Quality Control Data Entry
Resume:
Education
Master of Science, Environmental Science and Policy, GPA 3.65
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, May 2008
Thesis: Movement patterns and water quality preferences of juvenile bull
sharks in a Florida estuary
Bachelor of Science, Marine Science
Texas A&M University at Galveston, December 2003
Professional Experience
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Environmental Scientist, Range
C
Sacramento, CA, July 2013- Present
*Coordinate with public health agencies to establish cooperative response
protocols to address public health concerns, fisheries closures, and
trustee agencies on fisheries concerns
*Develop, coordinate, and facilitate protocols for historic and cultural
properties within the Incident Command Structure during oil spill response
*Assist in identification of resources at risk, determine site protection
strategies, evaluate oil spill trajectories, and develop tools and job aids
for pollution response preparedness
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Science Technician
Lodi, CA, December 2012- June 2013
*Conducted field investigations to estimate fish distribution and abundance
for long-term population monitoring and to aid in ESA-listed
species/habitat restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
*Used active sampling methods such as seines, trawls, acoustic telemetry,
and electrofishing to conduct fish surveys; collect water quality and other
habitat data using a variety of gear and methodologies
*Database management, quality control of data, develop queries, and
summarized fisheries data
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Fisheries Research Associate (term
position)
Richland, WA, March 2010- Feb 2012
*Assisted with study design and logistics of field investigations
*Field task leader for various projects examining fish movement and
behavior. Field work included electrofishing, transmitter insertion,
acoustic and radio telemetry tracking, collecting water quality data,
maintenance/installment of telemetry gear, seining/snorkel surveys, and
small boat handling
*Maintained radio telemetry stations at remote field sites including set-up
and programming, operation, data retrieval, and troubleshooting
*Database creation and management and statistical analysis using SPSS and
SigmaPlot
*Wrote reports based on study results and gave presentations to clients and
other professionals
Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Specialist II
Tallahassee, FL, May 2008 - Feb 2010
*Issued field permits for minor activities seaward of the coastal
construction control line (CCCL)
*Monitored CCCL and Joint Coastal Permit activities to determine status and
compliance
*Assisted project contractors in understanding and meeting permit
requirements
*Conducted shoreline and beach inspections to detect unauthorized work and
violations
*Established/maintained relationships with governmental, non-governmental,
and private landowners
Southwest Florida Water Management District, Environmental Scientist Intern
(term position)
Brooksville, FL, May 2007 - May 2008
* Examined created wetlands and as-built mitigation sites to determine
creation success and compliance with permitted conditions; assisted with
wetland delineation
* Conducted extensive research and proposed resolutions to resolve
outstanding permit violations
* Prepared enforcement documents including letters, notices, and legal
files to address violations of the District's rules and orders
Mote Marine Laboratory, Center for Shark Research (term position)
Sarasota, FL, May 2006 - May 2007
* Conducted thesis research on movement patterns of juvenile bull sharks
using acoustic telemetry
* Gained experience with experimental design, long-line and rod and reel
fishing, small boat handling, GPS, fish tagging and manual tracking,
leading field crews, external and surgical implantation of radio and
acoustic transmitters/tags, statistics and data analysis
University of South Florida, Teaching Assistant (term position)
Tampa, FL, Aug 2005 - May 2007
* Instructed laboratory component of Introduction to Environmental Science
* Teaching assistant for Environmental policy, Environmental science, and
Florida ecosystems
Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Ecology Division, (term position)
Gulf Breeze, FL, June - Aug 2005
* Provided technical support for research relating coral health indicators
to anthropogenic stressors
* Integration, validation, and preparation of large databases for
geospatial studies using GIS
* Identified, located, and prepared metadata from existing databases
Florida's Gulfarium, Animal Keeper
Fort Walton Beach, FL, Mar - Aug 2005
* Gave daily talks on penguin and sea otter life histories and behavior
* Fed, observed, engaged animals in enrichment activities, and documented
behavior and health
* Assisted with routine and emergency veterinary procedures and necropsies
* Performed daily water quality testing on animal exhibits
White Shark Trust, Research Assistant (term position)
Cape Town, South Africa, May - June 2003
* Assisted with field research testing the viability of photographic
identification on White sharks
* Monitored sharks, handled bait line, documented environmental variables,
shark behavior and distinguishing features
National Marine Fisheries Service, Biological Science Technician (term
position)
Galveston, TX, May - Sept 2002
* Sorted, enumerated, and identified benthic samples, primarily fish, crab,
shrimp, and nematodes
* Input of field data into databases and performed regular quality control
checks
* Assisted with lab and field work on various research projects as needed
Training
4X4 Vehicle Training 6/14
All-Terrain Vehicle Training 3/14
40-hr HAZWOPER, 1/14
Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique, 11/13
Wilderness and Remote First Aid, 10/2013
First Responder Awareness/Operations, 8/13
Helicopter Wirestrike Awareness 8/13
PADI Open Water SCUBA Certification, 5/99
Activities/Awards
Two Outstanding Performance Awards, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
2011
ASLO Minority Program Travel Award, 2007
Mote/USF Collaborative Research Fellowship, 2006
Mickey Leland Environmental Research Internship, 2002
Presentations
American Fisheries Society, Seattle, WA, September 2011
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Santa Fe, NM, February 2007
Publications
Heupel MR, Yeiser BG, Collins AB, Ortega LA, Simpfendorfer CA. 2010. Long-
term presence and movement patterns of juvenile bull sharks, Carcharhinus
leucas, in an estuarine river system. Marine and Freshwater Research 61:1-
10
Ortega LA, Heupel MR, van Beynen PE, Motta PJ. 2009. Movement patterns and
water quality preferences of juvenile bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in
a Florida estuary. Environ Biol Fishes 84: 361-373
Ortega LA. 2008. Movement and distribution of juvenile bull sharks,
Carcharhinus leucas, in response to water quality and quantity
modifications in a Florida nursery. M.Sc. Thesis, University of South
Florida, Tampa, USA
References
Bonnie Irving
Southwest Florida Water Management District
2379 Broad St.
Brooksville, FL 34604
******.******@******.*****.**.**
Brian Bellgraph
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
902 Battelle Blvd
Richland, WA 99352
*****.*********@****.***
Valerie Jones
Florida's Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Blvd M.S. 300
Tallahassee, FL 32399
*******.*****@***.*****.**.**
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