Kevin Wise
Frostburg,MD
Summary
Undergraduate Research Assistant with experience in pollinator conservation, insect evolution, and biodiversity monitoring. Skilled in developing research questions, conducting fieldwork, performing statistical analyses in R, and contributing to peer-reviewed publications. Passionate about understanding invertebrate species ecology for conservation purposes.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Frostburg State University
06.2025 - Current
- Assisted Professor Thiel on her PhD thesis on how climate change affects rare plants along the C&O Canal by gathering pollinator information about said rare plants.
- Researched and compiled materials list for Pollinator Insect Interactions Camera Trap (PICT) systems.
- Assembled and tested PICT cameras for field deployment to monitor pollinator activity.
- Research scientific literature about pollinators of rare plants in the C&O Canal.
VOLUNTEER FIELD SURVEYOR
Maryland DNR
07.2025 - 08.2025
- Assisted Maryland's State Entomologist in surveying for endangered Bombus affinis in western Maryland.
- Used modern field techniques to survey for Bombus affinis.
- Assisted in Kyle Klotz moth surveying for DNR.
- Photographed rare insects/spiders in western Maryland.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Frostburg State University
02.2025 - 08.2025
- Assisted in turtle ant evolution research in Dr. Kent's lab.
- Used R code to analyze patterns in turtle ant co-existence data.
- Used ImageJ to landmark dead turtle ant specimens for data analysis.
- Educated community college zoology students about turtle ant research and academic careers.
- Co-authored with Dr. Kent on a natural history note about cannibalism among black vultures that can contribute to the spread of Avian Influenza.
STATE PARK NATURALIST
Deep Creek State Park
05.2024 - 03.2025
- Educated the public about Deep Creek State Park and its local wildlife.
- Focused on educating the public on insects.
- Trained and cared for the eight non-releasable raptors in the aviary.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Harford Community College
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Field technician in marbled salamander research collaboration with Washington College.
- Assisted in population surveys of endangered barking tree frogs in Delaware.
- Data collection and analysis of local painted turtle populations in Harford County.
- Designed a research project to compare water quality and green frog physical morphology.
Education
BACHELOR’S - WILDLIFE & FISHERIES/ INTERPRETIVE NATURAL HISTORY
Frostburg State University
12-2025
ASSOCIATES - BIOLOGY
Harford Community College
01.2022
Skills
- GPS
- GIS
- R Program
- Excel
- Insect ID
- Public Speaking & Communication
- Insect Techinian Field Skills
Certification
- Master Naturalist of Entomology, Clemson University, 2024
- Entomological Society of America Member
Timeline
VOLUNTEER FIELD SURVEYOR
Maryland DNR
07.2025 - 08.2025
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Frostburg State University
06.2025 - Current
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Frostburg State University
02.2025 - 08.2025
STATE PARK NATURALIST
Deep Creek State Park
05.2024 - 03.2025
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Harford Community College
01.2020 - 01.2022
ASSOCIATES - BIOLOGY
Harford Community College
BACHELOR’S - WILDLIFE & FISHERIES/ INTERPRETIVE NATURAL HISTORY
Frostburg State University
PUBLICATIONS
- Wise, K. C., Cwynar, A., Soto, A., Clara, T. (2025, November). Monitoring Pollinator- Insect Interactions Using Camera Traps within the Mid-Appalachian Shale Barrrens. Biosymposium Research Symposium, Frostburg State University. Oral presentation.
- Wise K. C. (2025, September). Work as a undergrad research on how competition shaped turtle ant evolution. Class lecture, Harford Community College. Oral Presentation.
- Wise, K. C., & Kent, C. M. (2025, November). Observations of Black Vulture cannibalism in an area of high avian influenza transmission. Journal of Raptor Research.
- Wise, K. C. (2025, May). An observation of black vulture conspecific scavenging in an area of high avian influenza transmission. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Frostburg State University. Oral presentation.
- Wise, K. C. (2023, October). Water quality effects on green frog physical morphology. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Frostburg State University. Oral presentation.
- Wise, K. C. (2023). Water quality effects on green frog physical morphology. Maryland STEM Conference, Harford Community College. Poster presentation.