Michael Voeltz Email & Phone Number

Walnut Creek, Ca, Us

Oakland, California, United States

Schedules, coordinates, and conducts monitoring efforts for infrastructure and utilities clients, including Caltrans, PG&E, water districts, and more. Facilitates client / contractor communications regarding permitting and compliance and works to schedule survey efforts to best mitigate undue costs or loss of time. Regularly conducts surveys for federal and state listed species of the Bay Area counties including, but not limited to, plants, amphibians (CTS, CRLF, FYLF), reptiles (AWS, WPT), small mammals (SMHM, SFDFW), passerines, rails (RIRA, BLRA) and raptors (BAEA, GOEA, SWHA, BUOW, PEFA). Authors monitoring logs, monthly / annual compliance reports, species relocation plans, biological restraints, and other documents. Knowledgeable of Bay Area and Multiple Region Habitat Conservation Plans and associated covered activities and AMMs.

2380 Bisso Ln # A, Concord, Ca 94520

Surveyed and mapped residential fruit trees across multiple cities in Contra Costa County. Strategically deployed insect traps and hormone lures (Jackson Traps, McPhail Traps, ChamP traps, etc.) across the county to best improve chances of detecting invasive agricultural pest species. Field identification of tree and plant species / Field identification of native and invasive insect species. Emphasized communication and education of public on placement and intent of insects traps when within or adjacent to private property. Working knowledge of laws, regulations, and professional practices governing agricultural programs.

Department Of Environmental Science, Policy, And Management

-Lab Safety Coordinator and Responsible Person / Delegate for all associated work spaces-Integration of new lab members in the lab space, including the training of new undergraduate and graduate students.-General lab management, including: chemical inventory management, hazardous waste removal, equipment troubleshooting and repair, ordering/purchasing of lab supplies. -Assistance and occasional lead in experimental design and bioassays. Regularly compiled results for initial data analysis / drafting of reports.-Utilized DNA / RNA extraction methods optimized for difficult tissues, namely grapevine, including the assembly of their reagents / buffers.-Well versed in filter column-based extraction kits and methodology (Qiagen, Zymo Research, etc.), having processed several thousands of plant, insect, and gram-negative bacterial samples.-Diagnostic PCR and qPCR for detection of Xylella fastidiosa in insect and plant tissues.-Well practiced in rigorous sterile techniques required for the culturing of X. fastidiosa strains in lab research purposes.-Manipulation and dissection of insects using dissection scopes.-General greenhouse skills, including: watering, fertilization, soil preparation, plant propagation, insect rearing of sap-feeding insects, and sterilization of greenhouse equipment / materials.-Seasonal field work in Napa and Sonoma county vineyards for insect trapping and disease mapping of Pierce’s Disease of Grape. Includes working in inclement weather, sweep netting, sticky trap placement, and sampling methodology.

900 University Ave, Riverside, Ca 92521

Processed fresh citrus and avocado tissues to a chopped and lyophilized state ready for grinding and total nucleic acid extraction.Utilized MagMAX™ Total Nucleic Acid Isolation Kits, and related equipment, for rapid, high-throughput purification of RNA and genomic DNA.Ran diagnostic tests on several thousands of citrus samples for various viroids, viruses, and bacterial pathogens via RT-qPCR for the CDFA and CCPP.Tested hundreds of avocado samples for presence of Avocado Sunblotch Viroid via RT-qPCR.Regularly compiled data and results in easy-to-read, excel formats.Restructured and optimized SOP’s and lab protocols for efficiency and ease-of-use.

900 University Ave, Riverside, Ca 92521

Processed plant material by way of fixation, embedding, mounting, and dissection, later staining the same samples with Aniline Blue WS procedures for callose research.Worked with optical, dissection, confocal, and SEM microscopy equipment to prepare, analyze, and process samples.Prepared and analyzed plant-insect interactions between Vicia faba and whitefly species utilizing electropenetrography methods and techniques.

900 University Ave, Riverside, Ca 92521

Processed avocado leaf tissues with liquid nitrogen and mortar and pestle.Brought ground, lyophilized materials to nucleic acid using DNA/RNA extraction and isolation kits.Ran avocado sample via ELISA and PCR for viruses and viroids.Tended to the labs greenhouses; maintained watering and fertilization schedules for ornamental and commercial plants.Grew tobacco species from seed and inoculated for TMV research.Sterilized lab materials utilizing bleach and TSP mixtures.

900 University Ave, Riverside, Ca 92521

Guest relations with those visiting the UC Riverside Botanic Gardens; Helped maintain watering schedules for the 40 sq. acre facilitiesReplaced irrigation / sprinkler systems whenever necessary.Habitually worked in difficult terrain and often inclement weather above 100ºF.With use of 4-wheeled vehicles and a trailer, removed invasive and dead plant material from around the acreage.