Kaitlin Saunders Email and Phone Number

Conducted master's research relating socioeconomic status to vector mosquitoes in heterogeneous urban landscapes Organized and led teams of students to collect more than 35,000 mosquitoes and 1,100 water quality samples over two month span in Baltimore City and Washington, DCDesigned and conducted field surveys testing attractiveness of USDA novel chemical compound for arbovirus surveillanceTaught 40 undergrad students in two laboratory sections for Fundamentals of Soil Science courseSupervised and mentored two high school interns and seven undergraduate research assistants in field and laboratory studies

Ordered equipment and supplies for funded researchMaintained vendor contacts and backup purchase documentation files for reference or reporting as neededImplemented operating procedures and standards to ensure laboratory safety, organization, and cleanlinessOversaw proper storage and disposal of hazardous wastePerformed daily maintenance on mosquito colonies needed to conduct studies in the laboratory

Provided assistance to Professors Janet Herman and Aaron Mills with project on geochemical processesInput data, performed calculations, and analyzed results in Excel spreadsheetsAided in two day field study on the Eastern Shore of VACollected samples, recorded pressure measurements, and determined velocity profiles of sixteen different streamsMapped watersheds using geographic information system software ArcGIS

Researched and wrote report detailing the economic benefits of using conservation practices for residential propertiesConstructed a website to market products using Wix EditorCreated and posted advertisements on social media including Facebook and Craigslist

Mentored by environmental coordinator Burton Thrift at the menhaden plant located on the Chesapeake BayTested process control samples related to wastewater discharge using a conductivity meter and colorimeterLogged data related to preparation for the Department of Marine ResourcesViewed and discussed a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and an air permitLearned the basic principles of Ammonia Stripping

Completed eight week internship in the field of chemistry offered through the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship ProgramConducted experiment under the guidance of Chemist Holly Ricks-LaskoskiTested the molecular weight effects on proton conductivity in 1H-Tetrazole PolymersPresented results to a panel of scientists at the end of internship and at the Virginia Junior Academy of Science at VCU