Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes - CSKT Bison Range Wildlife and Range Management Ecologist

• Jun 2022 - Present

Project Supervisor and GRA (Ph.D.) with USDA/MSU

• Jan 2018 - Present

As a Project Supervisor working with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and housed in the MSU Invasive Plant Ecology Management Group, I manage large-scale landscape-level renovation and climate change mitigation projects. I am working under a grant awarded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build ecosystem resilience and resistance to impacts from disturbances like increased CO2, wildfire, nitrogen deposition, and alien plant invasion on over 1 billion acres of Conservation Reserve Program lands in Montana. Goals of this project include assessment of plant communities able to maintain structure, processes, and functions despite stresses like changes in ecological processes and disturbances like invasive plants. We also collaborate with land managers and private landowners, providing prescriptive methodologies to renovate landscapes with low biotic integrity to functional ecosystems supporting ecological processes like hydrology, energy capture, and nutrient cycling. We use IIRH methods to assess site soil stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity. I am also comparing the plant-associated microbiomes between plant communities of low native diversity and plant communities of higher native diversity. This microbial assessment may allow insight into belowground processes influencing invasion, such as differences in N-fixing bacteria, pathogens, and fungal associations, allowing diversification efforts to "fine-tune" revegetation tailored to enhance certain microbial taxa. I am collaborating with MPG Ranch, MSU Northern Agriculture Research Center, University of Montana Genomics Core Laboratory, and MSU Central Agriculture Research Center on this project under a grant awarded by MPG Ranch. Show less

Adjunct Instructor

• Sep 2016 - May 2019

Taught: Field Course: Superfund Sites and Brownfields, Ecological Data Collection and Analysis, Ecology of the Yellowstone River, and U.S. Environmental Climate Policy Introduction to Environmental Science. Developed and delivered course syllabi. Organized and executed experiential field-based opportunities, exposing students to problem-solving scenarios. Developed student technical writing skills, statistical analysis, policy modeling, plant identification, and critical thinking skills to ensure preparedness for the post-college job market. Integrated 100% of students into Desire To Learn (D2L) Learning Management System. Maintained a 95% enrollment success. Achieved a 4.9/5-star rating from course evaluations. Show less

Science Department Chair

• Jul 2013 - Jul 2016

Developed and instructed AP Biology and Environmental Science. Established positive relationships with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators. Planned and conducted hands-on activities to provide students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. Taken part in regular training courses to keep up-to-date with new teaching methods and developments in the field. Drafted department action plans and curriculum. Provided Science Department teachers with opportunities for trainings, career advancement, and curriculum development. Performed quarterly teacher evaluations. Managed department budget. Increased AP Biology and AP Environmental Science scores by 95% during tenure., Show less

Ecologist

• Mar 2009 - Sep 2012

Performed data collection, analysis, and reporting for population monitoring of threatened and endangered plants and birds. > 98% accuracy in species-level plant identification in short grass and tallgrass prairies. Four seasons of fieldwork conducting botany surveys, wetland delineation, aquatic ecosystem sampling, soil sampling, small mammal surveys, and bird surveys. Mapped survey results with ArcPro and GPS units. Collected and managed field data to report to supervisors. Coordinated habitat management projects with state, federal, and corporate partners. Updated and managed numerous project databases. Show less

Internship-Conservation Habitat Stweard

• Oct 2008 - May 2009

Facilitated the coordination of data collection and project implementation on newly gained stewardship lands. Advanced seeding, fertilization, and wildlife goals to recover invaded plant communities and establish wildlife habitat. Monitored seeding projects for seedling establishment, including plant density and cover. Aided in analysis of seedling establishment and wildlife recovery. Evaluated the effectiveness of habitat diversification programs and made recommendations for improvement Constructed fencing, used powers of saws to thin and stack slash, and performed controlled burns of slash. Represented Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation when working on private and public stewardship lands and also in meetings and research presentations. Show less

Conservation Coordinator

• May 2005 - Aug 2008

Designed and implemented cross-functional stewardship land management projects in cooperation with Montana State, USFS, and Nez Perce Tribe. Land management projects included integrated weed management, watershed modeling to track wildlife migration routes, fur-bearer DNA analysis through hair snare sampling, construction of beaver dam analogs to increase aquifer water storage, and restoring native plants to riparian areas. Monitored projects for implementation effectiveness and quality control. Employed GPS and GIS software to create analytical feedback. Directed three field crew members in the collection of vegetation data, wildlife monitoring, hair-snare handling, and native plant seeding. Presented findings to stakeholders via presentations and quarterly reports. Ensured projects complied with stipulations implemented by the USFS, Montana State, and Nez Perce Tribe. Represented the Great Burn Study Group at various meetings, presentations, and seminars. Show less