Sydney Nelson

Ecological Risk Assessor @ AECOM

Chicago, Illinois, United States

About

Ecological Risk Assessor at AECOM. Assessing environmental risks for government and private contracts. Specialized experience in conservation and environmental project management from the Yale School of the Environment. Passionate about the intersection of science and environmental policy, conservation, and science communication.

Experience

  • Ecological Risk Assessor at AECOM
    Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

  • Public Health Analyst at Massachusetts Department of Public Health
    May 2023 - Sep 2024 · 1 yr 5 mos

    • Analyzing and interpreting public health data to identify patterns and trends in disease incidence. • Collecting and testing infectious mosquito samples to track disease prevalence of West Nile Virus and Triple E. • Utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) to store, analyze and visualize geospatial data. • Initiating a tick monitoring program by conducting literature reviews and mapping collection sites via GIS. • Engaging with public to spread awareness and safety measures regarding mosquito-transmitted diseases.

  • Senior Environmental Scientist at Yale School of the Environment
    Aug 2021 - Jul 2023 · 2 yrs

    •Designed and orchestrated a two-year thesis project on wetland disease biology in the Skelly Lab. •Tracked the prevalence and distribution of Ranavirus diseases in wood frogs in suburban Connecticut wetlands. •Wrote and submitted grant proposals that resulted in an additional $9,400 in project funding. •Performed statistical analysis and data visualization using R, Python, Excel, and GIS. •Prepared and presented reports to colleagues and stakeholders, providing insights into ecological trends. •Conducted and published extensive research on the effects of climate change on a salamander species. •Ran DNA extraction and qPCR analyses to detect disease presence.

  • Amherst College (4 yrs 2 mos)
    • Post-baccalaureate Biology Researcher
      May 2020 - Jun 2021 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Organized and conducted projects on the heritability of plant resistance to endemic and foreign fungal pathogens in the Hood Lab. Performed statistical analyses using Excel and R. Mentored undergraduate students on protocols, experimental design, and ecological concepts. Wrote and published research findings in a top ecological journal.

    • Special Topics Researcher
      Jun 2019 - May 2020 · 1 yr

      Designed and conducted an independent research project under Professor Michael Hood. Studied inheritance of disease resistance in plants to a fungal pathogen. Cross-pollinated, germinated, and inoculated over 5,000 plants, measuring the heritability of disease resistance within genotype families. Performed data analysis using Excel and R. Presented findings as a scientific lecture.

    • Research Assistant
      May 2017 - Jun 2019 · 2 yrs 2 mos

      Studied disease ecology in carnations in the Hood Lab. Collaborated on five year-long thesis projects by collecting data, tending to over 10,000 plants in a greenhouse setting, and processing cell culture data.

  • Research Assistant at University of California, Los Angeles
    Jun 2018 - Aug 2018 · 3 mos

    Studied cardiomyocytes (heart stem cells) under Dr. Haruko Nakano. Assisted with maintaining cell cultures, monitoring cell growth, and performing immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses.