Countryside Careers

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Summary

I am a research ecologist that is passionate about the protection of ecosystems. I have a strong background in project management, surveys of protected species, spatial and statistical data analysis, and writing of reports and peer-reviewed papers. 

Outline

I hold several academic qualifications, including a BSc, MSc and PhD in ecology-related disciplines (animal behaviour, groundwater ecology)

Having previously worked in an ecological consultancy, I have the capacity to see a project through from beginning to end, including the planning of a survey, conducting fieldwork, analysing data and writing reports. I have contributed to visitor and botanical surveys, and mitigation strategies for charities (e.g. National Trust) and local councils (e.g. City of London Corporation).

My previous roles involved surveying the populations of protected species, including seabirds, black grouse, otters, lynx, wild cats and invertebrates using a variety of survey techniques (e.g. binocular surveys, vantage point and breeding bird surveys, camera traps, GPS collars, faecal samples, radio telemetry, lures, habitat surveys).

I possess good organisation, communication and writing skills due to inter-organisational collaboration (e.g. with Environment Agency), presentations at scientific conferences (e.g. British Ecological Society) and writing papers for peer-reviewed literature.

Available for Work in the Following Sectors

  • Research
  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Ecology

Interested in the Following Hours

  • Full Time
  • Fixed Term

Qualifications

2012 – 2017 PhD in Groundwater Ecology                                      Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, UK and the British Geological Survey, UK.                                              Supervisors: Prof. Anne Robertson, Dr. Louise Maurice. Graduated July 2017.

2010 – 2011 MSc in Integrative Bioscience                                      Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, UK.                   Degree Grade: Upper Second (2.1).

2004 – 2009 BSc in Behavioural Biology                                          Department of Biology, University of St. Andrews, UK.            Degree Grade: Upper Second (2.1).

2001 – 2003 International Baccalaureate
                                        Malvern College, UK. Score: 40 / 45 points.                                      Higher Level: Biology, Geography, German.                         Standard Level: History, Maths Methods, English

Additional Qualifications

Driving

  • Driving Licence

Machinery

Chemicals

NGB Awards

Animal

RHS Qualifications (or Equivalent)

Outdoor Education

Other

Preferred Employment Location

  • England - South Central
  • England - South West
  • Scotland - Central

Experience

Research Ecologist (fixed-term contract)                         Footprint Ecology, UK       Oct. 2017 – Dec. 2018

• assessed the influence of housing development, car park features and recreational activities on visitor pressure in protected nature conservation sites (SPAs, SACs and SSSIs); see appendix for research papers

• used QGIS for spatial (e.g. linear travel distances, zones of influence, route length, route area and penetration distance) and R for statistical data analysis (e.g. Kruskal-Wallis, linear mixed models, generalised linear models)

• helped plan, analyse and write visitor survey reports for a range of protected sites for charities (National Trust) and councils (Surrey County Council)

• interviewed visitors to evaluate their visit patterns, motivations for visiting, ecological knowledge and alternative sites visited

• contributed to an evidence-base report for a car park strategy on the Cannock Chase AONB

• analysed botanical and bird data from nature sites, including Integrated Site Assessments, NVC classifications, and bird diversity data


Assistant Ranger (seasonal contract)
                                    National Trust, UK            Apr 2017 – Aug 2017

• delivered seabird conservation on the Farne Islands through habitat surveys and productivity monitoring of red-listed and amber-listed species, such as shags, puffins, kittiwakes, Arctic terns and fulmars, using a variety of methods including cliff, vantage point and nest counts

• enriched Arctic tern habitat, by creating gravel nest patches and strimming of vegetation 

• controlled populations of herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls through egg oiling under DEFRA licensing 


• gained leadership and educational skills through wildlife talks, operating the National Trust shop, handling cash transactions for merchandise and answering to visitor enquiries


Research Assistant                                                              Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
                   Sept. 2015

• studied anthropogenic influences on ecological communities in a Brazilian subtropical lake (funded by the Newton Fund)

• analysed the lake’s faunal community by conducting statistical tests in R


Intern                                                                                 Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany
              April – July 2012

• monitored the population and home ranges of lynx in a trans-national camera trap project

• analysed deer telemetry data to understand the predator-prey dynamics of lynx and deer

• used a variety of survey methods to monitor populations of endangered species, such as black grouse (binocular surveys); and Eurasian otter (habitat assessment and faecal samples)


Intern                                                                                  UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Rhoen, Germany
       May – Aug. 2008

• developed natural habitat structures for Eurasian otters (swamps, marshes) and wild cats (deadwood zones, hedgerows)

• monitored populations of otters and wild cats through collection of faeces and use of lures

• trapped predators (e.g. foxes) of ground nesting birds to enhance breeding success

• identified and manually weeded invasive plant pest species (e.g. ragwort, jewelweed)

• designed and GPS-logged a novel themed hiking trail ‘the wildcat in Germany’

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