Work Experience

  • Postdoctoral Associate at Idaho State University (2023- Present) 
    • ​Research on NSF funded Geochemistry and Microbiology (Geomicro) project to simulate and evaluate soil carbon pools (microbial and mineral associated) using the Community Land Model and the MIcrobial MIneral Carbon Stabilization (MIMICS) model 
    • Develop and improve a model to estimate soil thickness and nutrients stocks across the United States for commercial marketing
  • Postdoctoral Researcher at the Desert Research Institute (DRI)  in Soil Science, Soil Physics, and Geomorphology (2022-2023)
    • ​Conduct soil, geomorphic, and terrain analysis for Department of Defense contracts in relations to vehicle mobility studies, and remote predictive soil/landform mapping applications
  • SEES Health, Safety and Wellness Steele Building Student Representative (2019-2020)  
  • Lab/Field Manager, Center for Ecological Research and Education (2016-2017)                                                        
    • Collected and processed ecological samples (water, soil, Dataloggers, Hydrolabs, Turner Designs) on a WestCo Scientific SmartChem discrete analyzer, DIONEX ion chromatograph, and Shimadzu TOC/TN and solid state module (SSM)
  • Hydrologic Technician GS-1316-07, USDA-ARS Boise Office (2016-2017)                                                                       
    • Assisted in field/lab research for both USDA-ARS and graduate students, collected and processed soil, water and vegetation samples, and installed a suite of in-situ instruments
  • Hydrologist, Hatch Mott MacDonald (2013-2014)                                                                                                                             
    • Aided in subsidence mitigation, sampled wells and streams, measured hydraulic head and discharge, monitored fish kills, and located fractures and no-flow stream sections
  • Safety Manager Intern, FCI (Federal Correction Institute) Morgantown (2012)                                                                           
    • Audited government facility to maintain safety code and regulation for government, OSHA, DEP, and EPA standards 
  • Chemist, Comtech Industries Inc. (2012)                                                                                                                               
    • Conducted water treatments and mitigation for  hydraulic fracturing, assisting in NORM radiation surveys, and aided in OSHA safety inspections on drilling platforms 

Teaching Experience

  • Department of Geosciences, Idaho State University (2023-Present)
    • Advised students working on the IGEM-HERC Grant
      • Porter Chase, Geology
      • Andy Barton, Conservation Biology
      • Kyle Formigli, Hydrology
      • Krissy Wuthrich, Ecology
      • Maddox Bickford-Thorpe, Microbiology
    • Advised students on  the Career Path Internship (CPI) grant 
      • ​Rylee Bloxham, Conversation Biology
      • Hannah Bloxham, Environmental Science
      • Macy Zweigart, Geology
  • School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury (2020-2022)
    • GEOL248: Geomorphology - Earth Surface Processes
    • Advised doctorate student
      • ​Caeli Connolly (2024-Present)
    • Advised masters student
      • ​Laura Sumerville (2023-Present)
    • Advised honours students
      • Aloysius Grealy, Geography (2021-2022)
      • Jack Gilroy, Geography (2021-2023)
  • School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Queensland (2018-2020)
    • GEOS 1100: Environment and Society Field Trip
    • GEOS 2103/7103: Biogeography and Geomorphology Lab
    • GEOS 1100L:  Environment and Society
    • Mentored students on undergraduate research (* indicates primary mentor)
      • * Aloysius Grealy, Geography (2019)
      • * Jack Gilroy, Geography (2019)
  • Department of Geosciences, Idaho State University (2014-2016)
    • GEOL 1100: The Dynamic Earth
    • GEOL 1100L: The Dynamic Earth Labs
    • GEOL 1101: Physical Geology
    • GEOL 3306: Environmental Geology
    • Advised students on the Career Path Internship (CPI)
      • Callan Norby, Biochemistry
      • Riley Williams, Nursing
      • Dylan Refaey, Geology
      • Brett Schwabedissen, Biology
      • Remington King, Mechanical Engineering
      • Mitchell Price, Geology
    • Advised students on the MILES Undergraduate Research Internships (MURI)
      • ​Dirk Baskett, Engineering
      • Caleb Renner, Geology
      • Kyley Ripley, Biomedical Science
  • ​​Department of Earth Sciences, California University of Pennsylvania (2013)
    • EAS 391: North West United States Field Geology
    • EAS 331: Mineralogy
Invited Reviewer for Journal Publication 
  • Nature Geoscience
  • Earth Surface Dynamics
  • Environmental Earth Science
  • Soil Science Society of America
Session Convener
  • Australasian Quaternary Association/Friends of the Pleistocene Pop-up Conference: 2021 Session 1 – Lake, Rivers, and Landscapes
Awards and Grants
  • Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission Initiative (IGEM)-HERC Grant - Demonstration of soil thickness and carbon (STC) method: $350,000 (2024)
  • ANSTO Research Portal Proposal - Using meteoric 10Be to define soil movement and development: $40,000 (2023)
  • ITAP Research Funding: $3,490 (2023)
  • INQUA 2023 Congress in Rome Travel Grant: $2150 (2023)
  • University of Canterbury Foundation Doctoral Publication Prize : $2000 (2022)
  • Mason Trust​ Grant- Using surface roughness to determine coastal dune ages : $877 (2021)
  • Australasian Quaternary Association (AQUA) best conference presentation (2021)
  • 14C Internship Award - Funded by the Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH): $8000 (2021)
  • University of Canterbury Foundation Doctoral Publication Prize : $500 (2021)
  • Mason Trust​ Grant- Landscape evolution of coastal dunes: $3,335 (2020)
  • ANSTO Research Portal Proposal - 14C dating to determine long-term spatial and temporal changes in erosion: $20,534 (2020)
  • ANSTO Research Portal Proposal - Meteoric 10Be to determine long-term erosion rates of coast dunes: $37,800 (2020)
  • ANSTO Research Portal Proposal - Radiocarbon dating charcoal for paleo-fire reconstruction: $4,440 (2020)
  • ANSTO Research Portal Proposal - Radiocarbon dating of terrestrial snail shells: $5,920 (2019)
  • ANSTO Research Portal Proposal - Defining the mobile-stable regolith boundary using in situ and meteoric 10Be: $13,440 (2019)
  • Australian & New Zealand Geomorphology Group Travel Grant: $360 (2019)
  • Idaho State University Travel Grant: $548 (2015)
  • Idaho State University Travel Grant: $653 (2014)
  • Pittsburgh Geological Society Outstanding Student Research Poster (2014)
  • California University of Pennsylvania Earth Science Award (2013)
  • Pennsylvania STEM Undergraduate Research Award (2012)
  • California University Residence Life Academic Excellence Award (2011)
  • Certificate of Achievement for "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"(2010)

Past and Current Affiliations