Elizabeth Trawick
Washington,DC
Summary
Experienced with ecological research and fieldwork essential to conservation efforts. Utilizes skills in habitat restoration and species monitoring to contribute to sustainable environmental practices. Knowledge of data collection and analysis techniques supports informed decision-making in conservation projects. Diligent with solid background in laboratory techniques and processes. Demonstrated ability to support research projects and maintain precise documentation. Displayed strong analytical skills and attention to detail in various lab settings.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Associate
Annie's Ace Hardware
Washington, DC
08.2025 - Current
- Work primarily in pest control and horticulture.
- Organized and led seed starting classes in late Winter which included material preparation.
- Created and implemented the selling and distribution of Mosquito Control Doom buckets. Provided in depth instruction to customers and coworkers on how and why this is a safer alternative for mosquito control.
- Helped customers identify pest and create an action plan for control
- Helped customers in best perennials and annuals for gardens and helped with weed control by choosing the best option for their area.
- Product ordering and inventory control of plants and materials.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction through product knowledge and personalized assistance.
- Managed daily inventory levels, ensuring accurate stock and availability for customers.
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS
05.2025 - 07.2025
- Labeling image frames of honey bees for a computer vision algorithm to detect drifters entering and leaving colonies.
- General beekeeping duties throughout the job (colony upkeep, larva detection, pest identification, bee box upkeep, use of smokers and wearing bee equipment)
- Varroa and nosema spore sample collection from hives and sample processing
- Experiment equipment upkeep and management, including but not limited to, working with large data bases and keeping up with GoPro equipment and SD cards.
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS
03.2023 - 05.2025
- Conducted insect pinning and identification
- Surveyed and trapped invasive species.
- Assisted in the collection and curation of insect specimens for USDA invasive species monitoring.
- Contributed to entomology outreach and education programs related entomology that provided information about insect care and biodiversity.
- Assisted with dermestid research projects, gaining hands-on experience in preparing and treating specimens for study.
- Contributed to multimedia efforts by creating training materials such as instructional videos for new student workers on lab procedures and insect identification.
- Worked with large sets of databases to help label and identify key insects, worked with microsoft and excel closely to help curate and organize data.
- Worked closely with ArcGis during trapping field season to submit and locate data for every trap site that was under my sector.
- 1700 hours worked, $10/hr
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS
08.2023 - 02.2024
- Worked in the Clay Lyle Insect Rearing Lab, managing the lifecycle of multiple pest moth species for agricultural research.
- Worked with sweet potatoes to identify pest markings and collect data.
- Maintained care for moths from egg to adult stages, ensuring optimal rearing and diet conditions.
- 400 hours worked, $10/hr
Field and Lab Technician
USDA
Starkville, MS
05.2021 - 08.2022
- Managed cotton field operations, including plant care, cross-breeding, and self-pollination. Worked with large vehicles and helped to operate seed drill tractors, as well as did day to day farm and field equipment for care of crops.
- Operated field equipment and maintained organizational systems. (Helped map out cotton fields for upcoming seasons, as well as helped plant and prep the fields)
- Hand-picked and collected large cotton samples during the summer and fall months, keeping rows and collections in order.
- Reared moth species for crop protection studies in cotton fields, later hand-distributing moth eggs throughout cotton plants during the growing season.
- 1276 hours worked, $10/hr
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS
01.2021 - 04.2021
- Assisted faculty and students with laboratory tasks, including DNA extraction from plants and executing DNA protocols.
- Documented plant data through photography and collected experimental data. (Used plant imaging chamber and worked with technology to further document plant damage)
- 726 hours worked, $10/hr
Education
B.S. - Wildlife and Fisheries, Concentration in Wildlife Sciences
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS05-2025
Skills
- Research & Laboratory Skills:
- Genetic Analysis & Laboratory Techniques (DNA extraction, PCR, data analysis)
- Insect Rearing & Lifecycle Management (insect rearing of agricultural moth pest species, working with the moth life cycle from egg to moth, and creating diets)
- Species Identification & Taxonomy (USDA Invasive species; Buprestids, Dermestids, Lepidoptera, Scolytids, Curculionidae)
- Sorted insect collections from the field in the lab by order and species
- Laboratory Equipment Operation and Maintenance (autoclave, microscopes, fume hoods, centrifuges, Bunsen burners, large work trucks/vehicles)
- Insect Museum Work (Worked closely with the museum director to carefully pin, spread, and curate insect species up to museum standards, as well as creating labels for collections)
- Field Research & Environmental Assessment:
- Ecological Monitoring & Environmental Assessment (visual and hands-on field surveys for agricultural pests with cotton plants and sweet potato plants; field surveys to identify certain plant species for insect target species and research)
- Field Equipment Operation (including plant machinery and insect collection tools; sweep nets, pitfall traps, insect aspirator, and use of kill jars with cyanide and use of Vapona)
- Data Collection & Analysis (including temperature, humidity, and plant growth metrics, as well as scouting out certain plant species within a field)
- Collected and documented quantitative data through field surveys to support USDA invasive pest research
- Assembling and constructing insect traps out in the field and collecting insect trap data throughout trapping seasons for USDA collections
- Worked alongside the Carnivore and Population Ecology Lab, helping survey and take down bear hair snare traps in southern Mississippi (Worked in rough terrain for long hours, surveying and collecting black bear hair research, and dismantling snare traps)
- Communication & Outreach:
- Outreach & Education (community programs, presentations on biodiversity, working with schools within the community to teach kids about insects and their uses)
- Team Collaboration & Communication (interacting with professors, colleagues, and the public on insect health and research within Mississippi)
- Project Management & Data Management:
- Data Logging, Reporting, and Analysis (experience with research software such as SPSS, Excel, ARCGIS, R coding system, LabelMe algorithm databases and Google Sheets)
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and coordinate fieldwork and research efforts
Timeline
Sales Associate
Annie's Ace Hardware
08.2025 - Current
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
05.2025 - 07.2025
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
08.2023 - 02.2024
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
03.2023 - 05.2025
Field and Lab Technician
USDA
05.2021 - 08.2022
Student Technician
Mississippi State University
01.2021 - 04.2021
B.S. - Wildlife and Fisheries, Concentration in Wildlife Sciences
Mississippi State University
Research
Study of Cotton Germination, Effects of Temperature and Salinity on Cotton Seed Germination Using Chromosome Substitution Lines, Dorman Hall, Mississippi State University, Collaborated with Dr. Sukumar Saha, USDA, EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY ON THE SEED GERMINATION OF COTTON CHROMOSOME SUBSTITUTION LINES, Elizabeth Trawick, Sukumar Saha, Te Ming Tseng, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA, And 2 USDA/ARS, Stoneville, MS, USA, Collected and analyzed data on salinity, humidity, and temperature effects on cotton seed germination. Looking at the differences in temperature and humidity to determine the best results for cottonseed germination., Worked closely with Dr. Sukumar Saha to contribute to the research on optimal conditions for cotton growth