Quality Control Research Assistant

SMRITI BASTAKOTI

+1-326-***-**** ***************@*****.*** www.linkedin.com/in/smritibastakoti/ SUMMARY

I am an environmental scientist and chemist with extensive experience in laboratory analysis, field sampling, and ecological research. Skilled in advanced analytical techniques and committed to safety, accuracy, and laboratory standards. I have hands-on experience with data analysis and interpretation to contribute effectively to environmental studies and quality control projects. I am eager to contribute my skills and expertise to environmental safety and product quality. RESEARCH & WORK EXPERIENCE

Graduate Research Assistant Wright State University, OH 05/2023 – 08/2024

• Prepared research proposal and submitted to WestRock Scholarship 2023 for research grant.

• Conducted water quality assessment in urban watersheds, Dayton Ohio USA, studying nutrients and pesticide levels using Ion Chromatography (IC), Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LCMS), and UV/Vis Spectrophotometry techniques.

• Identified sampling locations using ArcHydro and classified land use patterns within the urban watershed using GIS.

• Performed field sampling following sampling and quality control procedures.

• Collaborated with the Department of Chemistry and with other research teams from different universities for the accomplishment of this research project.

• Shared findings and results on the Research Festival at Wright State University, March 2024, and at ACS Fall 2024, Denver, Colorado (August 18-22).

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Wright State University, OH, USA 08/2022 – 04/2023

• Conducted weekly lab lessons, assisting students in their lab reports, grading their lab reports, interacting with students during office hours, and completing undergraduate-level lab courses on time. Research Assistant Kathmandu Institute of Applied Science, Lalitpur, Nepal 02/2021 – 08/2022

• Organized and managed an efficient and safe chemistry lab independently.

• Collected field samples from the wastewater treatment plant.

• Collaborated with the analytical chemistry lab at the Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University during the analytical method development of the microplastic detection in the samples.

• Used Stereomicroscope, Digital, and Brightfield microscope for observation, quantification, and analysis of samples.

• Investigated microplastics and removal efficiency from wastewater treatment plant published in a scientific journal

(Characterization and removal of microplastics in Nepal's Guheshwori wastewater treatment plant- removal efficiency 72.5%).

• Supervised and trained other research persons on sampling techniques, proper microscope handling, sample preparation, microscopic analysis, counting, and identification of microplastic particles in the wastewater samples.

• Presented a talk on the research work on the characterization and removal of microplastics in Nepal's Guheshwori wastewater treatment plant at ACS Spring 2024, New Orleans (March 17-21).

• Prepared scientific report writing, data analysis, and interpretation leading to a peer-reviewed publication as first author:

S. Bastakoti, A. Adhikari, B. M. Thaiba, B. B. Neupane, B. R. Gautam, M. B. Dangi, B.Giri, Characterization and removal of microplastics in the Guheshwori Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nepal, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 935, 2024,173324, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173324 Environmental Field Sampling Technician College of Applied Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal 06/2019 – 09/2021

• Conducted field data collection and performed species diversity to evaluate and assess the ecological health of rivers and lakes by applying the Biotic Index method.

• Collected soil samples and analyzed their physical and chemical properties (Texture, pH, organic matter, and total nitrogen).

Editor, College Representative, Public Awareness Volunteer 01/2020 – 03/2021 Resources Himalayan Foundation & Environmental Graduates Himalaya (EGH), Lalitpur, Nepal

• Reviewed literature on air, water, food and agriculture, and biodiversity published in a scientific journal, compiled and prepared a report which was submitted and published in an environmental research newsletter ‘The Headline Himalaya’.

• Facilitated communication on environmental issues, conveyed information related to environmental programs to college students as a college representative, and participated in public awareness programs. Environmental Field Technician (Water Quality Monitoring) 11/2019 – 02/2021 Nepal Environmental and Scientific Services (NESS), Nepal

• Carried out field sampling (samples from source, household, tap, and reservoir) and conducted a questionnaire survey in remote Nepalese regions to evaluate sanitation and drinking water conditions from 69 rural households.

• Performed physiochemical and microbial testing in the lab and presented findings at NESS. Internship Ministry of Forest and Environment, Government of Nepal (MoFE) 04/2019 – 07/2019

• Reviewed reports and collected data of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) & Environmental Impact Assessment

(EIA)

• Compiled and analyzed data of all reviewed IEE and EIA reports, prepared a report based on collected data, & presented it at the MoFE.

Trainer/Facilitator Habitat for Humanity, Nepal 04/2018 – 11/2018

• Collaborated with facilitators from various countries to manage, schedule, and conduct training sessions on leadership and sustainable development goals.

• Conducted training for approximately 100 undergraduate and high school students across three colleges in Kathmandu, Nepal.

EDUCATION

Master of Science in Earth & Environmental Science 08/2022 – 07/2024 Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA

Master of Science in Environmental Science 07/2020 – 07/2022 Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science 08/2014 - 08/2018 Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

TRAINING

• Chemical Safety & Management: By College of Applied Sciences, Nepal

• Environmental Impact Assessment and Initial Environmental Examination: By College of Applied Sciences- Nepal

• Instrumentation Training (ICP-OES, NMR, HPLC, LCMS, GCMS, IC, and GC) at Wright State University, Dayton Ohio

• OSHA’s HazCom Final Rule: What You Need to Know, VelocityEHS, July 09, 2024. SKILLS

• Instruments & Instrumentation: HPLC, LC-MS, IC, GC, GCMS, FTIR, UV/Vis Spectrophotometer, TOC Liquid Analyzer, ICP-OES, NMR, Brightfield Microscope, Stereo Microscope, Digital Microscope

• Computational Tools: MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Statistical Analysis with R and MS Excel

• Software tools SAS, GIS, ArcHydro, ArcGIS Pro, WebGIS (Survey 123, ArcGIS Online), Image J CERTIFICATION

• “2023 Biennial Hazardous Waste Report Training” issued by Ohio EPA on February 2024

• “Leveraging Participatory Science to Advance Water Quality Reporting and Partnership-Building Part 2” issued by USEPA on July 2024

• “Spatial Data Science: The New Frontier in Analytics” issued by Esri on October 17, 2023 AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Awarded WestRock Scholarship 2023 ($9400) by Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio for my thesis research project in Water Quality Assessment of Surface Water in the Dayton Watersheds (prepared the proposal and submitted for the grant, and currently working on this project).

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