Background:
For the past ten years, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of Kentucky’s most unique plants, animals, and ecosystems. My first field job was assisting with terrestrial salamander research in old-growth forests of eastern Kentucky, and that experience opened the door to the world of aquatic restoration through macroinvertebrate research. Since then, I’ve gained hands-on experience in land management, aquatic system restoration, and ecological research across a range of taxonomic groups.
My technical background includes ecological and geomorphological survey methods, with experience conducting work in compliance with Kentucky, Tennessee, and federal regulatory standards. I’ve contributed to monitoring efforts for more than a dozen mitigation banks across Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee, and have led field crews through data collection, analysis, and reporting for those projects.
I’m currently completing my master’s in biology, focusing on aquatic insect emergence from a restored headwater system. In my spare time, I’m also pursuing SFS taxonomic certification for aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Publications:
Experience
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Eastern Kentucky University, Division of Natural Areas
August 2015 – November 2021