Chelsea Vande Pol Email & Phone Number

Richmond, Va

- Collect discrete water-quality samples for multiple investigative studies using standard USGS width and depth-integrating procedures under various hydraulic and environmental conditions.- Proficient in use of US DH-2, DH-81, D-95, D-96, DH-95, and WBH-96 samplers.- Process composited samples for laboratory analysis using USGS standard protocols to minimize bias.- Perform quality-assurance checks to ensure field method adequacy and equipment cleanliness.- Assist in construction and development of continuous stage and water-quality monitoring gages.- Install, maintain, and troubleshoot water-quality instruments and communications equipment.- Calibrate and maintain meters and analytical equipment using appropriate techniques and protocols.- Analyze continuous water-quality time-series records and makes corrections on datasets for thirteen sites.- Maintain fleet vehicles, supply inventory, and water-quality laboratory.- Train incoming employees on sampling procedures and responsibilities.Additional Projects- Collected surface water samples on a project relating the interaction of surface water and groundwater with hazardous waste sites along the Shenandoah River.- Organized sampling efforts on coastal sediment in Virginia for the Sediment-bound Contaminant Resiliency and Response project to monitor contaminant hazards resulting from sea level rise and storm-derived disturbances.- Assisted in surveying cross-sections in the Smith Creek watershed to determine geomorphological effects of erosion and deposition.- Presented educational seminar on the Satlantic Submersible Ultraviolet Nitrate Analyzer (SUNA) for USGS Hydrologic Technicians.- Assisted the USGS Office of Water Quality in collecting field blanks for analysis of atmospheric ammonia concentrations.

- The goal of my research is to evaluate the geochemical effect of water and sediment on coal ash particles spatially and over time in the Dan River following the February 2014 coal ash spill. - After devising a method to separating the coal ash particles from the stream sediment, future goals include analyzing the particles using SEM imaging, EDS, XRD, and other methods to track concentrations of toxic trace elements.

- Prepared field equipment and accompanied graduate students with sample collection.- Assisted graduate students in alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, anions, and total suspended solids analysis.- Determined dissolved iron concentrations using UV-VIS Spectroscopy Ferrozine method.- Assisted with grain size analysis on aquifer sediment.

Richmond, Virginia

- Managed register transactions and store openings/closings at numerous locations- Provided knowledgeable customer service to assist clients with photographic needs