Vini Souza Email & Phone Number

Novato, Ca, Us

Stinson Beach, California, United States

Environmental educator, outdoor leader, and partnership specialist responsible for implementing relevant and impactful programs for youth and adults. Active in collaborating closely with colleagues, partners, and others to integrate vital conservation science and applied stewardship with environmental education in order to build empowered and inclusive communities.

Rohnert Park, California, United States

- Proposed, planned, and executed thesis on bull kelp (Nereocystis Leutkeana) habitat edges.- Developed protocol and procedures for developing, deploying, collecting, analyzing, reporting, and publishing studies on marine recruitment patterns.- Trained lab members, undergraduates from Sonoma State, and local community college students to process and analyze samples.- Mentored four Sonoma State undergraduates for a semester (Annette Lee, Abigail Culpepper, Bobbi Lance, and Tiffany Ko). - Established a multi-year monitoring program for 9 remnant kelp patches on the Sonoma and Mendocino coast.- Successfully collected, cultured, and out planted bull kelp (Nereocystis Leutkeana) at Drakes Bay (Marin), Timber Cover (Sonoma), Albion Cove (Mendocino), and Portuguese Beach (Mendocino).- Developed long – term kelp enhancement collaboration projects with CA Fish and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy, Reef Check, The Greater Farallon Institute, Sea Grant, and Moss Landing Marine Labs.- Yearly assessments of the quality and conditions of 5 estuary sites along the north coast for the California Estuarine Protected Area (EMPA) Monitoring Program.

San Rafael And Santa Cruz Ca

Several years of experience working privately for three separate families (2014-2017, 2018, and 2019-2021)- Observed and interacted with children to proactively identify behavioral issues and worked with parents to address concerns - Drove children to and from school, sporting events, appointments, and other extracurricular activities - Observed social interactions and activities to identify positive behaviors and areas where improvement is needed - Provided daily assistance with homework, studying, and science and art projects - Provided daily preparation of breakfast, lunch, and dinner in addition to household maintenance including laundry, dishes, sweeping, and vacuuming- Kept records of behavior issues, food allergies, and medications administered to children

Long Marine Lab

- Independently maintained 130-gallon tropical coral culture system- Propagated, monitored, and treated coral colonies - Cultured copepods (Tisbe biminiensis) and microalgae used in coral/fish feed- Maintained and measured alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, and phosphates using colorimetric tests and automated dosing systems- Decalcified pumps, programmed LED lights, and cleaned protein skimmer- Extracted and quantified zooxanthellae from coral tissue using airbrush, hemocytometer, and flowcytometer- Proposed, planned, and begun independent project comparing hemocytometer and imaging flowcytometer zooxanthellae quantification

Bodega Bay, California, United States

Morgan Lab, UC Davis (Summer 2016) - Sampled plankton offshore of Bodega Head, California using the Schindler-Patalas trap- Constructed, set, and collected larval recruitment modules within various intertidal sites along the Sonoma Coast- Deployed and retrieved acoustic wave and current profilers across Tomales Bay- Identified, counted, and recorded various larval and juvenile species

Master'S Degree, Biology (Marine Ecology Focus)

Full time leading graduate researcher and collaborator on kelp restoration and salt marsh conservation/restoration projects along.

Bachelor'S Degree, Marine Biology

Executed scientific research, marine fieldwork, and underwater surveys in the Mediterranean and central/northern CA as an AAUS certified.

Education record

Integrated the foundational concepts learned in lecture with hands on field and lab experience through internships and independent projects.