CURRICULUM VITAE

Eric AhernSawyer, Conservation Biologist

M.S. Candidate

Teaching Philosophy & Research Interests

My teaching philosophy is guided by my passion for the great outdoors. Over years of research, study, and recreation I have developed a deep commitment to instilling in students the need for a diverse, multidisciplinary approach to understanding the natural world. I use my specialization on the management of invasive animals and their impacts on the biotic communities of the Western United States as a means to open up dialogue between a myriad of stakeholders. This effort to further understanding of many ecological principles has proved successful.

EDUCATION

M.S. Environmental Studies, Concentration Conservation Biology Antioch University New England, Candidate

Areas of expertise: vertebrate ecology, invasive species management, desert ecology, and developing alternative methods of teaching biology to adult learners.

Graduate Certificate in Wetland Delineation Portland State University 2007

Graduate Certificate in Wetland Mitigation Portland State University 2007

B.A. Environmental Science Marylhurst University 2007

Senior Thesis Title “Effects of Arctic Climate Change on Mammalian Species.”

WORK EXPERIENCE

Marylhurst University: 2013

Curriculum Design Specialist

Designed freshman level biology courses from the ground up for the Science and Math Department. I built community interest by visiting local high schools and community colleges that often have transfer students enroll at the university.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: 2013-2014

Volunteer Fisheries Technician

MS Project Titled: A Fish & A Hammer:

Communicating ecology of invasive species control from a desert oasis in Southeast Oregon

Conducted field work towards the refuge’s aquatic health plan. Translated advanced scientific data into language easily accessible by a general audience. This was achieved through works of creative nonfiction, and a compilation of a field journal into an article submitted for a national audience.

Antioch University New England Library: 2012

Library Assistant

I provided stellar customer service at the Library Services Desk, circulating all library material - books, DVDs, laptops, and AV equipment. I assisted patrons with use of equipment, shelved books and journals, maintained and added to web based training/policy manual, general office work including database entry work and word processed, cleaned library, and other assistance as needed.

Northwest Debt Relief Law Firm 2010-2011

Contract Support Staff

I aided in the maintenance of client files. I delivered excellent customer service to staff attorneys and paralegal while helping to audit files. I designed an Excel database of clients.

Give Us This Day (GUTD): 2008-2010

Case Manager

I coordinated resources needed for successful placement and care of foster children. I worked with DHS, mental, medical, and dental health providers, parents, foster parents, teachers, and attorneys. I scheduled and facilitated meetings between all of the above interested parties, including IEP meetings in which the child’s education plan was reviewed. I worked closely with the children’s’ providers to obtain their needed medications, often in emergency situations that required immediate mental or medical care. I wrote confidential assessment and evaluations, discharges and terminations, master service plans, all required reports by state regulations. I handled all the office equipment including computers, printers, phones, and fax machines.

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Environmental Unit 2006

Intern in the Environmental Unit of ODOT

I provided research and practical support to other biologists, a wetlands specialist, and the historian in determining the potential environmental impact of ODOT planned bridge and highway projects. I surveyed field sites to identify environmental issues that could change permitting requirements of freeway retrofits and disability upgrades. I collected data through coordinating with outside agencies for zoning, hazmat, ownership rights, and other projected impacts. I then entered the data into a report for project staff.

SKILLS

Computers

JMP, PAST, Excel for statistical analysis towards ecological research. The primary focus was placed on developing bio-statistical methods for designing criteria, conditions, and parameters to perform strong and rigorous scientific studies of validity.
Databases, DEQ and FEMA were used for obtaining data required for regulatory reports by ODOT. OhioLink and many other academic databases for preparing reports, presentations, and independent research.
Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Access, Power Point and Outlook. I have written many reports with Word during my college and professional career. I have given several presentations using Power Point. I used Access to identify archaeological and historic sites in the state of Oregon. I have often used Outlook to set meetings.

Research & Reporting

Research data needed for MS Project including Comprehensive Conservation Plan’s, Academic articles, and interviewed experts. Met with local educators regarding baseline knowledge of exiting local high school students, in an effort to prepare a tailored learning experience for new students who enroll in biology courses at Marylhurst University. Conferred with colleagues on appropriate designs for Biology syllabi, and relevant texts. Gathered information important to ODOT, for project planning.
Report writing has been critical to my success as a graduate student, a social worker, and while working in a regulatory capacity. Through my MS project I have strengthened both my scientific and creative writing skills. This practice has built upon my goal of bringing background history, dense scientific concepts, and pertinent data to a lay audience. I also wrote confidential assessments and evaluations, as well as many other reports as required by state licensure for all clients at GUTD in a timely and efficient manner. At ODOT I submitted data to staff, responsible for project, including Environmental Part III Categorical Exclusion, a requirement of NEPA.

Fieldwork

Invasive species management including common carp control studies, that are then used to predict migration patterns of the fish in much larger wetland environments.
Point and Plot Inventory Protocols including Daubenmire and The relevé methods’ for surveying landscapes.
Surveying project areas for protected/endangered species, signs of obvious HAZMAT, and historical sites.
Natural resource inventory of waterfowl habitat In Southern VT and NH. I also searched for eagle’s nests in project areas and was involved in a fish salvage project in Coastal Oregon. I am confident when keying out trees of the Pacific Northwest and New England by their bark alone.
Identification of the samples using synaptic keys in which I found a threatened Red Legged frog in a wetland needing further study, and identified a protected plant in an area of potential development. Tallied, measured, and tagged amphibians, building upon studies that provide over a decades’ worth of data on dispersal of frogs in Central Oregon.
Perform wetland delineations in order to meet Army Corp of Engineers guidelines for ODOT projects.
Stream-bank restoration, remove fence and noxious weeds from habitat ideally suited to support fish and wildlife.
Habitat renewal, to provide better forage areas, for pronghorn and sage grouse.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Oregon Natural Desert Association 1995-2013

I have been a volunteer for approximately 10 days/year for over 15 years, which equates to more than 30 weeks of habitat management and restoration work in Eastern Oregon and Northern Nevada.

This work included removal of physical barriers to pronghorn and sage grouse. I inventoried sites needing protection using GPS. I provided professional guidance on the planting of stream stabilizing trees in endangered salmonid habitat. I built and moved enclosures to monitor grazing relative to groundwater wells.

Sunriver Nature Center 2013

I collected, identified, and tagged threatened red legged frogs in Central Oregon. This work further improves scientific understanding of amphibian dispersal and migration patterns at mitigated sites.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Session Chair, Invasive Species. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Portrland, Oregon, May 2014.

Antioch University New England Environmental Studies Department Colloquium Speaker Series Committee Member, 2011-2012

Marylhurst President’s Student Advisory Council, Science Department’s representative, 2005 – 2006

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Storytelling as an Agent of Change: Communicating ecology of aquatic invasion biology. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Inagural conference. Portland, Oregon, May 2014.

Storytelling as an Agent of Change: Communicating ecology of aquatic invasion biology. Antioch University New England, Environmental Studies Department 14th Annual Research Symposium. Keene, New Hampshire, April 2014.

Effects of Dam Removal on Endangered Salmonid Species. Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District, Salem Oregon, July 2006

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Clackamas Community College, guest lectured on ecology of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, 2013

Judon Academy, guest taught Native Plant Identification. Portland, Oregon, 2009-2010.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Center for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, Keene, New Hampshire, 2011-Present.

HONORS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Boeing Science Scholarship 2005

President’s Education Awards Program 2001:

Outstanding Academic Achievement