My CV
March 2022
PhD Coastal Sciences
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (Ocean Springs, MS)
University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS)
*GPA 4.0
December 2014
MS Sustainable Environmental Resource Management
James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA)
University of Malta (Valletta, Malta)
*Graduated with Distinction: GPA 3.81
June 2009
BS Biology (Marine Emphasis)
Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA)
Aug 2018-Mar 2022
Research Assistant
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (Ocean Springs, MS)
Lab duties included collecting recruitment and disease mortality data for wild eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in the Mississippi Sound, develop model tuning and model sensitivity parameters for a generalized transmission and proliferation disease model for withering syndrome in abalone (multiple species), published a first-author manuscript describing recruitment dynamics of the easter oyster in Delaware Bay along a salinity gradient dependent on effective shell surface area.
Apr 2018-Aug 2018
Lab Assistant III
UC Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA)
Under a cooperative agreement with UCSC and the NMFS, performed field and laboratory estimates of the federally threatened, southern DPS green sturgeon adult spawning run size using a dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) and post-data processing of the sonar videos with high-accuracy GPS data (Trimble). This project also required significant mapping with ArcGIS.
May 2017- Feb 2018
Fisheries Team Lead
US Forest Service (Arcadia, CA)
Assisted U.S. Forest Service land managers with the implementation of watershed restoration, while focusing on priority threatened, endangered and sensitive aquatic species and their habitat. Developed, planned and implemented watershed aquatic projects. Coordinated between programs to meet program priorities and plan program of work. Served as point of contact for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) grantees for the Copper Fire recovery plan. Communicated program needs to supervisor to accomplish program of work. Duty of work also included working with, and in, the critical habitat of ESA listed aquatic species to include population and habitat monitoring, aquatic invasive species’ removal, and fostering positive relationships with collaborating agencies (USGS, CDFW, NOAA, water districts, volunteer groups and private consultants). Prepared, coordinated and led interdisciplinary field teams (biological science technicians, hydrology technicians, pathways interns and volunteers) to meet program needs while providing oversight, guidance and training. Coordinated necessary educational and safety trainings to fellow staff members. Conducted safety briefings and tailgate sessions for all field work. Recruited and retained interested volunteer partnerships.
AQUATIC SCIENTIST: Identified, documented and relayed resource damages to appropriate line and staff officers. Participated in FERC relicensing wildlife and hydrology surveys and provided site recommendations to Forest leadership. Provided recommendations to the supervisory wildlife biologist for damage mitigation and restoration strategies. Participated in interdisciplinary teams to provide subject matter expertise. Performed stream condition inventory (SCI) (longitudinal and cross-sectional mapping, pebble counts, habitat typing, macroinvertebrate “kick net sampling”, stream shading [solar pathfinder]), stream bed pebble counts, stream metrics (pH, conductivity, turbidity, temperature, stream shading [17 point densiometer], habitat typing), flora and fauna identification, detection of wildlife (visual, auditory), fish capture (e-fishing, minnow traps, seine nets), aquatic invasive species management and dispatch, and inventoried critical habitat for the federally threatened Santa Ana sucker and the federally endangered Arroyo toad.
FIELD SKILLS: Map and GPS navigation to remote sites, species identification, utilization of handheld water quality meters (Hach, Hoboware, Aquatalk), operation of a Smith-Root backpack e-fishing unit, bank slope measurements and stability, pebble counts, stream gradient, working in steep and hazardous terrain, UTV operation, basic first aid and CPR, radio telecommunication, immediate risk assessment and determination, working safely in adverse weather conditions, leading tail-gate safety sessions, arduous work capacity test certified (45 lbs pack, 3 miles in 45 minutes), and type II wildland firefighter fire line qualified.
WRITER: Primary author of year-end FWS project reports, accomplishment reports, provide technical comments for NEPA documents, and prepare fire recovery fund aquatic project documentation. Assist in the preparation and review of environmental assessments.
DATA MANAGEMENT/ANALYSIS: Analyzed watershed data for USFS and USFWS reporting (R program for parametric and non-parametric data analysis), inputted data into federal/corporate databases (Watershed Improvement Tracking [WIT], Aquatic Survey [AqS]), geospatial data management (ArcGIS), map creation (ArcGIS) and survey data management (MS Excel).
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation aquatic POC, USGS and CDFW partners, partners in kind (e.g. Fisheries Resources Volunteer Corps).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: FE mountain yellow-legged frog habitat restoration (first year of trout-free stream habitat) contributing to the endangered specie’s recovery plan. Assisted with approximately 25 miles of stream habitat enhancement projects exceeding regional aquatic targets.
May 2016- Feb 2018
Resource Advisor (Fireline)
US Forest Service (Arcadia, CA)
Provided wildland fire suppression planning recommendations to incident command to protect natural and cultural resources. Led suppression repair guidance, through collaboration with agency stakeholders, to restore wildland fire suppression activities to mitigate erosion, enhance vegetation recruitment and inhibit unauthorized public access to the recently burned area, while also creating specialized restoration prescriptions for unique impacts to resources. Provided guidance to fire personnel for on-the-ground implementation of established repair plans. Lead READ is responsible for managing the READ team, coordinating with all levels of the fire program to obtain data and implement suppression repair, and coordinate with forest programs to address damages that affect their program of work.
This role required working on interdisciplinary teams, clear and concise communication, maintaining positive interpersonal relationships in high stress environments, using situational awareness and strict adherence to safety protocol, safe operation of a UTV side-by-side, collecting geospatial field data on the fire line and assembling data into site maps via ArcGIS (create maps), documenting and reporting activities that may negatively impact sensitive ecosystems and species, and producing a suppression repair plan report.
Jul 2015- Jan 2017
Fisheries Technician
US Forest Service (Arcadia, CA)
Worked within the greater land management plan to meet agency goals and species’ recovery plans. Collected rainbow trout fin clips and biometrics to determine lineage for possible recovery actions for anadromous fish species in federally endangered mountain yellow legged frog (MYLF) habitat prior to MYLF reintroduction. Enhanced several miles of stream habitat through the eradication of non-native rainbow trout in MYLF habitat via electro-fishing, and red swamp crayfish removal via minnow traps in federally endangered unarmored threespine stickleback (UTS) and threatened CA red-legged frog (CRLF) habitat. Inventoried critical habitat for federally threatened Santa Ana sucker and federally endangered Arroyo toad via stream morphology assessments to identify recreational impacts on physical stream habitat to inform management strategies. Native fish preliminary stream surveys with California Department of Fish and Wildlife to capture Arroyo chub, speckled dace, Santa Ana sucker, rainbow trout and non-native sunfish species while collecting speckled dace caudal fin clips. Primary biological monitor for big horned sheep during a media film event. Participated in a HUC 12 watershed classification workshop working in an interdisciplinary team to evaluate future Primary Watershed selections. Collaborated with federal partners for wildlife surveys including capture/recapture CRLF population and egg mass surveys to monitor restoration efforts. Participated in stream condition inventory (SCI) for the East Fork San Gabriel River following standard operating procedures to establish stream function in a highly-recreated stream reach which will soon undergo new forest management projects.
Jun 2014-Sep 2014
Research and Lab Specialist
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (Gloucester Point, VA)
Worked independently to assist an ecosystem modeling research group assimilate and format data for importation into Stella models sourced from regional databases. These models simulated physical and biological cycles occurring in tributaries and near shore habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and Delmarva Peninsula. Model outputs are utilized by the state of Virginia to assess TMDL loading into the Chesapeake Bay and the additional nutrient loading by state aquaculture programs on the nearshore and bay environments.
Under the direction of Dr. Lisa Kellogg, 30 years of oyster reef associated macrofaunal data was digitally managed. This project will be used to assess the ecosystem services provided by oyster reef communities beyond those provided exclusively by the socially and commercially valued Crassostrea viginica. Analysis may be used to direct state BMPs for adaptive ecosystem-based management of both private and public reefs.
Dec 2010- Sep 2012
Research Aide
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Head of photosynthetic culturing for a paleo climate research team. Assisted with the planning and execution of experimental projects, whereby deuterium and hydrogen ratios in photosynthetic organisms were identified by doctorate students to develop field proxies for sediment core analysis. Cultivated photosynthetic organisms (Thalassiosira pseudonana, Emiliania huxleyi and various mangroves species) under aseptic and rigid research conditions and monitored growth rates of cultures to identify sample schedules, harvest suitability and advise on culture status. Results of this research supply a narrative of localized climate fluctuations, over time, at remote equatorial islands in the Pacific Ocean.
LABORATORY SKILLS: Worked independently with minimal supervision, autoclaved and maintained lab equipment, monitored cell proliferation via a fluorometer and growth curve analysis, performed all aspects of diatom culturing and inoculation of new conditioned cells and chemostats, cell counts and prepared F/2 media and nutrients, use of compound microscope, and procured laboratory supplies. Supervised and trained a high school intern and an undergraduate employee.
Oct 2009- Dec 2009
Benthic Ecology Intern
Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, FL)
Participated in joint near shore water quality monitoring projects with the benthic ecology and chemical ecology departments. Monitored the recruitment of bay scallop recovery actions following a devastating red tide event in Pine Island Sound. Performed snorkel surveys for invasive barnacle presence to determine a northern range shift and implications to harbor and bay communities. Performed preliminary research projects on thermal stress induced behavioral changes on opportunistic Cassiopea sp. jellyfish and dissolved oxygen thresholds for common fiddler crabs.
Jun 2009- Aug 2009
Oceanography Volunteer
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Woods Hole, MA)
Analyzed promising culturing techniques for non-extremophilic crenarchaeota collected in open water and brackish water conditions using various media constituents.
LABORATORY SKILLS: Fluorescent microscope, slide and sample preparation, archaeota were fluorescently tagged via catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) protocol and presence was identified using fluorescence microscopy. Samples where crenarchaeota were present were then transferred and allowed to propagate.