Aquatic Biology Specialist

• May 2020 - Present

Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program Coordinator

Toxicologist

• Aug 2017 - May 2020

Adjunct Professor

• Mar 2022 - Present

Instructor

• Dec 2016 - May 2017

FW 444: Conservation BiologyISB 202: Applications of Environment and Organismal Biology

PhD Candidate / Graduate Teaching Assistant

• Aug 2015 - Dec 2016

LB 144: Organismal BiologyLB 145: Cell and Molecular Biology

PhD Student / Graduate Research Assistant

• Aug 2012 - Aug 2015

Computational physiological modeling of the fish and avian hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver axis to predict reproductive effects of neurotoxicants

Professional Research Assistant

• Sep 2011 - Jun 2012

- Grant Proposal Writing - Yellow perch sampling for analysis of mercury in sites throughout Lake Michigan - Fish necropsy - Collected lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, for a sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, parasitism project - Classified P. marinus wounding marks according to King and Edsall (1979) - Lipid Analysis - AxioVision and Leica microscope applications - Flow-through system design and maintained laboratory cultures of S. namaycush - Assisted with the transition of new laboratory space and set up equipment - Ensured that safety and standard operating procedures were being followed by all research staff - Created and updated a database to track laboratory consumables inventory - Conducted routine maintenance and ensured required inspections were being performed on the laboratory equipment - Trained new and voluntary staff on various protocols and equipment Show less

Biological Science Technician

• Apr 2011 - Aug 2011

- Assessed streams throughout Michigan for sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) populations using a backpack electrofishing unit - Used Geographical Information System equipment to map out key features of streams that could reduce lampricide treatment efficiency - Treated large rivers and lakes with the lampricides, bayluscide and TFM - Deployed fyke nets to evaluate the effectiveness of a lampricide treatment - Lectured 7th grade science classes on the importance of the sea lamprey control program Show less

Biologist/Toxicologist

• Sep 2007 - Jan 2011

Managerial Duties: - Developed Standard Operating Procedures, Health and Safety Plans and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocols - Drafted summary reports and submitted to the work assignment leader Laboratory Work: - Conducted EMAP-GRE and US EPA sediment toxicity tests - Conducted larval fish lethality tests on water samples collected from confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) - Conducted endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) tests using a flow-through diluter system - Conducted monthly reference toxicity tests - Performed Chlorophyll a analysis using a spectrophotometer - Conducted toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) studies on mine waste effluent - Maintained laboratory cultures of fish and macroinvertebrates - Collected weekly routine water chemistries Field Work: - Sampled for non-target terrestrial insects using pit-fall traps at sites located throughout Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. This was part of a study on the western corn rootworm - Collected chlorophyll samples at the Experimental Stream Facility - Operated an electrofishing boat in order to collect fish for tissue analysis - Removed livers and took blood samples from the caudal vein for future pesticide concentration analysis - Operated a backpack electrofishing unit to collect creek chubs from rivers located in the Eagle Creek watershed, Indiana as part of a project to assess indigenous fish exposures at USGS NAFO sites - Deployed TROLL water quality units, In-Situ Inc., in streams located throughout West Virginia and Virginia as part of a project researching the Functional Process Zone. Project goal was to develop a GIS based approach for the rapid classification of river basins. - Collected fish using an electrofishing cataraft in large rivers throughout West Virginia as part of the Functional Process Zone project. - Deployed and retrieved minnow cages containing P. promelas into rivers throughout southern Ohio Show less

Aquatic Ecology Program Assistant

• Apr 2007 - Sep 2007

- Sorted/identified benthic macroinvertebrate samples collected from Michigan rivers - Collected benthic macroinvertebrate samples using a D-frame net and serber sampler - Sampled freshwater mussel communities in streams located throughout southern Michigan using aquascope and SCUBA sampling techniques - Collected water chemistry parameters using a YSI (pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen) and alkalinity/hardness chemical tests - Sampled fish communities located throughout southern Michigan streams using a tote electrofishing barge Show less

Fisheries Naturalist Aide

• Apr 2006 - Sep 2006

- Conducted general fish community surveys within lakes using an electrofishing boat, gill nets, and trap nets - Sampled aquatic plant communities in lakes using rake scoring and visual identification for the Lake And River Enhancement Program (L.A.R.E.) - Sampled fish communities in trout streams using an electrofishing backpack and a tote electrofishing barge - Collected water chemistry parameters using a YSI meter and various chemical tests - Operated hatchery vehicle and released fingerlings into nearby lakes and streams. - Prepared and pressed slides for fish scale analysis and conducted age/growth analysis using prepared fish scale slides - Performed various maintenance duties Show less

Fisheries Technician

• Apr 2005 - Aug 2005

- Sampled Roanoke Logperch, Percina rex, in streams throughout Virginia using an electrofishing backpack and snorkeling methods - Quantified stream habitat using an YSI meter, flow rod/meter, pH kit, and Secchi disks. - Collected and identified over 40 species of fish - Updated and maintained a database detailing collection data from each site - Sampled Roanoke Logperch, Percina rex, in streams throughout Virginia using an electrofishing backpack and snorkeling methods - Quantified stream habitat using an YSI meter, flow rod/meter, pH kit, and Secchi disks. - Collected and identified over 40 species of fish - Updated and maintained a database detailing collection data from each site