Research Scholar, March 2019 – present
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
North Carolina State University Department of Applied Ecology
Principal Investigator: Jaime Collazo
Collaborators: Alexa McKerrow, Steve Williams, Matt Rubino, Curtis Belyea, Kevin Gergely, Leah Dunn, Anne Davidson, Jennifer Costanza, Kenneth Boykin, Sky Bristol, Daniel Wieferich, Tristan Wellman, Steve Aullenbach, Julie Prior-Magee, Abby Benson.
I develop tools and methods that support U.S. Geological Survey Core Science Analytics and Synthesis research and foundational data. For example, I recently developed the Wildlife Wrangler, a software-based framework for cleaning species occurrence records before using them in species distribution modeling and range mapping. Additionally, I collaborate on landscape-scale research to support regional and national conservation decision-making. I recently began contributing biological and technical expertise to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Scientific Council for Birds and the NC Bird Atlas.
Research Associate, November 2009 – March 2019
USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
North Carolina State University Department of Applied Ecology
Principal Investigator: Jaime Collazo
Collaborators: Alexa McKerrow, Steve Williams, Matt Rubino, Curtis Belyea, Kevin Gergely, Leah Dunn, Anne Davidson, Jennifer Costanza, Kenneth Boykin, Sky Bristol, Daniel Wieferich, Tristan Wellman, Steve Aullenbach, Julie Prior-Magee, Anna Duden.
I worked closely with the USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis Biogeographic Characterization Branch. I spent several years as part of the core group that managed and developed national wildlife range and habitat maps for the national Gap Analysis Project (GAP), for which I worked on 236 species and contributed to the development and maintenance of databases and code for national wildlife-habitat relationship and range data. In particular, I developed two python packages for data production and analysis that are documented here.
I led or collaborated on several regional and national scale projects. I led the habitat component of a project that integrated timber supply, vegetation dynamics, and habitat models to explore the influences of a past biofuels production target on bird and amphibian habitat in North Carolina (see publication). I collaborated with researchers from Utrecht University on a project that examined potential effects of European demand for wood pellets on wildlife diversity in the southeastern U.S. I was heavily involved in an analysis that refined species richness hotspot maps in the U.S. and demonstrated the ability of fine-resolution data (30m x 30m) to reveal the locations of species richness hotspots that would be missed with data that is even slightly coarser and similar to resolutions commonly used for continental and global species richness assessments (1km x 1km; see publication).
Research Technician, August – September 2018
US Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
Collaborators: Will Fields
I conducted avian point counts along fire breaks over eight days as part of a project characterizing Lindera subcoriacea ecology and metapopulation dynamics.
Conservation Recommendations Research Technician, January – November 2009
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Collaborators: Jeff Marcus, Jacquelyn Wallace
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) works extensively to understand the impacts of urbanization and land use on wildlife populations through programs such as the Green Growth Toolbox. Questions about relationships between species’ ecology and human development have been studied, but the NCWRC needed dedicated effort compiling this information. I synthesized the scientific literature on the habitat needs of priority species for conservation in North Carolina and drafted conservation recommendations for land use planners and developers. The work was eventually approved and published by the NCWRC (see publication).
Research Assistant, January – November 2009
USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Principle Investigator: C. Ashton Drew
I reviewed scientific literature on the habitat relationships of Swainson’s Warblers for use in spatially-explicit habitat models, and recruited field assistants for secretive marsh bird surveys in wildlife refuges.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, August – December 2008
Department of Plant Biology, North Carolina State University
I instructed two lab sections of “Introduction to Ecology” while I was a graduate student.
Graduate Research Assistant, August 2005 – August 2008
USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Principle Investigator: Theodore R. Simons
The National Park Service owns and manages large portions of The Outer Banks of North Carolina where important wildlife habitat and human recreation co-occur. My master’s research project examined the influences of off-road vehicle traffic on the behavior and habitat use of migrating shorebirds along ocean beaches at Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC. I designed, conducted, and analyzed a novel experimental field study that found a reduction in habitat use and resting behaviors for some species (see publication). I also performed extensive shorebird surveys on South Core Banks that described spatial and temporal patterns in fall migration, which are detailed in my thesis.
Research Technician, May – June 2008
USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Principal Investigator: Theodore R. Simons
I participated in field research that assessed different methods for estimating detection probabilities during avian point count surveys. IPerformed modified point counts along 12 Breeding Bird Survey routes in central North Carolina.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, January – May 2006
Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University
I instructed two lab sections of “Evolution, Behavior, and Ecology”.
Research Technician, February – June 2005
USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Principal Investigator: Sarah Mabey
I ordered, downloaded, reviewed, and exported Nexrad WSR-88D imagery from the National Climatic Data Center for a project that used radar imagery to identify migratory land bird stopover sites in North Carolina and Virginia.
Research Technician, May – July 2004
USGS North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Principal Investigator: Theodore R. Simons
I collected field data on spatial and temporal variations in Black-throated Blue Warbler and Ovenbird singing rates, Pisgah National Forest, NC. I located and monitored nests, sampled singing rates, and sampled vegetation at study sites.
Research Technician, April 2004
Department of Forestry, North Carolina State University
Principal Investigators: George Hess and Christopher Moorman
I conducted songbird surveys along transects in Raleigh and Cary, NC for a study of habitat use by migrating songbirds in urban greenways.
Assistant Produce Team Leader, February 2003 – March 2004
Whole Foods Market, Pittsburgh, PA and Durham, NC
I ordered and inventoried produce in accordance with department’s target profit margin and implemented new regional standards and performance goals. I supervised and trained 25 team members.
Research Technician, April 2002 – June 2002
Department of Forestry, North Carolina State University
Principal Investigators: George Hess and Christopher Moorman
I performed point count surveys of songbirds in Raleigh and Cary, NC for a study of the relationship between urban greenway landscape characteristics and breeding birds.
Research Technician, June 2000 – July 2002
Mears Fork Corridor Project, Summerfield, NC
Supervisor: Moni Bates
I created and implemented an annual bird survey protocol for assessing the effectiveness of habitat conservation efforts along Mears Fork Creek in NC.
Volunteer
Painted Bunting Population Assessment and Monitoring Project, Spring 2007
USGS, USFWS, and NC Museum of Natural Sciences
I performed Painted Bunting surveys at 18 sites in coastal North Carolina.
All Bird Radio Project, Fall 2004 – Spring 2007
USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, North Carolina State University
I performed simulated point count surveys of recorded bird songs for a study of avian point count methods and bird detectability.
Powdermill Bird Banding, 2003
Powdermill Avian Research Center, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Rector, PA
I banded birds and recorded data in assistance with a long-term banding project.