Career Details

My team studies western burrowing owl conservation using a variety of methods, including captive breeding, active translocation and passive relocation, GPS telemetry, and collaborative management at mitigation sites in southern California.

Assisting in a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project aimed at describing population dynamics of sea urchin settlement (genus Strongylocentrotus) both spatially and temporally. Using bi-weekly deployments of pier-based settlement stations at Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Ocean Beach, I bring the samples back to the lab and classify the invertebrate species in each haul.

Working on an at-will basis to perform data collection for ongoing intertidal biodiversity surveys. Outplant Silvetia compressa in an effort to restore intertidal zone population and promote a healthy nursery habitat for fish recruitment.

Worked as part of a small team to tackle an ambitious field schedule of fish and invertebrate data collection using physically demanding methods of seining, enclosing and coring. Collected a variety of wetland monitoring data including tidal flow using a River Surveyor acoustic doppler, water quality (dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature, and salinity) using HOBOware environmental loggers, elevation using RTK trimble and survey pro software, saltmarsh vegetation classification and abundance using quadrats and transects. Identified microscopic organisms to lowest taxonomic rank from small soil cores obtained in the field. Entered data and performed quality assurance and control in relational databases.

Provided veterinary care for Military Working Dogs (MWD) and on-base pets. Collected biological samples, placed intravenous catheters, entered lab reports, and transcribed patient histories. Regularly assisted active duty military personnel with planning international pet transports as part of a permanent change of station.

Conduct physiological research with trained marine mammals including California sea lions, harbor seals, bearded seals, ringed seals, spotted seals, and southern sea otters. Graduate research is focused on the physiology of ice-dependent Arctic seals. Proficient in open-flow respirometry protocols and data collection, as well as ultrasound blubber measurements, direct morphometrics, and data collection management across two facilities (Long Marine Laboratory in Santa Cruz, CA and the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, AK).