Faasalafa Diana Kitiona
Lakewood,USA
Summary
Science professional with extensive experience in project management and laboratory operations. Demonstrated ability to lead projects and enhance lab efficiency. Committed to applying scientific expertise in a challenging role within the research sector.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
American Samoa Island Coordinator
Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council
Honolulu, HI
01.2021 - 05.2021
- Led council meetings in American Samoa to facilitate decision-making
- Coordinated fishers meetings in American Samoa to promote stakeholder engagement
- Facilitate monthly council members meetings
- Assisted council members in submitting quarterly reports to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
Watershed Coordinator and Restoration Ecologist
Ridge to Reefs Inc.
Sykesville, MD
09.2019 - 05.2020
- Acted as a local agent to promote effective watershed coordination for environmental protection.
- Coordinated with local resource managers to synchronize efforts in marine resource protection, enhancing collaborative conservation initiatives
- Implemented wastewater management practices for septic systems and pig farms across the island, improving environmental compliance
- Assisted pig farmers in identifying sustainable alternatives for animal waste management, protecting local water resources
- Conduct marine benthic surveys of corals and algae and compile data for data analysis
AS Priority Watershed Coordinator
Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
, AS
09.2017 - 09.2019
- Coordinated local and off-island resource managers to enhance water quality in priority watershed of AS
- Secured sustainable funding for watershed coordinator position through NGO Ridge to Reefs Inc.
- Organized outreach efforts to raise awareness of water management and facilitated knowledge exchange with villagers for holistic watershed stewardship
- Spearhead a shoreline stabilization project by using green infrastructure
- Contribute to the US Coral Reef Task Force efforts on building material and tools to be used around the nation to improve watershed health
PIPES Intern
Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council
Honolulu, HI
05.2016 - 07.2016
- Consolidated climate and fishery data from multiple sources into single datasets for analysis of trends from 1930-2015
- Synthesizing and analyzing fishery performance data with climate change data for American Samoa coastal fisheries from 1930-2015
- Reviewed literature on historical and evolving native fishing practices to inform current research
- Composed manuscript detailing research findings and implications for sustainable fishery management
REU Intern
University of Texas Marine Science Institute
Port Aransas, TX
05.2014 - 07.2014
- Conducted an independent project to identify environmental factors that correlate with marine debris patterns during summer months
- Collected and categorized marine debris on San Jose, TX, contributing to ongoing environmental data collection efforts
- Supported field work for fellow interns, including water sampling and phytoplankton collection, to enhance data accuracy
- Developed research topic to guide project execution under mentor's oversight
- Authored articles for UTMSI bi-weekly science blog to communicate research findings and engage the public
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marine Science
University of Hawaii (Hilo)
Hilo, HI06-2017
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
American Samoa Community College
Malaeimi, AS12-2012
Skills
- Water quality sampling
- Nutrient analysis
- Chlorophyll α analysis
- Filtration, extraction, and preparing solutions/reagents
- Titration
- Lab equipment operation & calibration
- Plankton counts
- Macroalgae collection and identification
- Ecological monitoring
- Coral Point Count with Excel extensions (CPCe)
- Data Transformations & Analysis
- Microsoft Office
- Social media management
Training
- Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, Honolulu, HI, Spring 2017
- The 39th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting, Washington, DC, 02/01/18
- The 40th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Meeting, Pago Pago, AS, 08/01/18
Academic Honors And Awards
- American Samoa Government Scholarship Recipient
- US Pacific Territories Capacity-Building Scholarship Recipient
- LSAMP Fellowship STEM Scholarship Recipient
- Quantitative Underwater Ecological Surveying Techniques Award
- PADI Open Water Diver
- Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Epsilon Mu Chapter Member
- Wilderness Advanced First Aid Certification
Timeline
American Samoa Island Coordinator
Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council
01.2021 - 05.2021
Watershed Coordinator and Restoration Ecologist
Ridge to Reefs Inc.
09.2019 - 05.2020
AS Priority Watershed Coordinator
Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
09.2017 - 09.2019
PIPES Intern
Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council
05.2016 - 07.2016
REU Intern
University of Texas Marine Science Institute
05.2014 - 07.2014
Bachelor of Science - Marine Science
University of Hawaii (Hilo)
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
American Samoa Community College