A. Michelle (Watson) Donlon

**** ********** ******

San Diego, CA 92104

T 757-***-****

abic2c@r.postjobfree.com

Summary

I am a microbiologist and water treatment laboratory technician based in

San Diego with over 10 years experience. I have extensive experience in

biological and chemical analysis of drinking water, reservoir, groundwater,

ocean and estuarine water, watershed, and storm water runoff. I am

knowledgeable in a range of analytical techniques, field and laboratory

research, management, high-level data analysis, and data presentation

(public speaking and published journal articles).

Experience

Senior Laboratory Technician, Cypress Water Treatment Plant: Wichita Falls,

TX - 2009-2010

Managed lab activities, prepared and analyzed samples employed in water

treatment, calibrated and maintained equipment: Ion chromatograph, GC/MS,

Total Carbon Analyzer, Dynamic Particle Analyzer, PCR, Water Quality

Sondes, Ro-Tap Sieve Shaker, reviewed data for trends or abnormalities,

monitored chemical and biological parameters in accordance to EPA and Texas

State regulations, ensured lab maintained certification, established

quality assurance procedures, addressed questions and inquiries on water

quality issues from the public and city departments, monitored safety

procedures.

Associate Professor-Oceanography, Tidewater Community College: Norfolk, VA

- 2007-2009

Geology 111/112 Oceanography, Lecture and Laboratory, STEM Pioneer Project

mentor, a program to support female students in the fields of science,

technology, engineering and mathematics.

Science Teacher, Virginia Beach Friends School: Virginia Beach, VA - 2006-

2009

High School Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, Estuarine Field

Studies, and AP Oceanography, Class of 2010 Advisor, National Ocean

Sciences Bowl coach. Established and taught a college credit course in

Oceanography, offered on the Virginia Beach Friends School campus, through

Tidewater Community College.

Camp Counselor, Old Dominion University: Norfolk, VA - 2006-2008 (Seasonal)

Summer Sea-camp counselor for children ages 6-8. Red Cross certified in

CPR (Adult, Child, Infant) and first aid.

Teaching Assistant, Old Dominion University: Norfolk, VA- 2001, 2005-2006

OCEN 441/442, Ocean and Earth Field Study I and II, laboratory and field

methods instructor (2005-2006). OCEN 106/107, Introductory Oceanography,

laboratory instructor (2001, 2005). Also presented lectures and hands-on

laboratory activities to South Hampton Roads area public schools, part of

ODU's OEAS's outreach program to introduce students to oceanography and

prepare students for the Virginia Science SOLs.

Research Assistant, Old Dominion University: Norfolk Virginia - 2002-2005,

VA Environmental Endowment.

Field and Laboratory research (Harmful Algal blooms in VA's Estuaries),

grant writing, management and statistical analysis of large data sets. Data

presented at national and international conferences and in scientific

journals. Responsibilities included: algal culturing (continuous and batch

cultures), phytoplankton identification, phytoplankton and bacteria cell

enumeration, chlorophyll analysis, LYA-ala 4 (proteolytic enzymes/peptide

hydrolysis by mixotrophic species), and DFAA and DCAA analyses (Shimadzu

High Performance Liquid Chromatography), analysis of 15N and 13C (Europa

20/20 Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer), DOC analyses (Shimadzu TOC-5000

total carbon analyzer), bacterial productivity (radiation safety training),

and nutrient analysis: NH4+, NO3-, urea, DIP, TDP, TDN (nutrient analyzer

and spectrofluorometer).

Laboratory Manager, Phytoplankton Physiology Lab, Old Dominion University:

Norfolk, VA- 1998-2001

Responsibilities included maintaining axenic and non-axenic CCMP cultures,

and isolating species from field samples to culture and maintain for

experiments. Experiments were conducted using algal cultures to evaluate

species specific growth rates under different environmental conditions

(different media or nutrient concentrations, light, salinity, temperature);

this work included newly discovered species. Other responsibilities

included coordinating and participating in experimental studies, training

and supervising new personnel, and maintaining research and laboratory

equipment. Other duties included chlorophyll analysis, phytoplankton

identification, experimental design, statistical analysis and management of

data sets.

Water Chemist, City of Norfolk, Department of Utilities: Norfolk Virginia -

1997-1998

Responsibilities included collecting water samples from reservoirs for

biological and chemical analysis, identifying, and enumerating freshwater

phytoplankton using light microscopy and epifluorescence, data management,

developing experimental protocols for the monitoring of algae in

reservoirs, and participation in the development of water shed management

programs.

Research Assistant, Old Dominion University: Norfolk Virginia - 1995-1998

Duties included field collections and, identifying and enumerating marine,

estuarine, and freshwater phytoplankton through light and fluorescence

microscopy, and data management for the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program.

Education

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA - BS Biology, 1994, MS Biology, 1998,

PhD Candidate ABD Biological/

Chemical Oceanography 1999- 2006.

Texas Engineering Extension Service: Basic Water Operations, Surface Water

Production I, Water

Laboratory, 64 hours completed, 2010.

Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico - CEPE, Spanish Immersion program,

Summer 2000.

Skills

Advanced Math: management, statistics and high level analysis of data sets,

Comprehension: translating complex material to the general public verbally

and visually, Public Speaking, Languages: English, Spanish. Computer

Skills, Programming Languages: STELLA, MATLAB, Operating Systems: Microsoft

Windows, MS-DOS, Mac OS, Mac OS X. Software Programs: Microsoft Office,

Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, iWorks, QuickTime, SAS, SPSS, Sigma

plot, Internet Explorer, Navigator, Safari.

Laboratory Equipment and Methods: High Performance Liquid Chromatography

(Shimadzu), Ion Chromatography (Dionex ICS-3000), Mass Spectrometry (Europa

20/20 Isotope Ratio MS, Varian 810/820 Inductively Coupled-MS), Gas

Chromatography, Total Carbon Analyzer (Shimadzu TOC-5000 and TOC-VCSH), PCR

(Cepheid Smart Cycler II), Dynamic Particle Analyzer (Brightwell DPA 4100),

Automatic Potentiometric Titrator, Hach Turbidimeter, Astoria Pacific 6-

channel Nutrient Analyzer, Spectrofluorometer, Spectrophotometer, Water

Quality Sondes (Hydrolab Data Sonde 4a, YSI 6600) microscopy (inverted

microscope and fluorescence), algal culturing, phytoplankton

identification, phytoplankton and bacteria cell enumeration, chlorophyll

analysis, and bacterial productivity (radiation safety training).

Memberships in Professional Societies:

Texas Water Utilities Association

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography

Estuarine Research Federation

International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae

Virginia Academy of Sciences

Certifications:

Class C Water Operator, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, License

Number WO0027361, Issued 01/12/2010, Expiration 01/12/2013.

Volunteer Work:

Volunteer San Diego, San Diego, CA, 2010-current, North Park Homework

Helpers (Mentor and tutor San Diego school children), English Conversation

Groups with International Students (ESL) (Help students practice English).

Blue Crab Bowl, regional competition for the National Ocean Sciences Bowl,

Norfolk, VA, 2001-2006, essay judge.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, South Hampton Roads, 2005-2006, Big Sister.

Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA, 2000, museum interpreter.

Honors and Awards

ODU Supplemental Dissertation Stipend 2005.

S. Zaneveld Endowed Scholarship given by the Ocean Earth and Atmospheric

Sciences Department

2004-2005.

ISSHA Travel Award 11th International Conference on Harmful Algae, Cape

Town, South Africa, Nov. 2004.

OEAS travel award Cape Town, South Africa, November 2004.

Hampton Roads Maritime Scholarship 2002-2003.

Sigma Xi, Scientific Honor Society Member.

ODU, OEAS Graduate Student Organization, Vice President 2003-2004.

Presented research at international and national scientific conferences.

Publications in peer reviewed scientific journals:

5 published journal articles

1 Technical report

19 Abstracts

Contact this candidate