Daniel Smith Email & Phone Number

Sacramento, Ca, Us

California, United States

West Jefferson, North Carolina, United States

-Measure stream water quality on a monthly basis, including dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, E. coli, and other relevant data points.-Manage nine other volunteers through recertification trainings, data collection quality assurance and quality control, and equipment distribution-Analyze water quality data collected over the last two decades and visualize trends/changes overtime

Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

Blacksburg, Virginia, United States

-Research goal: to study the impact of plant roots and soil microorganisms on streambank soil erosion in a recirculating flume-Developed testable hypotheses and experimental methods for five different projects related to fluvial geomorphology, streambank erosion, stream hydraulics and hydrology, soil microbiology, and fluid mechanics.-Collected experimental data in chemical lab and laboratory flume settings.-Managed and organized large datasets over a five year period.-Analyzed datasets using programing languages such as R, Python, and MATLAB.-Developed a 5-year long budget to ensure the purchase of research materials and other equipment necessary for project completion.-Took on related projects where I designed stream restoration projects, modeled water resources and stream flows using Python and R, conducted habitat and water quality assessments, and conducted stream surveys and wetland delineations.-Written successful grant proposals that have lead to individual stipend and research funding totaling over $140,000.-Mentored and supervised four undergraduate students in co-developed research projects and writing assignments.-Contributed to the field of geomorphology and biological engineering by conducting reviews/critiques of two proposed research publications in referred journals.

-The Virginia Scientists-Community Interface (V-SCI) is a volunteer graduate student lead group that provides non-profit organizations and advocacy groups with scientific research support.-Took part in multidisciplinary work through collaborations with nonprofit partner organizations (Sierra Club, Wild Virginia, Southern Environmental Law, etc.) and graduate students across academic disciplines (biology, engineering, geology, etc.).-Identified target areas where scientific expertise is necessary for partner organizations engaged in community projects.-Managed a multidisciplinary group of graduate students to evaluate and conduct research on the potential impacts on water quality, water quantity and channel morphology by planned or existing pipeline construction activities.-Developed three concise reports detailing our technical concerns with a sedimentation and hydrologic analysis and an environmental impact statement completed by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The final reports were submitted to the United States Forest Service and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as public comments.-Effectively communicated V-SCI's mission and accomplishments at international conferences and through facilitated workshops.-Used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to upload and analyze terrain data, conduct a slope analysis, determine watershed size and other characteristics, and perform other hydrologic/environmental analyses related to project questions and objectives.

Bladensburg, Maryland, United States

-Developed and/or modified lessons for 20+ 6th-8th grade students that provide them with a deeper understanding of their local river, the watershed community, and what they can do to protect it.-Created short assignments for 9th grade student leaders and managed student behavior with consistent expectations through coordination with five other teachers to ensure success of lessons.-Coordinated with 5 other teachers/mentors to ensure success of lessons and team building activities every session.-Assisted with ecological restoration programs, including wetland restoration, stream restoration, invasive plant management, river trash collection, SAV propagation, reforestation and meadow restoration.

College Park, Maryland, United States

-Identified soil physical and hydrological properties (i.e. redox features, clay content, textural class, etc.) through field textural and observational techniques-Exhibited strong commitment to team dynamics through collaboration with other soil judging team members to successfully classify soil profiles during group competitions-Competed against 50+ undergraduate students during the 2014 and 2015 Regional Soil Judging competitions in Pennsylvania and Ohio, coming in 15th place and 6th place respectively-Contributed to University of Maryland team and placed 2nd place overall during 2016 National Soil Judging competition in Manhattan Kansas-Analyzed over 40 exposed soil profiles throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kansas

Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States

-Project funded by The National Science Foundation (NSF) through the engineering research center (ERC) for Re-inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Stanford University-Observed overall plant growth and survivorship for 128 transplanted vegetation (5 different species) by traveling to pre-determined stream restoration site daily.-Measured plant stress using the Chlorophyll Meter SPAD-502 and Model 1000 Pressure Chamber and later complied over 100 field GPS data sets into Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS maps-Coordinated with graduate students and other project team members during installation of on-site weather station and collected groundwater level data using previously installed piezometers-Exhibited written and oral communication skills through development of a scientific report, creation of a poster and infographic that included research data in graphs and tables, and a 10 minute final presentation of my research

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Biological Systems Engineering

Activities and Societies: American Geophysical Union; American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers; Alpha Epsilon; Society.

Education record