Leanne Stepchinski Email & Phone Number

Houston, Texas, United States

I perform research related to stream assessments from hydrological and ecological perspectives.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Performed research related to hydrologic functions and connectivity within headwater wetland complexes, and between these systems and downstream waters. Prepared proposals, wrote grant and fellowship applications. Mentored and trained new graduate and undergraduate students. Wrote manuscripts and presented project results at conferences.Study of Hydrologic Connectivity of Vernal Pools, Swales, and Headwater Streams to Downstream Waters:• Obtained, managed, and organized climatic data to analyze intra-annual and interannual climatic trends in physiographic region, and resulting hydrologic trends. Mapped, classified, and estimated prevalence of vernal pool wetland features using geospatial analyses. Synthesized analyses of climate, geology, topography, soil, and land use-land-cover data. Analyzed five years of stage data across a watershed transect containing vernal pool wetlandscapes, and conducted time series analyses and celerity analyses, demonstrating physical hydrologic connection between headwater wetland features and downgradient waters.Creation of Archetypal Wetland Complex Model:• Developed depressional fill + spill wetland water balance model. Calibrated and validated model with field data. Created algorithm to combine and vary combinations of wetlands and flowpaths to simulate changes of hydrologic connectivity in watersheds.Influence of Hydrologic Connectivity on the Natural Flow Regimes of Archetypal Headwater Wetlandscapes:• Modeled arrangements of wetlands + flowpaths in archetypal wetlandscapes, and simulated changes to hydrologic connectivity. Analyzed model outputs of stage and outflow in the archetypal wetlandscapes. Evaluated changes to characteristics of flows produced in the watersheds, including peak flows and low flows, frequencies, timing, and duration of flows.

Tampa, Florida, United States

Developed and taught a new graduate-level course, created assignments and lectures for existing courses, served as teaching assistant for field and lecture courses.Courses as Instructor:Geosciences Graduate Skills (Graduate course):• Proposed course concept, and created content, assignments, activities, and lectures for course. Created professional and academic development resources for students.Wildlife Research Methods (Undergraduate course):• Facilitated online Canvas course, managed teaching assistants, graded student assignments.Courses at Teaching Assistant:Hydrology Hybrid (Online and Field Skills) Camp (2021) (2 sections):• Taught online portion of the course: created assignments, assembled Canvas course, created tutorials for student skill mastery, graded assignments, coordinated guest speakers. Prepared field and lab equipment for field portion of course.Hydrology Online Data Analysis Camp (2020) (3 sections):• Created Canvas course, assignments, and tutorials for student skill mastery. Graded assignments, coordinated guest speakers for course.Hydrology Field Camp (2019):• Created assignments, taught students skills for field work, data analyses, and presentations, prepared field and lab equipment for course, co-led tour of Florida hydrology field trip, graded field reports and assignments.

Tampa, Florida, United States

Reviewed and tested EdVision software design and functionality. Provided feedback on user experience, including suggesting improvements to design, user interface, and functionality.

San Antonio, Texas

Performed research related to hydrology, hydrogeology, hydrostratigraphy, geochemistry, and conceptual modeling of water resources. Conceptual Model for the Hill Country Trinity Aquifer Groundwater Availability Model• Expanded and managed datasets related to aquifer water levels, water chemistry, recharge, discharge, and hydraulic parameters. • Created data products and documentation related to: ecology, topography, climate, vegetation, soils, surficial geology, stratigraphy + hydrostratigraphy, and geospatial data.Study of Brackish Aquifers in Texas – Trinity Aquifer:• Compiled datasets of stratigraphic and geochemical data, calculated water salinity, delineated aquifer salinity zones. Created and managed data products and documentation. • Served as project manager: managed workflow and finances of $400,000 state-funded project. Led project team of 14 technical staff. Managed and wrote reporting for project. Presented results to client and statewide stakeholder groups.Assessment of Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer Groundwater Resources:• Created databases of stratigraphic, structural, and chemistry data. Developed aquifer characterization sampling plan, conducted groundwater and surface water sampling for geochemical analyses. Communicated results to clients and stakeholder groups.Investigation of Drought Intensity and Periodicity in South Texas:• Investigated utility of bat guano as a paleoclimate proxy. Conducted literature review, conducted core sampling in cave, directed sampling team in dissection of guano core and sample processing for laboratory analysis. Analyzed and interpreted results from stable isotope, elemental, and mineralogical data. Managed reporting, presented results at conferences.Evaluation of Water Resources: Lewa-Borana Landscape Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya: • Assessed literature and collected historical data, designed field studies to characterize springs and watersheds. Wrote proposals and grants for future project funding.

Compiled and analyzed geologic and hydrologic data. Utilized Microsoft Access and Excel to record‚ search‚ query‚ and analyze data. Conducted research independently to find relevant literature and data‚ including reading and interpreting geophysical well logs. Used Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to edit images and create figures. Utilized ArcGIS to locate potential sampling locations‚ analyze data‚ and make maps. Prepared equipment for field work.

Honors Thesis: Controls on Carbonate Factory Type (Abiotic, Microbial, Skeletal) on the Hongyan Margin of the Yangtze Platform, South China:• Conducted field study identifying and analyzing carbonate rocks, mapped and created stratigraphic sections.• Utilized thin section petrography to analyze carbonate grain types and diagenetic features of carbonate rocks, conducted point counting. • Prepared stratigraphy columns and gamma ray log columns, and analyzed point count data. Creation of Integrated Biostratigraphy and Chronostratigraphy for the Permian-Upper Triassic Strata of Guandao Section, Nanpanjiang Basin, South China:• Imaged and evaluated conodont microfossils utilizing Scanning Electron Microscope, created microfossil identification plates, and developed a chronostratigraphy using biostratigraphy, carbon isotope stratigraphy, and paleomagnetic reversal geochronology.

San Antonio, Texas

Bachelor of Science Degree in Geosciences

Ph.D., Geology: Hydrology And Water Resources Science

Activities and Societies: Geoscience Graduate Student Organization

Bachelor Of Science, Geosciences

Activities and Societies: Alpha Phi Omega, Geology Club, Trinity Choir, Sigma Gamma Epsilon, Students Organized for Sustainability