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Education
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2022.08 - 2024.12.01 Blacksburg, VA
Masters of Science
Virginia Tech
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
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2016.08 - 2020.08.01 Clemson, SC
Bachelor of Science
Clemson University
Environmental and Natural Resources
Work
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2022.08 - 2023.11 Blacksburg, VA
Volunteer Banding Assistant
Glenn Alton Banding Station
- Mentored Virginia Tech students in passerine banding, mist net operation, extraction, and data collection.
- Banded 30+ passerine and near-passerine species
- Completed 20+ mist net extractions of passerines and near-passerines
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2022.08 - Present Blacksburg, VA
M.S. Research Assistant
Virginia Tech
- Led research in avian response to heavy mineral surface mine reclamation in southeastern Georgia.
- Designed and implemented intensive avian monitoring surveys, using bioacoustic monitoring with autonomous recording units (ARUs)
- Automatically annotated acoustic data using BirdNET, integrated within high performance computing
- Evaluated BirdNET performance and validated BirdNET predictions to determine thresholds for filtering
- Assessed potentially significant habitat variables with line-intercept vegetation sampling data
- Conducted statistical analyses to estimate species occupancy or abundance with validated BirdNET output and determine significant environmental parameters influencing occupancy and abundance in R
- Analyzed the efficacy of passive acoustic monitoring to detect focal species– informing future monitoring protocols
- Mist netting, banding, and recapture of 30+ passerines to understand site use and body condition
- Utilized systematic pipeline for large volume data storage and management– involving network-attached storage systems and high performance computing
- Supervised and trained research technician tasked with collecting data to meet project goals
- Collaborated with the USGS Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit team as a peer mentor to other graduate students
- Presented regular updates on project data, analysis, and results to funders and collaborators, including private, state and federal institutions
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2021.12 - 2022.07 Raleigh, NC
Wildlife Conservation Technician
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
- Independently led data collection and outreach efforts across the Piedmont region for the North Carolina Bird Atlas (NCBA), a longitudinal project gaining insights in distribution, breeding status, and conservation needs for all avian species in North Carolina.
- Granted access to survey private and commercial properties through various outreach methods, including cold calls and direct mailings– fostered continued working relationships with property owners with engaging communication
- Surveyed land parcels via Esri ArcGIS to determine property ownership and habitat characteristics
- Steered survey effort by monitoring the NCBA eBird database
- Frequently scheduled and traveled on multi-day trips across the region– gave weekly reports on travel to supervisors
- Designed survey routes in areas with remote access and adverse field conditions with Esri ArcMap, Field Maps, and Guru Maps
- Performed eBird checklist surveys (600+) including observational behavioral data in a variety of habitats
- Conducted point count surveys (200+) using Esri Survey123 incorporating distance-sampling methodologies
- Collaborated with supervisors, colleagues, and committee members in regards to achieving NCBA objectives
- Published website blogs and social media posts pertinent to the NCBA’s outreach goals
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2021.10 - Present Jekyll Island, GA
Volunteer Banding Assistant
Jekyll Island Banding Station
- Banded (60+) passerine and near-passerine species, consisting of 20+ variety of species.
- Completed (70+) mist net extractions of passerines and near-passerines
- Routinely operated mist nests and performed data collection
- Collaborated with long-term fall migration bird banding station located on a barrier island in southeastern Georgia
- Trained volunteers on safety, mist net operation, and basic bird extraction skills
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2021.09 - Present Cherokee National Forest
Volunteer Banding Assistant
Whigg Meadow Banding Station
- Assisted in the daily operations of a high-elevation fall migration bird banding station.
- Routinely conducted mist net operation, data collection, and efficiently scribed for bird bander(s)
- Trained in mist net extraction and successfully extracted 30+ individual passerines, consisting of 10+ variety of species
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2021.09 - Present Midway, AL
Bird Banding Course Participant
Wehle Land Conservation Center, Alabama Audubon
- Trained in all aspects of mist net operation, banding safety, and ethics under multiple master banders.
- Honed bird extraction and handling skills
- Developed ability to age and sex passerines and near-passerines in-hand
- Studied context, development, and legality of successfully operating a bird banding station
- Scribed using MAPS protocol and forms
- Extracted, banded, aged/sexed (10+) songbird species, consisting of 7 varieties of species
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2021.03 - 2021.07 Clemson, SC
Avian Research Technician
Clemson University
- Contributed to study monitoring effects of forest management on the distribution of ruffed grouse, golden-winged warbler, and four habitat indicator species in the Southern Blue Ridge Ecoregion.
- Conducted point count surveys (200+) under a conditional occupancy model design across the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
- Deployed autonomous recording units for remote surveys in an integrated joint occupancy modeling framework
- Collected detailed observations of significant habitat variables in micro-habitat and patch scales with Wildnote App
- Conducted vegetation surveys (30+) using Carolina Vegetation Survey protocol and Robel pole measurements
- Planned survey routes with Esri ArcMap, Field Maps, and Avenza Maps
- Routinely sent reports and communications to project lead and peers in regards to progress of study
- Off-road navigation into remote areas and hiked long-distances in hot, humid, and rugged terrain
- Contributed bird and habitat photography for project presentations
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2020.09 - 2020.11 Wolf Laurel, NC
Hawkwatch Counter / Volunteer Banding Assistant
Big Bald Banding Station
- Independently led daily Hawkwatch count of migratory raptors (130+ hours).
- Conducted in-flight raptor identification, often from far distances or in poor lighting condition– relying on advanced field-marks, such as flight style, silhouette, or other behavioral characteristics
- Processed daily data entry into Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA)'s HawkCount database
- Educated visitors on raptor migration, bird conservation, and operations of Big Bald Banding Station
- Developed passerine and raptor handling skills
- Operated mist nets daily
- Provided efficient scribing and data collection during northern saw-whet owl and passerine banding operations
- Provided quality photography for education and outreach efforts
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2019.01 - 2019.08 Clemson, SC
Avian Research Technician / Undergraduate Research Assistant
Clemson University
- Attained experience using audio lures, mist nets, radio telemetry, and Bal-chatri (BC) traps.
- Tracked 20 Barred Owls using VHF radio telemetry and collected and compiled data with Epicollect5
- Identified barred owl habitats across a gradient of rural and urban areas
- Delineated territories of individual Barred Owls across study sites
- Systematically uploaded and processed telemetry data