Experience

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

• United States
• Government Administration
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Nematology Technician

  • Jun 2015 - Present

  •Extract and identify plant-parasitic nematodes from grower-submitted soil and plant samples •Screen agricultural commodities for quarantined and regulated nematodes •Take microscopic photographs and measurements of important nematode specimens •Perform molecular diagnosis for nematode species identification (including DNA sample preparation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis) •Prepare permanent slide mounts of nematodes for North Carolina specimen collection •Collect nematode samples… Show more •Extract and identify plant-parasitic nematodes from grower-submitted soil and plant samples •Screen agricultural commodities for quarantined and regulated nematodes •Take microscopic photographs and measurements of important nematode specimens •Perform molecular diagnosis for nematode species identification (including DNA sample preparation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis) •Prepare permanent slide mounts of nematodes for North Carolina specimen collection •Collect nematode samples from field sites •Perform quality control studies on nematode extraction methods •Give guided tours of the nematology lab •Coordinate and perform in-house ergonomic assessments as leader of the Ergonomics Team •Conducted, wrote, and edited job safety analyses (JSA's) as a member of the JSA Team •Completed one-year training program on nematode identification Show less •Extract and identify plant-parasitic nematodes from grower-submitted soil and plant samples •Screen agricultural commodities for quarantined and regulated nematodes •Take microscopic photographs and measurements of important nematode specimens •Perform molecular diagnosis for nematode species identification (including DNA sample preparation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis) •Prepare permanent slide mounts of nematodes for North Carolina specimen collection •Collect nematode samples… Show more •Extract and identify plant-parasitic nematodes from grower-submitted soil and plant samples •Screen agricultural commodities for quarantined and regulated nematodes •Take microscopic photographs and measurements of important nematode specimens •Perform molecular diagnosis for nematode species identification (including DNA sample preparation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis) •Prepare permanent slide mounts of nematodes for North Carolina specimen collection •Collect nematode samples from field sites •Perform quality control studies on nematode extraction methods •Give guided tours of the nematology lab •Coordinate and perform in-house ergonomic assessments as leader of the Ergonomics Team •Conducted, wrote, and edited job safety analyses (JSA's) as a member of the JSA Team •Completed one-year training program on nematode identification Show less



TyraTech, Inc.

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lab Assistant II (Insectary)

  • Sep 2014 - Mar 2015

  •Husbandry and rearing of various urban pest insects using established protocols •Insectary maintenance including housekeeping, inventory, and record-keeping •Preparation of artificial diets •Coordinated with research staff to produce appropriate numbers of insects on schedule for insecticide testing •Made improvements to mosquito rearing program that increased efficiency and led to higher mosquito production •Aided in development of in vitro feeding methods for hematophagous… Show more •Husbandry and rearing of various urban pest insects using established protocols •Insectary maintenance including housekeeping, inventory, and record-keeping •Preparation of artificial diets •Coordinated with research staff to produce appropriate numbers of insects on schedule for insecticide testing •Made improvements to mosquito rearing program that increased efficiency and led to higher mosquito production •Aided in development of in vitro feeding methods for hematophagous insects Show less •Husbandry and rearing of various urban pest insects using established protocols •Insectary maintenance including housekeeping, inventory, and record-keeping •Preparation of artificial diets •Coordinated with research staff to produce appropriate numbers of insects on schedule for insecticide testing •Made improvements to mosquito rearing program that increased efficiency and led to higher mosquito production •Aided in development of in vitro feeding methods for hematophagous… Show more •Husbandry and rearing of various urban pest insects using established protocols •Insectary maintenance including housekeeping, inventory, and record-keeping •Preparation of artificial diets •Coordinated with research staff to produce appropriate numbers of insects on schedule for insecticide testing •Made improvements to mosquito rearing program that increased efficiency and led to higher mosquito production •Aided in development of in vitro feeding methods for hematophagous insects Show less

• Research Specialist

  • Mar 2014 - Aug 2014

  •Reared predator beetles (Sasajiscymnus tsugae) for biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid •Weighed beetles and counted eggs under microscopes for quality control •Mixed soil and planted hemlock trees in a greenhouse •Conducted surveys for Cerceris wasps and invasive buprestid beetles •Reared predator beetles (Sasajiscymnus tsugae) for biological control of the hemlock woolly adelgid •Weighed beetles and counted eggs under microscopes for quality control •Mixed soil and planted hemlock trees in a greenhouse •Conducted surveys for Cerceris wasps and invasive buprestid beetles



North Carolina State Parks

• Park Technician

  • Feb 2013 - Feb 2014

  •Assisted with invasive Chinese privet removal •Assisted with cleanup and management of Mitchell Mill State Natural Area •Maintained trails, campgrounds, and other park facilities •Worked in park entrance stations, tended to customers, processed camping reservations with database software, checked in campers •Assisted with daily park operations •Assisted with invasive Chinese privet removal •Assisted with cleanup and management of Mitchell Mill State Natural Area •Maintained trails, campgrounds, and other park facilities •Worked in park entrance stations, tended to customers, processed camping reservations with database software, checked in campers •Assisted with daily park operations



Mississippi State Department of Health

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• West Nile Intern

  • May 2012 - Oct 2012

  •Conducted gravid trapping of mosquitoes •Performed antigen assays on captured mosquitoes to test for arboviruses •Located mosquito breeding sites in residential areas •Obtained permission from private landowners to conduct mosquito surveillance on their properties •Conducted gravid trapping of mosquitoes •Performed antigen assays on captured mosquitoes to test for arboviruses •Located mosquito breeding sites in residential areas •Obtained permission from private landowners to conduct mosquito surveillance on their properties



The University of Southern Mississippi

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant

  • Jan 2009 - Apr 2012

  ••Designed and conducted experiments, collected/entered/analyzed data, presented results at conferences, published findings in peer-reviewed journals ••Trained and supervised lab assistants and field crews ••Conducted field surveys and laboratory identification of aquatic invertebrates ••Established and maintained laboratory mosquito colonies •Established mosquito rearing protocols using scientific literature •Performed dilutions and made chemical stock solutions for use in… Show more ••Designed and conducted experiments, collected/entered/analyzed data, presented results at conferences, published findings in peer-reviewed journals ••Trained and supervised lab assistants and field crews ••Conducted field surveys and laboratory identification of aquatic invertebrates ••Established and maintained laboratory mosquito colonies •Established mosquito rearing protocols using scientific literature •Performed dilutions and made chemical stock solutions for use in experiments ••Tested attractancy of organic compounds to gravid mosquitoes ••Taught introductory biology labs ••Helped students design and conduct plant growth experiments (testing factors such as soil type, fertilizer type, and light wavelength) in a greenhouse ••Assisted with trail maintenance, landscaping, and prescribed burns on university nature preserves Show less ••Designed and conducted experiments, collected/entered/analyzed data, presented results at conferences, published findings in peer-reviewed journals ••Trained and supervised lab assistants and field crews ••Conducted field surveys and laboratory identification of aquatic invertebrates ••Established and maintained laboratory mosquito colonies •Established mosquito rearing protocols using scientific literature •Performed dilutions and made chemical stock solutions for use in… Show more ••Designed and conducted experiments, collected/entered/analyzed data, presented results at conferences, published findings in peer-reviewed journals ••Trained and supervised lab assistants and field crews ••Conducted field surveys and laboratory identification of aquatic invertebrates ••Established and maintained laboratory mosquito colonies •Established mosquito rearing protocols using scientific literature •Performed dilutions and made chemical stock solutions for use in experiments ••Tested attractancy of organic compounds to gravid mosquitoes ••Taught introductory biology labs ••Helped students design and conduct plant growth experiments (testing factors such as soil type, fertilizer type, and light wavelength) in a greenhouse ••Assisted with trail maintenance, landscaping, and prescribed burns on university nature preserves Show less



Virginia Highlands Community College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Tutor

  • Sep 2008 - Dec 2008

  •Tutored algebra, arithmetic, and biology •Tutored algebra, arithmetic, and biology



The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)

• Undergraduate Research Assistant

  • May 2007 - Dec 2007

  ••Evaluated effects of intensive pine management on insect populations ••Conducted field surveys and laboratory identification of terrestrial and aquatic insects •Set up mist nets and removed captured bats from nets ••Processed bats in the field (hair and fecal samples, wing biopsy, light tagging) ••Analyzed recordings of bat echolocation calls ••Maintained daily field notes and data logs ••Evaluated effects of intensive pine management on insect populations ••Conducted field surveys and laboratory identification of terrestrial and aquatic insects •Set up mist nets and removed captured bats from nets ••Processed bats in the field (hair and fecal samples, wing biopsy, light tagging) ••Analyzed recordings of bat echolocation calls ••Maintained daily field notes and data logs