Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team

Ellen Eberhardt

3200 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
ph. 541-750-7481, eeberhardt@fs.fed.us

Education

• Portland State University, Oregon. 1988. M.S. Geology. Thesis “Dynamics of Intermediate-Size Stream Outlets, Northern Oregon Coast.”
• Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington. 1982. B.A. Biology-Geology Combined.

Experience

Technical Information Specialist (Biological Sciences)
1997-Present—U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Fire and Environmental Research Applications Team. Corvallis, Oregon.

Team with research scientists to define overall goals, design research projects, develop grant proposals, research technical information, problem solve technical difficulties, plan for and meet deadlines, communicate scientific progress and results to a wide variety of audiences.

Confer with project leaders to determine technical information needs, improve the efficiency of their research studies [projects], anticipate potential problems and develop solutions for them, monitor the progress of each study [project], and communicate scientific results to clients.

Facilitate work with project partners, plan strategically, track the political climate, and anticipate opportunities for research and for leverage of funding.

Review written materials for logic and relevance, for accuracy of language, content and grammar, and for appropriateness of citations. Conduct dimensional analysis, check units of measure, and assure proper formatting for the chosen outlet.
> Recent example -- Developed seven manuscripts supporting the Fuel Characteristic Classification System to be published by the Canadian Journal of Forest Research.

Assist in the coordination of large projects such as the National Fire Plan (nationwide, station-wide, and within my team), the Joint Fire Science Program (station-wide and within my team), the FROSTFIRE Landscape-Scale Prescribed Fire Experiment (state and federal agencies and within my team), and the Core Fire Science Caucus (across the international fire behavior scientific community).
> Recent example -- Helped the Washington office coordinate information from various sources for the national fire research peer-review panel material.

Disseminate FERA’s research results to a broad community of scientists, research managers, land managers, and to the international community through the use of personal contacts, media outlets, peer-reviewed publications, general publications, posters, exhibits, and websites. Provide technical support for the use of team software, connect users to team scientists
> Recent example: Planned, developed and staffed exhibits at two national fire managers’ meetings.

National Park Ranger (Interpretation)
1987-2001—U.S. National Park Service

• Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (‘93,’94,’96,’01),
• Grand Teton National Park (‘89),
• John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway (‘90),
• Olympic National Park (‘87,’88),
• Point Reyes National Seashore (‘88,’89),
• Redwood National and State Parks (‘91,’92,’93).

As a park ranger/naturalist, utilized my science and communications skills to research, develop, and present programs to the public on the natural and cultural history of national parks. I interpreted nature and culture in a wide variety of settings from auditoriums and short trails to campfire circles and cruise ships. Audiences varied from groups of 5 to 1800 people, including school groups, family vacationers, and Elderhostel groups. In my capacity of “model interpreter” and geology expert I trained newly hired interpreters.

Managed daily operations of small visitor center. Provided verbal information and publications to park visitors, handled cash from sales, maintained equipment, scheduled staff and organized interpretive activities. Provided information to the public at large visitor centers. Coordinated the Redwood National Park Field Seminar Program. Designed, wrote, edited, and produced websites, park newspapers, seminar catalogs, site bulletins, and maps and guides.

Geology Instructor
1992—College of the Redwoods—Crescent City, California

Taught Introductory Geology class 6 hours per week. Lectured and supervised laboratory sections of the class.

Graduate Teaching Assistant
1985-1987—Portland State University—Portland, Oregon

Taught undergraduate lab classes in Introductory Geology (rocks and minerals, map interpretation, historical), including stratigraphy and sedimentation. Instructed two 3-hour labs of 8-40 students per class. Developed curriculum, wrote assignments and tests, graded all work and assigned class grades. Assisted with teaching and logistics of department field trips to the Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge and Central Oregon.

Geologist (Mudlogger)
1983-1984—Western Geoengineers—Woodland, California

Worked on gas drilling rigs in Oregon and Northern California. Rigged monitoring equipment at beginning of well. Performed "tearing out" at the end of each job. I operated equipment that measured the drill rate, pump strokes per minute, methane content of mud, mud weight. Recorded the drill rate, methane content, petroleum vapors, mud parameters, and other information on a vertical graphic “log” that related all parameters to depth of drilling. Collected, described and labeled samples of drill cuttings.

Maintained and repaired all equipment at remote locations. Spliced hoses and electrical wires, unplugged hoses, replaced parts and fuses, attached equipment to vibrating rig machinery, attached water and electrical lines to trailer, prevented hoses from freezing.

Geology Consultant
1983—Girl Scout National Center West—Tensleep, Wyoming

Developed and led short discussions, lectures and hikes explaining geologic principles. Introduced the science of geology in an informative, enjoyable way to girls ages 11-18 and to adult participants at the camp. Campers arrived from all over the U.S.

Awards

• 2008 Pacific Northwest Research Station Excellence in Science Support Award (2008)
• U.S. Forest Service Award (2006)
  With appreciation for exceptional effort in assisting with FERA publications and communication of technical information
  U.S. Forest Service Award (2006)
  For contributions to the preparation of publications and communication of scientific information.
• U.S. Forest Service Quality Step Increase (2004)
  Recognition of sustained superior performance in managing reports, external communications, and agreements for the National Fire Plan research projects of the FERA Team and the PNW Research Station.
  National Fire Plan Communications (2002)
• VENT Development Award (2001)
  For outstanding performance working with a team on the Ventilation Index Project under stressful deadlines. Completed the difficult and complex task of generating a massive database and employing unique tools required to utilize information over the Internet.
• National Fire Plan Award (2000)
  In recognition of outstanding support in the development of the PNW Station FY2001 National Fire Plan research proposal submission.
• Customer Service Award (2000)
  For providing publications and fire research information to our customers. You continually demonstrated excellent customer service skills and attitude. The Station improved in its mission because of your contributions within the team framework.

Training

Interpretive Research and Resource Liaison—2004
Supervisory Essentials —2001
Scanning Graphics—1999
Photoshop I, II and III—1998
Beginning French—1996
Beginning Spanish—1995 Beginning Desktop Publishing— 1994
Incident Command System I-220—1992
Wetlands Ecology—1992
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems—1992
Interpretive Skills I—1991
Site Bulletin Workshop—1991
Emergency Medical Technician—1988
River Channels (Hydrology)—1986
The Night Sky (Astronomy)—1985
Basic Firefighting S-130—1985
Basic Fire Behavior S-190—1985

Technical Skills

Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
All Internet Browsers
Corel Suite (Wordperfect, QuattroPro, Presentations)
Eudora Pro
HTML Coding (competent)
Javascript Coding (familiar)
Lotus Notes
Macromedia/Adobe Dreamweaver
Microsoft Office Suites (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook)
MS-DOS
OmniPage Pro
Reference Manager
Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista
WinZip
WS-FTP
XML Coding (familiar)

U.S. Forest Service - PNW- FERA
Last Modified: Friday, 22 February 2013 at 17:33:19 EST