I graduated from the University of Washington (UW) in June 2019 with a double bachelor’s degree in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and Environmental Studies, along with a minor in Quantitative Science. I’m originally from Spokane, WA, and my love of lakes and rivers was spurred while fishing, boating, and swimming as a child in the Inland Northwest. Prior to starting my studies at UW I interned for Spokane Riverkeeper, and through time spent collecting water samples, assessing streambank quality, and researching local resource regulations my desire to continue doing freshwater science to inform management decisions was cemented. Some highlights of my undergraduate years were working as a field technician on studies analyzing waterborne disease transmission in Senegal, Africa and the influence of stocking on mountain lake ecosystems in Washington’s Cascade mountains.
This past summer, I worked in Mount Rainier National Park modeling streamflow availability for surface water supply systems under future climate scenarios as a Future Park Leaders of Emerging Change intern. My time as a student in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) and long hours spearheading research projects in the Olden and Wood labs was immensely rewarding, and I’ll be continuing my education as a Master’s student in SAFS starting in Summer 2020. Currently, I’m based at the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin where I’m analyzing the effect of angler management of gravel pit lakes on aquatic and riparian community composition in Germany on a Fulbright grant.
My other professional passion outside of freshwater ecology is science communication. I’m a co-founder of the student-run journal FieldNotes and co-hosted Earth Tones, a podcast on UW graduate student environmental research relevant to the Puget Sound region. In addition, I served on the College of the Environment Student Advisory Council, acted as a Student Ambassador for the college, and led outdoor excursions for Northwest Women. When I’m not hunched over my computer, I enjoy running, biking, kayaking, climbing, and skiing – basically anything that gets me outside. I’ve been fortunate to have found a few supportive mentors over the past few years, and am eternally grateful to Julian Olden, Chelsea Wood, and Gordon Holtgrieve for their wisecracks and life advice. After completing my graduate studies, I intend to pursue a career as an applied freshwater ecologist either with a federal agency or in an academic setting. I’m always keen to collaborate on new projects, just shoot me an email!