Student Conservation Association intern working with the Alpena Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office in Alpena, Michigan. Assisting in early detection monitoring efforts across Lake Huron and Lake Erie as a part of our Aquatic Invasive Species team. Conducting fish surveys using a variety of gears like gill nets, mini and paired fyke nets, boat and backpack electrofishing, bottom trawls, beach seines, and set lines. Winter work consists of using microscopy to screen benthos samples for invasive benthic invertebrates.

Work in Dr. Jingchun Li’s marine invertebrate lab to assist with various projects. I co-authored a manuscript on coral-algal flexibility and how that relates to geographic distribution of coral hosts, which was recently submitted for publication. Previously, I mentored two local high school students on their project that studied learning in mantis shrimp, and I was responsible for tank maintenance and feeding various marine invertebrates like mantis shrimps, fiddler crabs, and anemones. Additionally, I participated in weekly writing workshops with the lab group, reading and editing theses, proposals, and manuscripts, which helps to enhance my critical reading and editing skills.