Curriculum Vitae

Fish and Wildlife Biologist | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Field Office, Ventura, CA

Directorate Fellow | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, Eagle Lake, TX

Conducted a variety of monitoring projects related to the recovery of the endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chicken (APC). The main objective of the fellowship was to create a novel electronic system allowing data entry in the field to transfer directly to the refuge's existing Microsoft Access databases. These databases store data collected from captive-bred APCs when they are brought to the refuge for release. I validated the system by visiting captive breeding facilities to test the workflow while transporting birds that were ready for release. As a Directorate Fellow I was an integral part of the APC recovery effort, and the work I produced will aid in making future management decisions.

Various monitoring projects occur on the refuge during the summer, and I also was responsible for:

• Monitoring locations of APC hens and their broods of chicks.

• Collecting and process vegetation and insect samples.

• Using radio telemetry techniques to track released APCs daily and collect location and mortality data.

• Monitoring APCs awaiting release in acclimation pens on the refuge, and feeding the birds daily plus identifying signs of disease.

Graduate Research Intern (Avian Ecology) | Archbold Biological Station, Avian Ecology Program, Venus, FL

Contributed to a long-term demographic study of federally Threatened Florida Scrub-Jays and other program objectives while conducting thesis research.

• Trained and supervised post-baccalaureate interns in:

  • Field ornithology research techniques, including: nest searching and monitoring; trapping and bleeding birds, and processing blood samples in the lab; census and area-search surveys of color-banded birds; monitoring post-fledging survival; behavioral observation; mapping species occurrence using ESRI Survey123 and Collector apps; and daily data entry and management in Access, Excel, and physical media.

  • Nest closeout methodology, including: collecting GPS data using a Trimble unit, and downloading and managing GPS files to create GIS layers with attributes; and nest vegetation surveys.

  • Plant inventories and vegetation survey methodology, including: using a compass to follow bearings and locate tagged oaks; species ID; and taking measurements (stem counts, number of acorns) and entering data into an established Access database.

• Processed, stored and cataloged (using Access databases) blood samples, including: corticosterone (CORT), plasma, red blood cells, and blood parasites (microfilariae and trypanosomes).

• Trapped, banded and bled nestlings, juveniles, and adult jays, and collected morphometric data.

• Searched for and monitored nests and monitored post-fledging survival.

• Conducted census and area search surveys for color-banded scrub-jays.

• Conducted offsite area-search surveys for jays on state-managed land and using ESRI Collector app.

• Performed hard mast inventories and vegetation surveys (nest closeout).

• Daily data entry, management and QAQC using nest cards plus R, Access databases, Excel, and ArcGIS.

• Daily operation of ATVs and 4x4 trucks in rugged and often flooded terrain to traverse study site.

• Daily communication with interns, supervisors and other staff for planning and reporting.

Post-Baccalaureate Research Intern (Avian Ecology) | Archbold Biological Station, Avian Ecology Program, Venus, FL

Archbold Biological Station, located on the Lake Wales Ridge in central Florida, was established in 1941 as a long-term research station. As an intern in the Avian Ecology Program I monitored a population of individually-marked Florida Scrub-Jays (a federally Threatened species endemic to the state of Florida) on a 1214 ha (3000 acre) study plot and conducted an independent research project on their ecology.

• Searched for and monitored nests and monitored post-fledging survival.

• Conducted census and area search surveys for color-banded scrub-jays.

• Trapped and bled nestlings and juveniles and processed blood samples.

• Conducted offsite surveys for jays on state-managed lands using ESRI Collector app.

• Performed hard mast inventories and vegetation surveys (nest closeout).

• Daily data entry and management using Excel, Access databases, and physical media.

• Daily operation of ATVs and 4x4 trucks in rugged and often flooded terrain to traverse study site.

Conservation Science Intern (Nest Searching) | Point Blue Conservation Science, Palomarin Landbird Monitoring Program, Bolinas, CA

The Palomarin Field Station has been researching and monitoring terrestrial birds in the coastal scrub and Douglas Fir habitat of Point Reyes National Seashore since 1965. As a "Gridder" I was responsible for spot mapping and nest searching for seven color-banded bird species, plus all additional breeding birds, on a 12 ha (30 acre) plot.

Spot Mapping:

• Recorded locations and behavior of all breeding birds over more than 457 census hours

• Tracked sightings of all color-banded individuals, and entered data into an encounter database

• Completed behavioral summaries during each bi-monthly census period for individual birds; wrote status and behavior narratives; and drafted physical and digital spot maps for all encounters

• Composed detailed write-ups for each territory

Nest Searching:

• Collected data (nest substrate, contents, etc.) upon finding nests and during subsequent nest checks, and updated nest record forms and databases.

• Banded (with color bands and aluminum federal bands) and measured > 50 nestlings of 7 species.

• Performed nest closeout and vegetation measurements and detailed surveys at inactive nests.

• Recorded GPS coordinates and produced GIS layers (with attributes) for all nests.

Other duties included:

• Completing a capstone project

• Sampling vegetation once per season along 10 line transects

• Meeting with field supervisors to discuss and review maps, field work, etc.

• Educating and assisting visitors

• Maintaining the field station's grounds and facilities

• Preparing communal meals

Laboratory Assistant | Tennessee Tech University, Department of Biology

'Most Valuable Work-Study Student', 2013 (Honorable Mention)

Research involvement:

1. Assisted a Ph.D. candidate researching a breeding population of Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis; a rare shorebird of conservation concern) in the Nulato Hills of Alaska. I contributed to an index of arthropod abundance by processing hundreds of samples containing thousands of terrestrial invertebrates collected in two habitat types along 20 transects.

2. Assisted a M.S. candidate researching changes in small mammal community composition in eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) forests in east Tennessee as a function of hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) infestation. Specifically, I:

   • Helped identify >1000 individual trees of 30 species in 6 hemlock and non-hemlock stands at 3 sites

   • Estimated horizontal foliage density in 10 cm increments up to a height of 2 m using a cover pole

   • Set Sherman live traps along transects to collect and mark captured mammals

   • Measured coarse woody debris using line intercept sampling methods

3. Assisted two M.S. students conducting a study of the social biology of resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) in the Cookeville, Tennessee area. I captured, sexed, and marked dozens of geese during their annual molt.

Other responsibilities:

• Worked in the Herpetology Lab to maintain the department's collection of snakes, turtles, and other herps

• Proctored and graded exams and quizzes

• Stored, used, and organized a chemical inventory and associated SDSs

• Inspected and maintained lab equipment

• Handled and cared for living and preserved specimens

• Prepared and assisted with undergraduate labs

• Operated 15-passenger vans to take students on field trips

Graduate Teaching Associate | University of Central Florida, Department of Biology

Instructor of Record:

• Biology II Lab (BSC 2011) — 3 sections, 150 students

Graduate Teaching Assistant | University of Central Florida, Department of Biology

Teaching Assignments:

• Biology I Lab (BSC 2010C) — Online virtual labs, 12 sections, 600 students

• Biology II Lab (BSC 2011) — 3 sections, 150 students

Environmental Education Intern | Archbold Biological Station, Environmental Education Program, Venus, FL

Archbold Biological Station has a rich history of education and outreach that has impacted over 47,000 elementary school children to date.

• Led nature walks and other activities during K-12 field trips.

• Outreach at community events throughout central Florida.

• Assisted with program evaluations, animal care, and social media engagement.

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant | Tennessee Tech University, Department of Earth Sciences

Teaching Assignments:

• Theory of GIS I (GEOG 4510 & 5510) — 2 sections, 36 students (8 graduate)

Provided technical assistance and support for ArcGIS 10.2. Topics included: geodatabases, GPS integration, queries and spatial analysis, heads-up digitizing and feature class creation, coordinate systems, and best practices for data collection and management.

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant | Tennessee Tech University, Department of Biology

Teaching Assignments:

• General Botany Lab (BIOL 2110) — 5 sections, 145 students

• General Zoology Lab (BIOL 1114) — 2 sections, 83 students

Collaborated with professors and academic support staff to achieve specific learning objectives and outcomes, and held regular office hours to accommodate students outside of class. Created quizzes, proctored exams, and maintained an online gradebook.