Education
University of New Mexico
Department of Biology
Doctor of Philosophy (2019-present)
Advisor: Dr. Seth Newsome
University of California, Davis
College of Biological Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity (2017)
Fellowships & Awards
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2019-2024)
Evolution & Ecology Departmental Citation (UC Davis, 2017)
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Honorable Mention (UC Davis, 2017)
Provost's Undergraduate Fellowship (UC Davis, 2016)
University Honors Program (UC Davis, 2013-2017)
Publications
Rossman ZT, Padfield C, Young D, and Hart LA (2017). Elephant-Initiated Interactions with Humans: Individual Differences and Specific Preferences in Captive African Elephants (Loxodonta africana). Front. Vet. Sci. 4:60. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00060.
Rossman ZT, Hart B, Greco B, Young D, Padfield C, Weidner L, Gates J, and Hart LA (2017). When Yawning Occurs in Elephants. Front. Vet. Sci. 4:22. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2017.00022.
Caro T, Walker H, Rossman Z, Hendrix M, and Stankowich T (2017). Why is the giant panda black and white?. Behav. Ecol. arx008. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arx008
Jacobson A, Dhanota J, Godfrey J, Jacobson H, Rossman Z, Stanish A, Walker H, and Riggio J (2015). A novel approach to mapping land conversion: an application to East Africa. Environmental Modelling & Software 72:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.06.011
Presentations
Rossman, ZT. “When yawning occurs in elephants.” Presented at the UC Davis Undergraduate Research Conference, April 29, 2017 (oral presentation).
Rossman, ZT. "Elephant-initiated interactions with humans: individual differences and specific preferences." Presented at the UC Davis Undergraduate Research Conference, April 9, 2016 (oral presentation) and at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 15, 2016 (oral presentation).
Professional Experience
Field Assistant, BBC Seven Worlds (2018)
Popular Press Coverage
Selected coverage of Why is the giant panda black and white? (Caro et al. 2017)
Science: How pandas got their patches
Time: This Is Why Pandas Are Black and White
Reuters: Scientists finally figure out why pandas are black & white
Forbes: Why Are Giant Pandas Black And White?
Washington Post: Why are pandas black and white? California biologists have a new theory