Curriculum Vitae

- Dedicated to natural resource and aquatic species conservation with a proven track record of implementing comprehensive research strategies.
- Exceptional leadership skills demonstrated through oversight of rigorous data collection and monitoring initiatives

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Education

Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR (May 2022)

-M.S. Biology - Thesis: Evaluation of elevated nitrogen on freshwater mussel (Bivalvia: Unionidae) recruitment and population trends in the Buffalo National River

-Students United in Preserving, Exploring, and Researching Biodiversity (SUPERB) NSF Scholarship Recipient

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Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA (Dec 2015)

B.S. Biology-Marine Emphasis

 

Publications

Pieri, A.M., Harris, J.L., Matthews, M.W., Hodges, S.W., Rodman, A.R., Bouldin, J.L., and Christian, A.D. 2024. Comparisons of Twelve Freshwater Mussel Bed Assemblages Quantitatively Sampled at a 15-year Interval in the Buffalo National River, Arkansas, USA. Ecologies, 5: 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010001

 

Thapa, A., Aryal, N., Reba, M.L., Teague, T.G., Payne, G., and Pieri, A. 2023. Effects of cover crop and filter strips on sediment and nutrient loads measured at the edge of a commercial cotton field. Journal of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. https://doi.org/10.13031/ja.15676 

 

Pieri, A.M., Harris, J.L., Bouldin, J.L., Schaeffer, T.W., Steevens, J.A., Hodges, S,W., and Rodman, A.R. 2022. A quantitative survey of freshwater mussels of the Buffalo National River, Arkansas from 2019 to 2021: U.S. Geological Survey data release. https://doi.org/10.5066/P90QXS3B

 

Pieri, A.M., Inoue, K., Johnson, N.A., Smith, C.H., Harris, J.L., Robertson, C., and Randklev, C.R. 2018. Molecular and morphometric analyses reveal cryptic diversity within freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) of the western Gulf coastal drainages of the USA. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 124: 261–277. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/bly046

 

Pieri, A.M., Bouldin, J.L., Harris, J.L., Kunz, J.L., Hodges, S,W., Rodman, A.R, and Steevens, J.A. 2024.
Evaluating the potential effect of nitrogen and toxicological responses of juvenile freshwater mussels (Bivalvia:
Unionidae) in the Buffalo National River, Arkansas. In review, Archives of Environmental Contamination and
Toxicology.

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Experience

University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Jonesboro, AR                                                       Sept 2021-Present

Program Associate   

- Managed Mississippi River Basin Healthy Water Initiative (MRBI) project and Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) Benchmark Watershed Assessment Studies for NRCS. 
- Implemented edge-of-field and instream monitoring for the USDA-ARS Delta Water Management Research Unit. 
- Facilitated direct communication and planning with cooperating farmers to assist in executing conservation and agronomic production plans among stakeholders, researchers, and support staff.
- Organized data collection, storage in databases, and coordinated ease of accessibility to all collaborators and scientists for evaluating best management practices (BMPs) and quantifying nutrient and sediment losses at the farm field scale to inform crop production practices and technical solutions.
- Contributed effectively to program design and results dissemination in preparation of manuscripts and presentations for lab meetings, field days, scientific meetings, and scientific journals. 
- Personnel training, supervision, scheduling, recruiting, and selection of hourly labor, interns, term employees, and technical support for graduate and undergraduate students in allied research projects.
- Developed laboratory and field standard operating procedures to improve workflow efficiency and training of new employees for the Delta Water Management Research Unit.
- Coordinated research unit support on various natural resource projects including: 
•    Planning and construction of on-farm infiltration galleries for managed aquifer recharge with assembly of power system using solar panels, batteries, and electrical resistivity surveys of water injection events from an onsite reservoir.
•    Collected remote sensing data with drone (UAV) surveys for multispectral imagery of erosion areas along agricultural ditches alongside different stages of crop production and cover crops.
•    Oversaw greenhouse gas sampling teams to quantify emissions from rice fields and reservoirs with the goal to increase BMP adoption practices that reduce global warming potentials. 
•    Assisted with eddy covariance station installations, crop residue sampling, and ground truthing data for NASA satellite sensors. 

 

Ecotoxicology Research Facility, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR                                June 2019-Sept 2021

Graduate Research Assistant

-     Conducted EPA certified contract whole effluent toxicity testing; Pimephales promelas, Ceriodaphnia dubia, Hyallela azteca, and Chironomous dilutus culturing; acute and chronic reference toxicant testing. 
-     Performed qualitative and quantitative surveys to determine long-term changes in mussel populations in the Buffalo National River paired with in situ toxicology studies to evaluate potential causes of decline and provide timely datapoints for National Park Service conservation and management decisions.   
-     Surveyed Cadron Creek, Point Remove Creek and Big Piney Creek and major tributaries with population assessments for two mussel species of concern and reported findings for the State Wildlife Grant Program. 
-     Madtom surveys in the Ouachita National Forest for species status assessments and habitat niche modelling. 

 

Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Dallas, TX                                                    Jan-Sept 2018

Research Assistant

- Research in conservation genetics, population genetics, and phylogenetic studies of freshwater mussels. 
- Worked under strict federal and state regulations to properly study threatened and endangered species under the Species Status Assessment (SSA) framework. 
- Surveys for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Texas Parks and Wildlife on the impact of bridge construction project footprints on state-listed freshwater mussel species. 
- In situ field studies of the efficacy of relocated mussel populations during bridge construction efforts for TxDOT.
- Conducted surveys for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on the implication of routine dam inspections on native fish and mussel species.
- Projected habitat and population distributions of fish and mussels using ArcGIS.  
                                      

Research Technician                                                                                                                                         Mar–Dec 2017

-Performed habitat, genetic diversity, and abundance surveys of freshwater mussels for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Texas, New Mexico, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz, and San Luis Potosí; determined species status, distribution, and evaluated molecular data to help list Popenaias popeii as an endangered species (listed February of 2018).
- Gathered Section 4 data for species status assessments on freshwater mussel life history, thermal tolerance experimentation, and fish host testing.

 

Greater Farallones Association, San Francisco, CA                                                                                      Nov 2016–Feb 2017

Science and Education Intern

-Assisted with science education strategy, grant application writing and reporting, social media/website content, and teaching with citizens science program: LiMPETS.

 

Shannon Point Marine Center, Anacortes, WA                                                                                               Aug-Dec 2015

Eelgrass Research Team                                                                                                                    

-Assisted with the experimental design, data collection and analyses of eelgrass morphology and photosynthesis from Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Reserve populations to evaluate eelgrass health in Washington coastal areas.

 

WWU Biology Department, Bellingham, WA                                                                                                 Apr-Jun 2015

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

-Completed Teaching Practicum for BIOL 204 Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity Lab.

 

Skagit River System Cooperative, La Conner, WA                                                                                          Nov-Dec 2014

Statistical Analyst Team Member

-Performed data analyses to isolate spatial and temporal patterns to find the area(s) most suitable for rearing juvenile Chinook salmon.

-Partnered through WWU Center for Community Learning.   

 

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, México                                                                  Jun–Sept 2014

Apprentice in Tropical Marine Biology                                                                                           

-In conjunction with educators from Western Washington University; completed coursework and research projects.

-Genetically validated species of fish and endangered shark samples collected from local fish markets.

-Independent research project on the micro-plastic ingestion by small pelagic coral reef fish (specifically A. troschelii).

 

Skills:

Scientific Illustrator  (2011–Present)

-Illustrator for vertical garden technology company:  Inner Garden Systems, Inc.

-Provided illustrations for Western Washington University, Dr. Benjamin Miner’s BIOL 407 Marine Ecology Lab Manual.

-Created educational sea star measuring activities for LiMPETS Sandy Beach and Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Program.

-Illustrated 40 freshwater mussel species (four anatomical viewpoints) for an identification book (in progress) of the freshwater mussels of Texas contracted by TxDOT.

-Illustrated figures for agricultural publications such as buffer and filter strip BMPs

 

Certifications:

-First Aid CPR AED, Child CPR AED, Infant CPR, American Heart Association

 Heartsaver Certification: 236013642660

-PADI diver #: 22838919, 1605AB2363 (Open Water and Advanced Certification)

-FAA Remote Pilot Certification #: 4669865

-SKYWARN Storm Spotter Certification

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Presentations:

Pieri, A.M., Steevens, J.A., Harris, J.L., Kuntz, J.L., Hodges, S.W., Rodman, A.R., Bouldin, J.L. 2021. Evaluating the potential effect of nitrogen and toxicological responses of juvenile mussels in the Buffalo National River, AR. Joint Ozark-Prairie/Mid-South SETAC, Jonesboro, AR, May 10th, 2022 (1st Place Oral Presentation Award).

 

Pieri, A.M., Steevens, J.A., Harris, J.L., Kuntz, J.L., Hodges, S.W., Rodman, A.R., Bouldin, J.L. In-Situ Mussel Bioassay with Juvenile Arkansas Brokenray (Lampsilis reeveiana) in the Buffalo National River, AR. SETAC North America 42nd Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, November 14-18, 2021 (platform; Student Grant Recipient).

 

Pieri, A.M., Steevens, J.A., Harris, J.L., Kuntz, J.L., Hodges, S.W., Rodman, A.R., Bouldin, J.L. 2021. Assessing water and sediment toxicity in the Buffalo National River, AR to juvenile aquatic organisms. Joint Ozark-Prairie/Mid-South SETAC Virtual Meeting, May 10-12, 2021 (2nd Place Poster Presentation Award). 

 

Pieri, A.M., Steevens, J.A., Harris, J.L., Fluker, B.L., Kuntz, J.L., Hodges, S.W., Rodman, A.R., Bouldin, J.L. 2021. Long-term monitoring of freshwater mussel beds (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in the Buffalo National River, AR. 23rd Annual Arkansas Soil and Water Education Virtual Conference 2021, Jonesboro, AR, January 27, 2021 (Best Poster Award – 1st Place Master of Science category). 

 

Pieri, A.M., Inoue, K., Randklev, C.R., Cummings, K.S., Oetker, S.R. 2018. Assessing the status of the critically endangered, Popenaias popeii (Lea, 1857) (Family Unionidae) and mussel diversity in select Mexican Gulf coast drainages. 2018 Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, College Station, TX, January 25–27, 2018 (platform). 

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