this is a multi-institutional, collaborative project investigating evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships of the Liverwort phylum. Research partners include The Field Museum, Duke University, Yale University, University of Connecticut, University of Southern Illinois, and the University of Michigan [with Primary Investigator, Prof. Jon Shaw, Duke University.
  • 2005, Co-Investigator, 'Studies on the New Zealand Liverwort Flora', National Geographic Society, 2005 [with Primary Investigator, Dr. John Engel, Field Museum].
  • 2003: Co-Investigator, 'Conservation of Rare and Endangered Liverworts in the New Zealand Botanical Region', National Geographic Society, 2003 [with Primary Investigator, Dr. John Engel, Field Museum].
  • 2000: The University of Auckland Botany Award; The University of Auckland Postgraduate Research Fund; The University of Auckland Postgraduate Travel Fund (Portland, Oregon, U.S.A).
  • 1998: The University of Auckland Postgraduate Research Fund
  • 1997: The University of Auckland Postgraduate Research Fund
  • 1997: The University of Auckland Postgraduate Travel Fund (Wellington, New Zealand).
  • 1994: Yates Green Earth Threatened Plants Sponsorship [administered by the New Zealand Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society (Yates Project 1994/Eleven)].

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

  • American Bryological and Lichenological Society
  • International Association of Bryologists
  • New Zealand Botanical Society
  • SYSTANZ: Systematic Association of New Zealand
  • International Association for Plant Taxonomy

PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE

  • Peer-reviewer of manuscripts for the following journals:
    • Taxon (the journal of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy)
    • New Zealand Journal of Botany (an international journal of austral botany)
    • Systematic Botany (published by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists)
    • The Bryologist (Journal of the American Bryological and Lichenological Society)
    • The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory (an international journal devoted to bryology and lichenology, published by the Hattori Botanical Laboratory, Japan)
    • Cladistics, The International Journal of the Willi Hennig Society.
  • Peer-reviewed papers published in the following scientific journals:
    • Nova Hedwigia (an international journal publishing original articles in taxonomy, morphology, ultrastructure and ecology of all groups of cryptogamic plants; published in Germany)
    • New Zealand Journal of Botany (an international journal of austral botany, published by the Royal Society of New Zealand)
    • Phytochemistry (The International Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - The Official Journal of the Phytochemical Society of Europe and the Phytochemical Society of North America)
    • The Bryologist (journal of the American Bryological and Lichenological Society)
    • The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory (an international journal devoted to bryology and lichenology, published by the Hattori Botanical Laboratory, Japan)

POSITIONS HELD

  • Member of the Committee for Bryophyta, 2005-present, Permanent Nomenclature Committees are established under the auspices of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy; members of these Committees are elected by an International Botanical Congress.
  • Field Museum Service: Chairperson, Seminar Committee, 2003-2004; Member, Seminar Committee, 2001-2004; Member, Computerization of Collections Committee, 2001; Task Force Member, Common Ground Botany Pilot (Pilot project for the centralization of museum-wide databases).
  • President: The University of Auckland's Environmental Group, 1993, 1994.
  • Vice-President: The University of Auckland's Environmental Group, 1992.
  • Committee Representative: The University of Auckland's Athletic Club, 1990-1994.

SPECIALISED SKILLS AND TRAINING
Microscopy techniques
Statistical analysis
DNA techniques
Plant identification
Herbarium skills
Phylogenetic analysis
 Imaging analysis
Chromosome studies
Histological techniques
Ecological field skills
Teaching experience
Technical report writing
 Scientific paper writing, editing & reviewing
Plant cultivation
Plant conservation assessment
Electronic, interactive keys
Website design
Databasing & database design
PERSONAL SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

  • New Zealand University Representative (Cross-Country): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996
  • Provincial Representative (Athletics & Cross-Country): 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999
  • Place-Getter in New Zealand Marathon Championships: 1994, 1996, 1999

PERSONAL INTERESTS
Reading
Gardening
Running
Tramping (Hiking)
Music
   Traveling
Current Affairs Conservation
Environmental issues
Movies
Education Outreach

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