Land Conservation Specialist

• Jan 2022 - Present

Land Projects Assistant

• Jan 2018 - Jan 2022

Stewardship and Easement Intern

• Aug 2017 - Dec 2017

Biology Biotechnician at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

• May 2017 - Sep 2017

Grant Writing/Conservation Easements

• May 2016 - Dec 2016

I secured over $500,000 in REAP grants to help the DNR and County Conservation Boards to acquire new properties. I also assisted with other departments, including stewardship, conservation easements, development, and communications. I secured over $500,000 in REAP grants to help the DNR and County Conservation Boards to acquire new properties. I also assisted with other departments, including stewardship, conservation easements, development, and communications.

Graduate Research Assistant

• May 2014 - May 2016

I studied seed predation in new tallgrass prairie restorations and found a way to manipulate these predators to reduce consumption of prairie seed in roadside prairie plantings. This reduction in seed predation allowed 37% more seedlings to emerge in new roadside plantings. Throughout grad school, I supervised several undergraduate students who assisted with my research and taught them basic research skills. My coursework was focused on ecology, restoration ecology, systematics, evolution, and other topics in biology. Show less

Biology research assistant

• Aug 2011 - May 2014

• Assisted in several phases of Dr. Russell Benedict’s Prairies for Agriculture Project• Worked in student teams to weigh and plant native seed, take and process soil samples, manage invasive species, count seedlings and plants for initial data collection• Speak with peers and donors at Carlson-Kuyper Field station about the research project• Gained knowledge of prairie restoration, native plants identification, fire ecology, research methodology, data collection• Presented at the Iowa Academy of Science Conference, April 2014 Show less

Teachers Assistant

• Aug 2012 - May 2013

• Supervised students• Assisted with cell and organismal biology laboratories• Prepared lab materials for students, corrected papers and lab notebooks• Attended lab field trips and assisted students with field work

National Science Foundation REU intern

• Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

• Addressed research question: How does the viability of seeds collected from different states compare using germination experiments, X-ray analysis, and Tetrazolium tests? • Completed an independent research project with mentors Dr. Andrea Kramer and Becky Barak • Learned research skills including: background research, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis and database use (R, Microsoft Access). • Mentored a high school student in Chicago Botanic Garden's College First program • Presented research at The Field Museum's 2nd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium •Continued research for Senior Honors Thesis, culminated in a paper in the Native Plants Journal http://npj.uwpress.org/content/16/2/96.abstract •Presented at the Iowa Academy of Science Conference, April 2014 Show less

Environmental Consulting Internship

• Apr 2012 - Aug 2012

• Mist netting and radio telemetry for Iowa's endangered bat, Myotis sodalis • Bat identification, lead a team through net set up and nightly work • Interacted with members of the public to provide education about bat biology • Conducted a creel survey at Lake Red Rock, surveying fisherman for dam's hydroelectric project • Data collection, experience with field work in adverse weather conditions • Mist netting and radio telemetry for Iowa's endangered bat, Myotis sodalis • Bat identification, lead a team through net set up and nightly work • Interacted with members of the public to provide education about bat biology • Conducted a creel survey at Lake Red Rock, surveying fisherman for dam's hydroelectric project • Data collection, experience with field work in adverse weather conditions