Zach Storc Email & Phone Number

Indianapolis, In, Us

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Graduate Research Assistant, Kansas Biological Survey and Center for Ecological ResearchAug 2021 – Dec 2021, May 2022 – Dec 2022, May 2023 – Aug 2023, May 2024 – Jun 2024 | 20 hrs/wk• Assisted with prairie restoration research projects in the Baer Ecology Lab• Collected data on plant community composition within long-term ecological restoration plots at Konza Prairie• Collected soil and plant biomass samples and assisted in laboratory processing of samples• Entered field data and performed quality control to ensure accuracy of entered data• Organized and maintained project data on long-term plant species composition• Wrote R and Python scripts for data manipulation, data analysis, and data visualization• Collected and processed native seeds and installed new restoration areas with permanent sampling plotsGraduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyJan 2022 – May 2022, Jan 2023 – May 2023, Aug 2023 – May 2024 | 20 hrs/wk• Taught (3) 3-hour lab sections per week for BIOL 154: Intro Biology Lab for STEM Majors• Graded in-person and online student assignments weekly• Attended weekly GTA meetings to gain familiarity with lab activities and plan for upcoming labs• Regularly communicated with laboratory director to provide course updates and address concerns• Answered emails from students regarding assignments and course policy

Franklin Grove, Illinois, United States

• Surveyed tallgrass prairie restoration plantings and adjacent wetlands and streams for invasive plant species and removed using backpack herbicide sprayers/hand tools • Collected and processed native seed from prairies and wetlands for use in new restoration plantings • Performed prescribed burns, gaining experience in a wide variety of roles and scenarios within prescribed fire operations, including the use of off-road vehicles with tank sprayers• Operated chain pole saws to remove tree branches along fire lines to maintain heavy equipment access• Maintained site buildings, field equipment and fencelines; removed old fencing from newly acquired property• Recorded invasive species populations and completed work areas using ArcGIS Field Maps

Roselle, Illinois

• Provided customer service and field support to large scale landscape maintenance clients, regularly inspecting client sites, resolving issues, and providing proactive site management recommendations• Made proposals and work orders for landscape work to be done, including the design of site enhancement projects such as new plantings and drainage improvement plans using landscape architecture software• Coordinated with senior account managers and field staff to effectively communicate job task details, relay site conditions, and address unexpected issues to ensure quality and timeliness of work• Maintained full responsibility for managing a small portfolio of landscape maintenance accounts, serving as the main contact for property managers to manage site priorities and projects from proposal to invoice

Virgil, Il

• Administered the production schedule for 400+ varieties of nursery and greenhouse grown plants on a 250-acre farm, creating both weekly, and long-term production plans from propagation to sellable size• Coordinated with site growers, sales team, and external suppliers to plan for production needs and ensure timely delivery of production materials needed for the nursery• Entered production data to maintain accurate accounting of current inventory and materials used• Inspected horticultural crops for quality to ensure accurate production inventory and plan for potential losses• Maintained trial plant garden and assisted with weeding, watering, and moving nursery plants

Mundelein, Illinois

• Applied fertilizers and pesticides to turfgrass, perennials and woody plants to improve plant health and treat and prevent weeds, plant diseases, and insect pests• Performed dormant pruning to maintain the structure and health of ornamental trees and shrubs • Assisted teams across departments (maintenance, construction, irrigation, snow removal) to better understand company-wide operations and ensure consistent quality in service• Assisted in supervising work and organizing field project logistics by obtaining supplies and equipment, transporting crews, and making site visits/inspections to ensure quality of work

Naperville, Il

• Applied my knowledge of ecology and plant identification to assist ecologists in implementing ecosystem restoration projects in woodlands, wetlands, and prairies located within the Cook County Forest Preserve District, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, and the ComEd Prairie Program• Safely prepared and applied herbicide for control of woody and invasive plant species within large tracts of land using backpack sprayers, performing regular equipment maintenance as needed• Facilitated native woodland regeneration by using chainsaws and brush cutters to remove invasive trees and shrubs and hand pulling to remove invasive herbaceous plants• Conducted prescribed burns as part of a prescribed burn crew, gaining a better understanding of the operations and procedures involved in safely maintaining wildland fire areas

Franklin Grove, Illinois, United States

• Assisted with the restoration and management of ~4000-acre Nachusa Grasslands tallgrass prairie preserve• Led the seasonal restoration crew daily in scouting and removal of invasive plants with herbicide/hand tools, and in identification and collection of native seeds found in a variety of environmental conditions• Created native seed mixes and planted new restoration areas using trucks with seeding trailers• Maintained site headquarters and equipment, and assisted with hosting site events• Performed a variety of tasks to help prepare for the reintroduction of bison, including bison fence construction, carpentry projects, and chainsaw work to remove trees around fence lines• Assisted researchers on and off site with ecological data collection

Batavia, Illinois, United States

• Assisted the staff restoration ecologist in helping to improve and maintain Fermilab’s 1000-acre Main Ring Prairie restoration, along with a variety of other prairie, woodland, and wetland restoration projects• Learned to safely mix and apply herbicides and use gas-powered/hand tools for invasive species management, and identify native and invasive plant species within a variety of ecosystems• Collected native seeds, hand planted native shrubs, and assisted with volunteer workdays• Entered and organized field data to help keep track of invasive species populations and seed collection sites• Assisted with vegetation surveys and wildlife monitoring in a wide variety of natural areas to gain a better understanding of ecosystem health in sites of varying disturbance

Lisle, Illinois, United States

• Aided with organizing and planning the Arboretum’s 2012 symposium on tallgrass prairie restoration• Prepared conservation education documents and entered historical written data on plant communities• Assisted with prairie plant surveys and field data collection, exposing me to the identification and ecology of the native and invasive plant species of the area• Performed weekly hands-on prairie restoration tasks such as removing invasive/woody vegetation with hand tools and collecting native seed under the direction of the natural areas manager and volunteer stewards• Assisted the soil science research lab weekly in processing, recording, and analyzing data for soil samples taken from a variety of research projects

Master Of Arts - Ma, Ecology And Evolutionary Biology

Master's Thesis: Planting Year Climate Explains Variation in Community Assembly in Developing Prairie

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Environmental Science

Biology/Biological Sciences, General