D*****n

With a Master’s Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources from Clemson University (May 2025) and acquired experience in a vast number of fields, including geographic ecosystem modeling, remote sensing, pollutant impacts, nature-based solutions, spectral signature expertise, carbon analysis, restoration implementation, and wildlife management. I am currently working on becoming a certified wildlife biologist and ecologist in the coming months with my knowledge and experience. My goal and passion in life is to protect the biosphere at the largest scale possible, influenced by GIS modeling, ecosystem services protection, science-based advocacy, strategic campaigns, and habitat management. Therefore, the bigger the projects, the more excited I am to bring actionable science to fruition.

My roles with NASA DEVELOP enhanced my ability to handle complex environmental data and create detailed spatial analyses with spectral signatures through distribution/habitat models using random forest classification for Whitebark Pine and Limber Pine, clearly presenting a breakthrough in scientific results for our diverse partners. I further gained increased knowledge through GLM/GLMM, GAM/GAMM, and boosted regression tree concepts. In the Earth and Science division trainings, I furthered my knowledge in hierarchal ecological modeling, spatial animal movement ecology through concepts of home-range/utilization distribution, and coastal/near-shore laser altimetry. I thoroughly enjoy translating technical results into stakeholder-ready deliverables through dashboards/story products, presentations and scientific papers/reports. I am comfortable collaborating with agencies and NGOs to ensure products meet decision-support needs.

Additionally, during my GIS courses at Clemson, I developed models focused on bird habitat restoration, carbon storage, sequestration, and sediment erosion within forest environments, gaining extensive knowledge in ecology across various facets and utilizing ArcGIS (Pro, AGOL, Story Maps, Field Maps), Google Earth Engine, and INVEST. In an Ecosystem services project, I created statistical models that are intertwined with ecosystem service modeling with quantitative cost benefit analysis in many prisms (e.g., Tourism, travel-cost, and GLMs). I possess unique expertise in assisting with vast ecological restoration through the analysis of spatial and field information and converting findings into practical guidance for monetizing ecosystem management through restoration and wildlife management. My coursework, professional, and volunteer experience align with the goals of contributing to the expansion and addressing the challenges of nature resilience throughout the biosphere. I also have experience transforming technical work into accessible storylines, maps, and talking points for partners, which is the type of communication required for comment letters, action alerts, and other campaign materials.

I would like to emphasize that I have developed AGOL-based field data collection tools to gather data for NGOs and government affiliates, and I’m familiar with attribute schemas and downstream analysis. Further, I’m comfortable working in GEE/ArcGIS/R for repeatable exports and large spatial datasets. Thank you very much for considering my application. I love all ecosystems and birds, and anything I can do to contribute to their sustainability for centuries gives me immense joy and purpose.

I look forward to discussing how my background, continued growth, and passion align. I may not have as much experience as other candidates, but my desire for a platform to grow, learn, and implement my current knowledge is my hope.