Curriculum Vitae

2022- Present

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY: PhD in Environmental Science

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2018- 2020:

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY: Masters of Science in Entomology                                                                                                                                     

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2013-2017

Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science                                                                            

Research Experience

2022- Present: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York                           

• Measured greenhouse gas (CO2 and CH4) fluxes in a wetland using chamber measurements and a portable infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) over hourly and monthly time scales

• Built eddy covariance towers in tidal and non-tidal wetland systems

• Installed and worked with the following sensors: ClimaVue, sonic anemometers, DO, methane, carbon dioxide sensors, temperature probes, pressure transducers

• Analyzed greenhouse gas diurnal and seasonal cycles using R and Matlab from eddy covariance towers and infrared gas analyzers

• Simulated carbon fluxes using the 3-D, mechanistic model, ecosys, in Linux

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2021- 2022: SUNY Upstate Medical University; Syracuse, New York                                                               

• Received, identified, and processed ticks for New York citizen science program

• Designed and implemented field study to assess the ecology of Powassan virus in New York sites

• Ran qRT-PCR to test field ticks for panel of 13 pathogens

• Obtained laboratory skills: cell culture, focus forming assays, gel electrophoresis

2018-2020: Cornell University; Ithaca, New York                                                                                          

• Collected ticks within highly trafficked park sites for species distribution analysis, risk analysis, and pathogen testing of Haemaphysalis longicornis

• Administered behavioral surveys to assess park visitor behavior and attitude and risk of tick acquisition

• Observed and recorded human behavior across 14 park sites to assess risk for tick exposure

• Identified ticks by species and life stage across all park sites using appropriate taxonomic keys

January 2019: Max Planck Tandem Group; Universidad de Antioquia Internship; Medellin, Colombia 

• Performed preliminary testing on Anopheles swarming and acoustic behavior

• Dissected Aedes wings and spermathecaes

• Field collected both larvae and adult Aedes and hatched eggs under laboratory protocols

2020: Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife; Natural Resources & Environmental Control, Newark, DE; Environmental Scientist 1                                           

• Conducted routine freshwater marsh and impoundment sampling for mosquito surveillance

• Certified in pesticide application 5a

• Controlled mosquitoes using insecticides, backpack sprayers, and truck-mounted foggers

• Sampled ticks in twelve public parks via dragging and flagging techniques

• Performed weekly sentinel chicken serology and husbandry for West Nile and Eastern equine encephalitis virus surveillance
   

May 2017-July 2018: Tennessee Dept. of Health, Nashville, TN; Internship                                                       

• Performed insecticide resistance testing in mosquitoes using the CDC bottle bioassay method

• Reared Aedes mosquitoes from field collected eggs across Tennessee for identification

• Ran qRT-PCR to test statewide samples for West Nile, Flanders, and St. Louis encephalitis viruses

• Trapped mosquitoes using BGS 2.0, CDC light, gravid traps, and oviposition cups for species identification

May-August 2016: Missouri Department of Conservation, Clinton, MO; Internship                                        

• Piloted study to determine fish species richness in non-altered streams to compare against anthropogenically altered streams

• Sampled fish species with backpack, boat, and barge electroshocking equipment and kick-nets, drag seines, fyke nets, and hoop nets

• Identified and quantified fish species to calculate richness

• Classified physical stream characteristics using densitometer, clinometer, flow meter, and range finder
   

May 2014- 2017: Westminster College Field Station, New Wilmington, PA; Student Technician                   

• Collected and identified aquatic macroinvertebrates to assist students with taxonomy

• Assisted in the construction of the Westminster College wind turbine project and installed solar panels for weekly data collection and analysis on energy production and savings

• Constructed permanent bird blind, trails, bridges, and informational kiosks across field station

• Planted trees and inventoried the native trees in the local forest

• Recorded weekly weather data from our Weather Underground station