Research Assistant

EMILY CHOU, M.A.

***** ****** **. *********, ** *5014

cell: +1-408-***-**** e-mail: ******@********.***

Biosketch

I am an applied scientist, able to integrate and analyze information from a variety of sources to inform interdisciplinary challenges. I have strong research, writing, presentation, organization and project management skills, and am passionate about forging a collaborative environment to produce practical solutions. I am goal-oriented and continuously strive to build on my experience as an applied researcher to ensure that my work is effective and relevant.

Specialties: project management, spatial modeling, data analysis, collaboration, problem-solving

Education

Columbia University New York, NY

M.A. Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology 2016 – 2018

Thesis Modeling humpback whale breeding habits and assessing potential overlap with cumulative anthropogenic impacts in the Gulf of Guinea (Committee: Howard Rosenbaum, Francine Kershaw, Sara Maxwell)

University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA

B.Sc. Environmental Systems: Ecology, Behavior and Evolution (Cum Laude) 2010 – 2014

Thesis Blue whale calling in relation to sea surface temperature and anthropogenic noise

Work Experience

The Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx, NY

Research Assistant Ocean Giants Program Intern July 2018 – present

Lead collaborative scientific research projects on large whale habitat modeling and human impacts using R and ArcGIS

Data mining and manipulation in ArcGIS and R

Write and review documents (manuscripts, reports, presentations) on large whale habitat use, cumulative human impacts, and policy guidelines for anthropogenic ocean noise

Prepare presentation and publication materials using R and ArcGIS

Assist with cetacean field surveys and manage field data

Columbia University New York, NY

Research Assistant (Class II) E3B Department Sep 2016 – May 2018

Manage large database and conduct detailed data entry, organization and data checking algorithms using Excel

Conduct map analyses of foraging and home areas of blue monkeys using QGIS

Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY

Intern Marine Mammals and Oceans Feb – May 2017

Analyze and prepare large whale satellite tag, sighting, and environmental data using R and ArcGIS

Attend international meetings on large whale conservation and management of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

US Geological Survey and University of California, Santa Cruz

Moss Landing, CA

Research Intern Sea Otter Research Cooperative Unit Oct 2015 – Aug 2016

Conduct sea otter population monitoring surveys, population demographics and behavior using Trimbles, and train new interns

Southwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA La Jolla, CA

Intern Marine Mammal and Turtle Division Jan – Dec 2014

Conduct life history research of endangered sea turtles, oversee and manage the collection or and database of biological samples

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, CA

Data Research Analyst/Marine Physical Laboratory Intern Marine Bioacoustics Lab Jan 2013 – Sep 2014

Analyze low and mid-frequency marine mammal vocalizations and anthropogenic noise sources

Manage and prepare large datasets of environmental and acoustic data in R for further analyses

Develop and conduct presence-absence habitat models using R

Selected Publications and Presentations

Chou E, Kershaw F, Maxwell SM, Collins T, Strindberg S, and Rosenbaum HC. (in prep). Distribution of breeding humpback whale habitats and overlap with cumulative anthropogenic impacts in the Eastern Tropical Atlantic.

Antunes R, Chou E, Sardelis S, Stafford K, et al. (in prep). Seasonal variation in Arctic marine mammal acoustic detection in the northern Bering Sea.

“Distribution and occurrence of large whales in the New York Bight prior to 2017: establishing baselines and informing management.” Chou E, Antunes R, Rekdahl M, Spagnoli C, et al. 2018 Wildlife and Offshore Wind Workshop. Woodbury, NY.

“Assessing the impact of WCS’s conservation programs on Southern Hemisphere humpback whales.” H Rosenbaum, E Bennett, T O’Brien, and E Chou. October 2017. Report of the Wildlife Conservation Society (unpublished).

“Identifying potentially important humpback whale breeding areas in the Gulf of Guinea.” 2017 Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York. New York, NY.

Širović A, A Rice, E Chou, JA Hildebrand, and MA Roch. 2015. Seven years of blue and fin whale call abundance in Southern California. Endangered Species Research 28: 61-76.

“Blue whale calling in relation to sea surface temperature and anthropogenic noise.” Chou E, and Širović A. 2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting. Honolulu, HI.

Honors and Awards

Best Speed Talk: best use of quantitative methods in conservation research. 2017 Student Conference on Conservation Science – New York. New York, NY.

2016 – 2017 M.A. Conservation Biology Scholarship. E3B Department, Columbia University. $6000

Relevant Skills

Technical skills: data manipulation, statistical and spatial modelling and analysis in R, R programming, map analysis in ArcGIS and QGIS, project management, Microsoft Office suite, Google G Suite, lab techniques, fieldwork, PADI Open Water Diver certification

Interpersonal skills: foster strong collaborations and partnerships, conscientious and diligent worker, active listener, strong organizational and problem-solving skills

Contact this candidate