Kirsten Vernin
Senior Research Assistant at HARC | Houston Advanced Research Center- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Carolyn White, CPESC CERP
Kirsten is a highly-motivated and talented naturalist, who dedicates herself to any project she is involved encounters. She is an excellent problem-solver, communicator, and project manager. Equally, she excels at technical ability to gather and analyze data. Her work at Memorial Park Conservancy will have lasting impact. I highly recommend Kirsten.
Carolyn White, CPESC CERP
Kirsten is a highly-motivated and talented naturalist, who dedicates herself to any project she is involved encounters. She is an excellent problem-solver, communicator, and project manager. Equally, she excels at technical ability to gather and analyze data. Her work at Memorial Park Conservancy will have lasting impact. I highly recommend Kirsten.
Carolyn White, CPESC CERP
Kirsten is a highly-motivated and talented naturalist, who dedicates herself to any project she is involved encounters. She is an excellent problem-solver, communicator, and project manager. Equally, she excels at technical ability to gather and analyze data. Her work at Memorial Park Conservancy will have lasting impact. I highly recommend Kirsten.
Carolyn White, CPESC CERP
Kirsten is a highly-motivated and talented naturalist, who dedicates herself to any project she is involved encounters. She is an excellent problem-solver, communicator, and project manager. Equally, she excels at technical ability to gather and analyze data. Her work at Memorial Park Conservancy will have lasting impact. I highly recommend Kirsten.
Credentials
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Virtual Crash Course - InVEST Carbon Storage and Sequestration Model
Natural Capital ProjectMay, 2021- Nov, 2024 -
Leadership Foundations Digital Badge
The Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice UniversityMar, 2020- Nov, 2024
Experience
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HARC | Houston Advanced Research Center
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United States
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Research Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Research Assistant
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Mar 2022 - Present
• Visualized and interpreted water temperature, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorous, and total nitrate data for the Double Bayou Watershed Protection Plan – Phase I Implementation Report and presented the findings to stakeholders by webinar • Analyzed water quality data for the Trinity River and Lake Livingston to understand the historical trends of nutrient and sediment concentrations above, within, and below the reservoir • Automated processing of freshwater inflow data using R for inclusion in the Galveston Bay Report Card • Assisted with the development of Quality Assurance Project Plans • Generated updated watershed maps for the Double Bayou Watershed Protection Plan website using ArcPro • Provided analysis and technical research support for projects including the Regional Monitoring Database, Low-Impact Development Water Quality Monitoring Project, and the Galveston Bay Report Card Show less
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Resource Environmental Solutions LLC
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United States
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Environmental Services
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400 - 500 Employee
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Environmental Solutions Analyst
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Aug 2020 - Feb 2022
• Developed market analyses to identify project opportunities, conduct due diligence, and inform deal pursuits • Investigated ecological restoration opportunities related to stormwater, nutrient management, and solar energy • Supported sales and proposals team in the northeast and mid-Atlantic through all stages of project development, including project identification, impact analyses, and proposal writing • Monitored and tracked public notices, mitigation credit ledgers, and pending mitigation banks on a monthly basis using RIBITS and USACE district or state environmental department websites • Identified areas of high demand using tabular data and visualized it by creating thematic maps for quarterly reporting Show less
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Texas Coastal Exchange
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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Research Associate
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May 2020 - Aug 2020
• Conducted literature reviews and developed quantification methodologies for carbon sequestration rates in Texas coastal bottomland hardwood forests and prairies • Assisted with mapping of four landowner properties using ArcGIS Pro for area determinations of coastal wetlands • Created and managed the website using Weebly and WordPress and the landowner/donor database using Excel to track donations and carbon storage inventory• Prepared outreach and education documents including brochures, trifolds, posters, and two presentations for landowners, scientists, donors, and the public• Completed grant proposal and application for $150,000 from The Brown Foundation Show less
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Internship at Texas Coastal Exchange
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May 2019 - May 2020
• Created the website using Weebly and established social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for outreach to donors and landowners • Generated infographics to educate the public on estimated carbon emissions based on household size and air travel type/distance and 10 simple actions they could take to reduce their individual carbon footprint• Implemented public outreach and education campaign about natural carbon storage and other sustainability topics through monthly blog posts using Weebly and newsletters using MailChimp • Led four other interns on a variety of projects including ecological research, marketing, and public outreach Show less
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Rice University's Doerr Institute for New Leaders
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United States
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Higher Education
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1 - 100 Employee
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Leadership Foundations Certificate
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Jan 2020 - Mar 2020
• Worked one on one with an ICF-certified coach for one semester to identify areas for personal growth as a leader • Developed core leadership competencies and improved soft skills including building trust with teammates, giving feedback and adaptability • Incorporated self-reflection and behavioral practices in daily routines to strengthen emotional intelligence domains • Worked one on one with an ICF-certified coach for one semester to identify areas for personal growth as a leader • Developed core leadership competencies and improved soft skills including building trust with teammates, giving feedback and adaptability • Incorporated self-reflection and behavioral practices in daily routines to strengthen emotional intelligence domains
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Memorial Park Conservancy
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United States
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Environmental Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Jim Porter Conservation Intern
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Nov 2018 - Aug 2019
• Monitored wildlife usage of the park using 6 game cameras to evaluate mammal species diversity • Analyzed thousands of game camera images, wrote report on the findings, and created a protocol for future monitoring of mammal species diversity within the park • Coordinated two biological survey events in the fall and spring with 10-20 local scientists and naturalists • Created a guide of 50 native plant species for the recently restored Eastern Glades region for new staff education • Established and led the Houston Audubon Eastern Glades monthly bird survey in the park Show less
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Friends For Life Animal Shelter
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Volunteer Manager
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Dec 2015 - Sep 2018
• Recruited and trained 20-30 new volunteers three to four times a month • Organized 1-2 corporate group volunteer and 1-4 education and training sessions every month • Planned volunteer appreciation events which included seeking donations for giveaways and food • Maintained volunteer database (Better Impact) in order to efficiently track hours, shift schedules and training qualifications for over 400 volunteers • Composed weekly volunteer newsletter using MailChimp • Recruited and trained 20-30 new volunteers three to four times a month • Organized 1-2 corporate group volunteer and 1-4 education and training sessions every month • Planned volunteer appreciation events which included seeking donations for giveaways and food • Maintained volunteer database (Better Impact) in order to efficiently track hours, shift schedules and training qualifications for over 400 volunteers • Composed weekly volunteer newsletter using MailChimp
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Baylor College of Medicine
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Microbiome Research Technician
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Dec 2014 - Dec 2015
• Transported, processed, and stored blood, tissue, and fecal specimens • DNA Quantitation using Qubit and NanoDrop • Monitored laboratory equipment daily • Prepared healthy stool specimens for fecal transplantation in pediatric patients with C. difficile infections • Prescreened and consented patients for Autism GI study • Transported, processed, and stored blood, tissue, and fecal specimens • DNA Quantitation using Qubit and NanoDrop • Monitored laboratory equipment daily • Prepared healthy stool specimens for fecal transplantation in pediatric patients with C. difficile infections • Prescreened and consented patients for Autism GI study
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Houston Zoo
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United States
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Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos
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200 - 300 Employee
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Attwater's Prairie Chicken Seasonal Keeper
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Mar 2014 - Nov 2014
• Hand-reared hundreds of endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chickens for release on APC NWR • Maintained daily detailed records on the health of the chicks • Worked as an Attwater's Prairie Chicken Intern in the summer of 2011 and 2010 • Hand-reared hundreds of endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chickens for release on APC NWR • Maintained daily detailed records on the health of the chicks • Worked as an Attwater's Prairie Chicken Intern in the summer of 2011 and 2010
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Northern Michigan University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Common Loon Researcher and Teaching Assistant
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Aug 2013 - Mar 2014
• Conducted Common Loon surveys in the upper peninsula of Michigan • Taught Introduction to Cell Biology Lab to 20-30 students for 2 semesters • Extracted Common Loon DNA from tissue for whole-genome sequencing • Conducted Common Loon surveys in the upper peninsula of Michigan • Taught Introduction to Cell Biology Lab to 20-30 students for 2 semesters • Extracted Common Loon DNA from tissue for whole-genome sequencing
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New York City Audubon
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United States
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Non-profit Organization Management
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1 - 100 Employee
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Research Technician
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May 2012 - Aug 2012
• Mist-netted and banded Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows • Completed 10-15 vegetation, invertebrate and callback surveys monthly • Searched for Saltmarsh Sparrow nests and banded chicks • Located sample points and nests using GPS • Mist-netted and banded Seaside and Saltmarsh Sparrows • Completed 10-15 vegetation, invertebrate and callback surveys monthly • Searched for Saltmarsh Sparrow nests and banded chicks • Located sample points and nests using GPS
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Education
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2018 - 2020
Rice University
M.S., Environmental Analysis -
2009 - 2013
Texas A&M University
B.S., Zoology
Community
