Graduate Teaching Assistant for Plants in the Landscape (Fall 2017 & 2018) and Digital Media (Spring 2019)

Research educational business opportunities, draft communications to potential partners and customers, review curriculum content for scientific accuracy, perform general curriculum market research. Review and edit website text, blog posts, and curriculum for clarity, style, and grammar. Report directly to the Principle Investigator for the project.

Nasami Farm is a native plant nursery dedicated to propagating, promoting, and conserving native plants. Managed customer orders, maintained and managed inventory, including watering, pruning, monitoring for pests, applying beneficial insects, and applying fertilizers.

Aided in laboratory clean-up after student work sessions. Maintained invertebrate specimen collection, managed salt water aquarium, including pH, salinity, temperature and feeding of marine creatures. Attended field trips to assist laboratory activities and performed on-screen microscope demonstrations of invertebrate fauna for student observation. Collected specimens for salt water aquaria.

Prepared laboratory for student activities. Facilitated van transportation for student field excursions. Provided critical reading and corrections for numerous writing assignments for a class of 45 students, assisting students with style and grammar.

Conducted collection trips to R.I. coast to acquire specimens for student experiments. Prepared laboratory and assisted students with experimental design. Traveled to Cape Cod, MA and Darling Marine Research Center for weekend trips to aid student activities.

Intensive training in the full range of tasks and skills associated with Botanic Garden maintenance, including woody and herbaceous plant installation and transplanting, pruning, propagation, weed management, integrated pest management, plant identification, public outreach, collections management and record keeping. Individual rotations with Botanic Garden staff including Manager of Living Collections, Manager of Education and Outreach, Conservatory Manager, Special Projects Coordinator, Area Gardeners, and Chief Arborist. Independent Project: Conducted grant research for invasive species removal, GIS tracking and mapping of invasive species, and created master plan for invasive species removal at Hampshire Regional High School in coordination with their Sustainable Forestry Grant.

Attended steering committee meetings. Conducted grant research and drafted grant proposals. Assisted in on-site maintenance.

Subcontractor for professional landscaper, providing residential garden installation, maintenance, and renovation services. Experience with weed management, pruning, woody and herbaceous plant installation and transplanting, edging, mulching, top-dressing, and perennial division. Recruited clientele for private appointments and regular garden maintenance.