Laura Durning
Bozeman,MT
Summary
Accomplished spatial data scientist offering 12+ years in planning and implementation of methods, analysis and publication to meet research objectives. Expert in image analysis and ecological research with reputation for reaching sound research conclusions. Strong interpersonal skills and multitasking.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Research Specialist
Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
07.2014 - 08.2022
- Enhanced research quality by implementing advanced statistical and analytical techniques in data analysis; using open-source R software.
- Developed innovative GIS based hybrid image classification methodologies that led to breakthrough findings and impactful publications; used R, ENVI and ArcGIS.
- Authored well-received peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations, and technical reports showcasing results of completed research projects.
- Mentored undergraduate students to foster professional development as skilled researchers.
- Evaluated research data to assess accuracy, validity and integrity from time of collection through analysis.
- Processed data collected through various means such as maned aircraft, UAV and side-scanning lidar to analyze and develop reports.
- Performed conducted research to study impacts of river regulation and hydroelectric energy generation on animal and plant species.
- Followed health and safety recommendations while working in the back-country for weeks at a time.
- Managed logistics with multi-disciplinary teams to run back-country field operations; for botany ground truthing and monitoring.
Research Specialist
Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
04.2011 - 07.2014
- Conducted extensive literature reviews to inform project development and methodology decisions.
- Contributed to manuscript preparation and submission for peer-reviewed publications, raising the profile of organizational expertise.
- Evaluated data collected through maned aircraft and satellites to analyze and develop reports.
- Developed data processing and analysis workflows in ArcGIS model builder and ENVI + IDL.
- Collected ground truth data for image classification.
- Lead crews for ground based botany monitoring project using ocular cover estimates and spatially distributed random sampling methods.
Research Technician
Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
06.2009 - 04.2011
- Worked with high resolution, multi-band (blue, green, red, near infrared) image data collected via manned aircraft.
- Evaluated raw image flight line data to determine which parts should be combined to construct an error free mosaic.
- Classified image water features that had various sediment loads.
- Assisted with training junior team members in classification techniques.
Student Research Assistant
Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
10.2009 - 06.2010
- Studied FGDC and ISO metadata standards.
- Evaluated open source tools available for building accurate and complete metadata.
- As a metadata expert, worked with researchers at the US Geologic Survey to write metadata for several types of data.
Assistant Production Coordinator
US Geological Survey (contractor)
02.2009 - 08.2009
- Managed peer-review process for symposia publication with approximately 40 manuscript submissions. Including but not limited to finding an reaching out to topic experts to perform reviews, tracking author edits, and managing the paper trail to document the peer review process.
- Assisted lead editor in manuscript reference consistency and verified reference style adherence.
Administrative Assistant
Northern Arizona University
09.2008 - 08.2009
- Facilitated addition of two additional Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CPCESU) federal funding partners.
- Planned and ran annual CPCESU partner meeting; this included out of state travel and logistics for individuals from several states and agencies.
- Prepared 5 yr funding review document that documented 26.3 million dollars of grant funding from federal agencies to universities.
- Managed bi-weekly payroll for 12 employees.
- Processed employee travel requests and reimbursements.
Assistant Graduate Program Coordinator
Northern Arizona University
02.2008 - 09.2008
- Developed and maintained Microsoft Access database of prospective graduate student applications; including review of submissions for completeness.
- Wrote correspondence letters to program applicants.
- Facilitated admission of seven new graduate students.
- Maintained database for status of paperwork for current graduate students.
- Developed alumni database using Access.
- Constructed new website for departmental graduate students. This website was used for marketing and outreach to perspective students, and networking tool for current students and alumni.
Nursery Technician
Flagstaff Native Plant And Seed
04.2008 - 08.2008
- Additionally, worked this position in summers of 2009 and 2010.
- Improved plant health by monitoring and adjusting watering systems according to specific needs.
- Maintained clean and organized nursery environment, promoting optimal growth conditions for plants.
- Provided excellent customer service by assisting clients with plant selection and care advice; this required extensive local climate understanding and native plan requirements.
- Conducted regular inventory checks, ensuring accurate data for sales and ordering purposes.
- Prepared plants for shipment by carefully packing and labeling orders according to specifications.
- Provided client education on plant care and placement.
- Conducted nightly cash drawer counts and prepared bank deposits.
Field Crew Lead
Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge LTER
06.2006 - 08.2006
- Supported installation of a multi-million dollar pinion-juniper ecosystem drought resistance experiment funded by DOE.
- Lead crews of 4-5 field crew members on daily tasks.
- Tasks included installing fence and rail for large scale in-situ water exclusion and addition experiment; installing sap flow, and ground moisture probes; configuring data loggers.
Education
Graduate Certificate - Applied Statistics
08.2019
Graduate Certificate - Geographic Information Sciences And Cartography
05.2011
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science With Biology Emphasis
12.2007
Skills
- Time series analysis
- Report writing
- Database management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Quantitative research
- Advanced data analysis
- Training and mentoring
- Data visualization
- Geospatial analysis
- Study Design
- Scientific Method
Publications
Prior to 2016 publications are under L. E. Cagney
ORCID: 0000-0003-3282-2458
Anya N. Metcalfe, Carol A. Fritzinger, Theodore J. Weller, Michael J. Dodrill, Jeffrey D. Muehlbauer, Charles B. Yackulic, P. Brandon Holton, Cheyenne M. Szydlo, Laura E. Durning, Joel B. Sankey, Theodore A.Kennedy, 2023, Insectivorous bat foraging tracks the availability of aquatic flies (Diptera), Journal of Wildlife Management, v.85, n. 5, https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22414.
Laura E. Durning, Joel B. Sankey, Charles B. Yackulic, Paul E. Grams, Bradley J. Butterfield, Temuulen T. Sankey, 2021, Hydrologic and geomorphic effects on riparian plant species occurrence and encroachment: Remote sensing of 360 km of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Ecohydrology, v. 15, n. 8, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2344.
Bradley J. Butterfield, Paul E. Grams, Laura E. Durning, Joseph Hazel, Emily C. Palmquist, Barbara E. Ralston, Joel B. Sankey, 2020, Associations between riparian plant morphological guilds and fluvial sediment dynamics along the regulated Colorado River in Grand Canyon, River Research and Applications, v. 36, n. 3, https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3589.
Ashton Bedford, Temuulen T. Sankey, Joel B. Sankey, Laura Durning, Barbara E. Ralston, 2018, Remote sensing of tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) impacts along 412 km of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA, Ecological Indicators, v. 89, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.02.026.
Durning, L.E., Sankey, J.B., Davis, P.A., and Sankey, T.T., 2016, Four-band image mosaic of the Colorado River corridor downstream of Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona, derived from the May 2013 airborne image acquisition: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1027, https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1027.
Joel B. Sankey, Barbara E. Ralston, Paul E. Grams, John C. Schmidt, Laura E. Cagney, 2015, Riparian vegetation, Colorado River, and climate: Five decades of spatiotemporal dynamics in the Grand Canyon with river regulation, JGR Biogeosciences, v. 120, n. 8, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JG002991.
Davis, P.A, compiler, Local-area-enhanced, high-resolution natural-color and color-infrared satellite-image mosaics of mineral districts in Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 709, https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/709/. (Co-author on chapters A-H, J, L-Q, U & X).
Volunteering
- Roots Family Collaborative - (Oct 2023-current) Bozeman, MT: Group Peer Support facilitator for infant feeding and new moms.
- First Robotics - (Dec 2008- Dec 2018) Flagstaff, AZ: Judge Advisor for youth robotics competitions.
- Girl Scouts USA - (June 2016-June 2018) Flagstaff, AZ: Troop leader and cookie fundraiser manager.
Timeline
Senior Research Specialist - Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
07.2014 - 08.2022
Research Specialist - Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
04.2011 - 07.2014
Student Research Assistant - Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
10.2009 - 06.2010
Research Technician - Northern Arizona University (USGS Cooperator)
06.2009 - 04.2011
Assistant Production Coordinator - US Geological Survey (contractor)
02.2009 - 08.2009
Administrative Assistant - Northern Arizona University
09.2008 - 08.2009
Nursery Technician - Flagstaff Native Plant And Seed
04.2008 - 08.2008
Assistant Graduate Program Coordinator - Northern Arizona University
02.2008 - 09.2008
Field Crew Lead - Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge LTER
06.2006 - 08.2006
Northern Arizona University - Graduate Certificate, Applied Statistics
Northern Arizona University - Graduate Certificate, Geographic Information Sciences And Cartography
Northern Arizona University - Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science With Biology Emphasis