CV - ERICKA R. KAY

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education:
Ph.D. Student, Biology (Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology)
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV
Completion Expected May 2023
Research Advisor: Drs. Lee A. Dyer, Lora A. Richards and Matthew L. Forister

Bachelor of Science
Major: Environmental Science
Minor: Forest Management and Ecology
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV
Graduation: May 2014
Awarded Outstanding Graduating Senior in Environmental Science


Scholarships and Honors:
University of Nevada, Reno Biology Graduate Student Fall Travel Award 2022

Nevada Women's Fund, Jeanne T. Shearer Endowed Scholarship 2022

University of Nevada, Reno Biology Graduate Student Spring Travel Award 2022

Nevada Women's Fund, Courage Sans Peur Foundation Scholarship 2021

University of Nevada, Reno Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship 2020-2021

University of Nevada, Reno Robert E.Dickerson Scholarship 2020

University of Nevada, Reno Biology Graduate Student Travel Award 2020

Nevada Women's Fund, EWB Math and Science Endowed Scholarship 2020

University of Nevada, Reno Hitchcock Graduate Student Fellowship 2020

University of Nevada, Reno Jerry & Betty Wilson Scholarship Recipient 2018-2019

University of Nevada, Reno Anna C. and Walter Frey Scholarship Endowment Recipient 2017-18

University of Nevada, Reno Biology Graduate Student Travel Award 2018

University of Nevada, Reno Outstanding Graduating Senior in Environmental Science 2014

Aldo Leopold Foundation Land Ethic Leaders Scholarship Spring 2012

University of Massachusetts at Amherst Living Routes-Low Carbon Living Scholarship 2011

Lake of the Sky Garden Club Scholarship Tahoe City, CA 2010

Sierra College Presidents Honor Roll: Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011

Teaching Experience:
Research Assistant, Cooperative Extension
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV
February-October 2022
Assisted with outreach including Hemp Field Days, wrote and published Extension Fact Sheets, and lead undergraduate workers in final field experiment data collection and harvest.

Research Assistant, The Gompert Lab
Utah State University
July-December 2022
Quantified cuticular hydrocarbons of Lepidopteran using GC-FID.

Research Assistant, The Bug Lab (Dr. Matthew L. Forister)
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV
May-December 2021
Prepared field collected plant samples for chemical extractions for analysis using liquid chromotograpahy-mass spectrometry.

Teaching Assistant, Evolution
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV
Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023
Lead discussion groups on topics including: roles of mutation, genetic drift, gene flow and natural selection; mechanisms through which new species arise; construct and interpret phylogenies.

Natural History Museum K-12 Tours & Outreach
Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Lead and organized guided tours with school classes, scout troops, clubs and other groups at the University of
Nevada, Reno's Natural History Museum. Tours are interactive, include hands-on science labs, and align with NV Department of Education Science Standards.

Teaching Assistant, Principles of Biological Investigation Lab
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV
Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018
Lead laboratory instruction of undergraduates, including the use of research equipment, common investigative techniques, and the fundamentals of scientific writing.

Publications:
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022 Preliminary evaluation of pearl millet - a new crop in Nevada. Journal of the NACAA. 15(1).

Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022, Basic Principles of Soil Health, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-17

Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022, Soil Cover - A Soil Health Principle, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-16

Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022, Soil Health - Minimizing Soil Disturbance, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-15

Professional Presentations:
Entomological Society of America annual meeting.
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
November 2022
Oral presentation: Into the Wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.

Entomological Society of America branch meeting.
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
April 2022
Oral presentation: Into the Wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.

Entomological Society of America annual meeting.
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
November 2018
Oral presentation: Phytochemical diversity in industrial hemp: Synergies in defense against an array of natural enemies.

Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology annual meeting
Reno, NV USA
December 2018
Oral presentation: Phytochemical diversity in industrial hemp: Synergies in defense against an array of natural enemies.

Internships:
Town Manager Intern-Recycling and Solid Waste
Town of Truckee
Truckee, CA
August 2015-August 2016
Worked with local constituents, local governmental and private entities in stakeholder meetings on priorities for the new franchise agreement. Public outreach and education.


Community Involvement:
Nevada Bugs & Butterflies
Reno, NV
Spring 2017-2019
Docent at NV B&B events. Outreach into local elementary school classrooms teaching students about insects.

Cooperative Extension-Master Gardener Volunteer
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources South Lake Tahoe, CA
Spring 2015-currently active
Facilitate and present free public workshops on high elevation, short season gardening. Assist in conducting phenology studies on local vegetable varieties. Table local events including farmer’s markets.

Truckee Demonstration Garden-Slow Food Lake Tahoe
Truckee, CA
Garden manager 2015
Responsible for overall management and oversight of garden including operations, volunteers, weekly newsletters, school field trips and workshops.

Sierra Club
Yosemite National Park, CA
June 2010
Restoration of social trails.

International Outreach:
International Volunteer HQ
Chiang Mai, Thailand
May 2013
Worked with rural villages to improve infrastructure and taught English as a second language to elementary age children.

Sadhana Forest
Tamil Nadu, India
December 2011
Worked with the communities surrounding Auroville in reforestation, water conservation and creating “Children’s Land.”


Certifications:
Aldo Leopold Foundations Land Ethic Leader Certification
Baraboo, WI
Sagehen Creek Field Station
Truckee, CA

iNaturalist Citizen Science Training
Sagehen Creek Field Station
Truckee, CA