Ericka R. Kay
University of Nevada, Reno, Biology Department
1664 N Virginia St Reno, NV 89557
[email protected]
www.erickarkay.com
University of Nevada, Reno, Biology Department
1664 N Virginia St Reno, NV 89557
[email protected]
www.erickarkay.com
Education
Ph.D. - Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology August 2025
University of Nevada, Reno
Advisors: Drs. Lee Dyer, Matt Forister & Lora Richards. GPA: 4.00
B.S. Environmental Science, Minor: Forest Management and Ecology May 2014
University of Nevada, Reno GPA: 3.78
Sierra College 2009- 2011 GPA: 3.95
Professional Profile
Ecologist and educator with a strong foundation in applied ecology, agricultural outreach, and public science communication. Experienced in developing data collection workflows, quality assurance/quality control, and relational data organization. Skilled in data analysis and visualization for diverse audiences. Passionate about working with producers and community members to develop practical, science-based solutions that improve quality of life across Nevada.
Awards & Fellowships
Sue Wagner Endowment Scholarship, Nevada Women's Fund ($5,000) 2024
Hadley-Lynch Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($1,250) 2024
Biology Graduate Student Spring Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2024
NWF Board Alumnae Scholarship, Nevada Women's Fund ($2,750) 2023
Biology Graduate Student International Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($750) 2022
Jeanne T. Shearer Endowed Scholarship, Nevada Women’s Fund ($3,000) 2022
Biology Graduate Student Spring Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2022
Courage Sans Peur Foundation Scholarship, Nevada Women’s Fund ($5,000) 2021
Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2020
Robert E. Dickerson Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($6,000.00) 2020-2021
Biology Graduate Student Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2020
EWB Math and Science Endowed Scholarship, Nevada Women’s Fund ($2,000) 2020
Hitchcock Graduate Student Fellowship, University of Nevada, Reno ($18,000) 2020
Jerry & Betty Wilson Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($4,000) 2018-2019
Biology Graduate Student Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2018
Anna C.and Walter Frey Scholarship Endowment, University of Nevada, Reno ($2,500) 2017-2018
Outstanding Graduating Senior in Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno 2014
Aldo Leopold Foundation Land Ethic Leaders Scholarship ($250) 2012
Living Routes-Low Carbon Living Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Amherst ($300) 2010
Lake of the Sky Garden Club Scholarship ($1,000) 2010
Teaching & Professional Experience
Teaching Assistant, Evolution (BIOL 415)
University of Nevada,Reno Spring 2025, Fall2024, Spring2024, Spring2023, Spring2022, Spring2021, Spring2020, Fall2019
Taught and facilitated class discussions on evolutionary concepts, including mutation, genetic drift, gene flow and natural selection. Instructed students in constructing and interpreting phylogenies.
Research Mentorship, Richards Lab, University of Nevada, Reno 2019-2024
As a doctoral student, mentored and supervised 8 undergraduate students over 5 years. Trained students to take field measurements including canopy temperature, estimate resource availability, and insect field collections. In the lab students were trained in insect morpho-typing, curation and data entry as well as preparation of hemp samples for extraction and analysis on LC-MS.
Research Assistant, The Gompert Lab
Utah State University July-December 2022
Quantified cuticular hydrocarbons (Lepidoptera) using GC-FID.
Research Assistant, Cooperative Extension
University of Nevada, Reno February-October 2022
Supported outreach efforts including Extension Field Days. Authored and published Extension Fact Sheets. Supervised undergraduate workers during final field experiment data collection and harvest.
Research Assistant, The Bug Lab
University of Nevada, Reno May-December 2021
Prepared field collected plant samples for chemical extractions for analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Teaching Assistant, Natural History Museum
University of Nevada, Reno Fall 2018- Spring 2019
Conducted interactive museum tours for K-12 school groups and delivered hands-on natural history lessons during museum visits.
Teaching Assistant, Principles of Biological Investigation Lab (BIOL 192)
University of Nevada, Reno Fall 2016- Spring 2018
Delivered laboratory instruction of undergraduates, including use of field and laboratory instruments, implementation of inquiry-based learning activities, and instruction in scientific writing and data interpretation.
Town Manager Intern-Recycling and Solid Waste (Truckee, CA)
Town of Truckee CA August 2015-August 2016
Led public outreach and education for municipal trash and recycling programs. Collaborated with local constituents, local governmental and private entities in stakeholder meetings on priorities for the new solid waste and recycling franchise agreement.
Garden Manager, Truckee Demonstration Garden (Truckee, CA)
Slow Food Lake Tahoe March 2015-August 2016
Responsible for overall garden management, including planting, harvest, volunteer coordination, outreach, events, and newsletters. Developed and led free public workshops on high-elevation, short-season gardening. Designed and implemented participatory phenology studies in which community members grew free vegetable plants and reported data to evaluate varietal performance across the Tahoe Basin.
Publications
Kay, ER, Philbin, CS, Richards, LA, Forister, ML, Jeffrey, C, & Dyer, LA. 2025. Effects of Water and Wind Stress on Phytochemical Diversity, Cannabinoid Composition, and Arthropod Diversity in Hemp. Plants, 14(3), 474. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030474
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Preliminary evaluation of pearl millet – a new crop in Nevada. Journal of the NACAA. 15(1). www.nacaa.com/file.ashx?id=d2224e81-5779-4c82-80ab-ab5586c2572b
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Soil Health - Minimizing Soil Disturbance, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-15. naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2023-4867.pdf
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Soil Cover - A Soil Health Principle, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-16.naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2023-4869.pdf
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Basic Principles of Soil Health, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-17.naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2023-4877.pdf
Kay, E.R., Richards, L.A., Dyer, L.A., Lunaria, K., Forister, M.L. Bugs in the bud: An entomological road trip through Cannabis fields of the West. Journal of Applied Entomology. In prep.
Kay, E.R., English, L.A., Dyer, L.A., Forister, M.L., Jeffrey, C.S., Philbin, C.S, A.R., Richards. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemistry and arthropod communities. New Phytologist. In prep.
Professional Presentations
May 2025: Hitchcock Center for Chemical-Ecology annual meeting. University of Nevada, Reno, Lake Tahoe campus. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.
August 2024: Cannabis Research Conference Annual meeting. Fort Collins, CO USA. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities
November 2022: Entomological Society of America Annual meeting. Vancouver, BC Canada. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.
April 2022: Entomological Society of America Pacific Branch meeting. Santa Rosa, CA, USA. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.
December 2018: Hitchcock Center for Chemical-Ecology annual meeting. Reno, NV USA.
Oral presentation. Phytochemical diversity in hemp: Synergies in defense against an array of natural enemies.
November 2018: Entomological Society of America Annual meeting. Vancouver, BC Canada. Oral presentation. Phytochemical diversity in industrial hemp: Synergies in defense against an array of natural enemies
Certifications
Foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Certification 2023
University of Nevada, Reno - Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Aldo Leopold Foundations Land Ethic Leader Certification 2012
Sagehen Creek Field Station (Truckee, CA)
iNaturalist Citizen Science Training 2013
Sagehen Creek Field Station (Truckee, CA)
Community Outreach
Fostering Forests Facilitator, Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships (Truckee-Tahoe, CA) 2023
Visited local middle schools and lead experiential outdoor science lessons in which students designed mini observational experiments and then visualized and analyzed their data for class presentations.
STEM Camp Leader, Sierra Nevada Journeys Outdoor Education Camp-Girls in STEM (Portola, CA) 2023
Co-chaperoned camp cabin with ~ twenty 4th grade girls. Led campers in outdoor field surveys in the Sierra Nevada’s investigating fire ecology, supported campers in scaling the “Alpine’ climbing tower, and facilitated team-building activities to promote collaboration among campers.
Group Moderator, Wolf Pack Howls (Reno, NV) 2021
University of Nevada, Reno-ASUN's Center for Student Engagement
Facilitated conversations which promote civil and productive dialogue amongst UNR’s student body on controversial subjects. The goal of these conversations was to create mutual understanding and find common ground – not win a debate.
Outreach Volunteer, Nevada Bugs & Butterflies (Reno, NV) 2017-2018
Docent at NV B&B events. Led hands-on activities at local elementary classrooms about insect ecology including live ‘insect petting zoos”.
Master Gardener Volunteer, Cooperative Extension (South Lake Tahoe, CA) 2015-2017
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources South Lake Tahoe, CA
Facilitated free public workshops on high elevation, short season gardening. Assist in conducting phenology studies on local vegetable varieties. Tabled local events.
Ph.D. - Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology August 2025
University of Nevada, Reno
Advisors: Drs. Lee Dyer, Matt Forister & Lora Richards. GPA: 4.00
B.S. Environmental Science, Minor: Forest Management and Ecology May 2014
University of Nevada, Reno GPA: 3.78
Sierra College 2009- 2011 GPA: 3.95
Professional Profile
Ecologist and educator with a strong foundation in applied ecology, agricultural outreach, and public science communication. Experienced in developing data collection workflows, quality assurance/quality control, and relational data organization. Skilled in data analysis and visualization for diverse audiences. Passionate about working with producers and community members to develop practical, science-based solutions that improve quality of life across Nevada.
Awards & Fellowships
Sue Wagner Endowment Scholarship, Nevada Women's Fund ($5,000) 2024
Hadley-Lynch Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($1,250) 2024
Biology Graduate Student Spring Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2024
NWF Board Alumnae Scholarship, Nevada Women's Fund ($2,750) 2023
Biology Graduate Student International Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($750) 2022
Jeanne T. Shearer Endowed Scholarship, Nevada Women’s Fund ($3,000) 2022
Biology Graduate Student Spring Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2022
Courage Sans Peur Foundation Scholarship, Nevada Women’s Fund ($5,000) 2021
Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2020
Robert E. Dickerson Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($6,000.00) 2020-2021
Biology Graduate Student Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2020
EWB Math and Science Endowed Scholarship, Nevada Women’s Fund ($2,000) 2020
Hitchcock Graduate Student Fellowship, University of Nevada, Reno ($18,000) 2020
Jerry & Betty Wilson Scholarship, University of Nevada, Reno ($4,000) 2018-2019
Biology Graduate Student Travel Awards, University of Nevada, Reno ($500) 2018
Anna C.and Walter Frey Scholarship Endowment, University of Nevada, Reno ($2,500) 2017-2018
Outstanding Graduating Senior in Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno 2014
Aldo Leopold Foundation Land Ethic Leaders Scholarship ($250) 2012
Living Routes-Low Carbon Living Scholarship, University of Massachusetts Amherst ($300) 2010
Lake of the Sky Garden Club Scholarship ($1,000) 2010
Teaching & Professional Experience
Teaching Assistant, Evolution (BIOL 415)
University of Nevada,Reno Spring 2025, Fall2024, Spring2024, Spring2023, Spring2022, Spring2021, Spring2020, Fall2019
Taught and facilitated class discussions on evolutionary concepts, including mutation, genetic drift, gene flow and natural selection. Instructed students in constructing and interpreting phylogenies.
Research Mentorship, Richards Lab, University of Nevada, Reno 2019-2024
As a doctoral student, mentored and supervised 8 undergraduate students over 5 years. Trained students to take field measurements including canopy temperature, estimate resource availability, and insect field collections. In the lab students were trained in insect morpho-typing, curation and data entry as well as preparation of hemp samples for extraction and analysis on LC-MS.
Research Assistant, The Gompert Lab
Utah State University July-December 2022
Quantified cuticular hydrocarbons (Lepidoptera) using GC-FID.
Research Assistant, Cooperative Extension
University of Nevada, Reno February-October 2022
Supported outreach efforts including Extension Field Days. Authored and published Extension Fact Sheets. Supervised undergraduate workers during final field experiment data collection and harvest.
Research Assistant, The Bug Lab
University of Nevada, Reno May-December 2021
Prepared field collected plant samples for chemical extractions for analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Teaching Assistant, Natural History Museum
University of Nevada, Reno Fall 2018- Spring 2019
Conducted interactive museum tours for K-12 school groups and delivered hands-on natural history lessons during museum visits.
Teaching Assistant, Principles of Biological Investigation Lab (BIOL 192)
University of Nevada, Reno Fall 2016- Spring 2018
Delivered laboratory instruction of undergraduates, including use of field and laboratory instruments, implementation of inquiry-based learning activities, and instruction in scientific writing and data interpretation.
Town Manager Intern-Recycling and Solid Waste (Truckee, CA)
Town of Truckee CA August 2015-August 2016
Led public outreach and education for municipal trash and recycling programs. Collaborated with local constituents, local governmental and private entities in stakeholder meetings on priorities for the new solid waste and recycling franchise agreement.
Garden Manager, Truckee Demonstration Garden (Truckee, CA)
Slow Food Lake Tahoe March 2015-August 2016
Responsible for overall garden management, including planting, harvest, volunteer coordination, outreach, events, and newsletters. Developed and led free public workshops on high-elevation, short-season gardening. Designed and implemented participatory phenology studies in which community members grew free vegetable plants and reported data to evaluate varietal performance across the Tahoe Basin.
Publications
Kay, ER, Philbin, CS, Richards, LA, Forister, ML, Jeffrey, C, & Dyer, LA. 2025. Effects of Water and Wind Stress on Phytochemical Diversity, Cannabinoid Composition, and Arthropod Diversity in Hemp. Plants, 14(3), 474. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030474
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Preliminary evaluation of pearl millet – a new crop in Nevada. Journal of the NACAA. 15(1). www.nacaa.com/file.ashx?id=d2224e81-5779-4c82-80ab-ab5586c2572b
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Soil Health - Minimizing Soil Disturbance, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-15. naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2023-4867.pdf
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Soil Cover - A Soil Health Principle, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-16.naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2023-4869.pdf
Walia, MK, Kay, ER. 2022. Basic Principles of Soil Health, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-22-17.naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/2023-4877.pdf
Kay, E.R., Richards, L.A., Dyer, L.A., Lunaria, K., Forister, M.L. Bugs in the bud: An entomological road trip through Cannabis fields of the West. Journal of Applied Entomology. In prep.
Kay, E.R., English, L.A., Dyer, L.A., Forister, M.L., Jeffrey, C.S., Philbin, C.S, A.R., Richards. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemistry and arthropod communities. New Phytologist. In prep.
Professional Presentations
May 2025: Hitchcock Center for Chemical-Ecology annual meeting. University of Nevada, Reno, Lake Tahoe campus. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.
August 2024: Cannabis Research Conference Annual meeting. Fort Collins, CO USA. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities
November 2022: Entomological Society of America Annual meeting. Vancouver, BC Canada. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.
April 2022: Entomological Society of America Pacific Branch meeting. Santa Rosa, CA, USA. Oral presentation. Into the wild: The effects of natural and artificial selection on hemp phytochemical diversity and arthropod communities.
December 2018: Hitchcock Center for Chemical-Ecology annual meeting. Reno, NV USA.
Oral presentation. Phytochemical diversity in hemp: Synergies in defense against an array of natural enemies.
November 2018: Entomological Society of America Annual meeting. Vancouver, BC Canada. Oral presentation. Phytochemical diversity in industrial hemp: Synergies in defense against an array of natural enemies
Certifications
Foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Certification 2023
University of Nevada, Reno - Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Aldo Leopold Foundations Land Ethic Leader Certification 2012
Sagehen Creek Field Station (Truckee, CA)
iNaturalist Citizen Science Training 2013
Sagehen Creek Field Station (Truckee, CA)
Community Outreach
Fostering Forests Facilitator, Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships (Truckee-Tahoe, CA) 2023
Visited local middle schools and lead experiential outdoor science lessons in which students designed mini observational experiments and then visualized and analyzed their data for class presentations.
STEM Camp Leader, Sierra Nevada Journeys Outdoor Education Camp-Girls in STEM (Portola, CA) 2023
Co-chaperoned camp cabin with ~ twenty 4th grade girls. Led campers in outdoor field surveys in the Sierra Nevada’s investigating fire ecology, supported campers in scaling the “Alpine’ climbing tower, and facilitated team-building activities to promote collaboration among campers.
Group Moderator, Wolf Pack Howls (Reno, NV) 2021
University of Nevada, Reno-ASUN's Center for Student Engagement
Facilitated conversations which promote civil and productive dialogue amongst UNR’s student body on controversial subjects. The goal of these conversations was to create mutual understanding and find common ground – not win a debate.
Outreach Volunteer, Nevada Bugs & Butterflies (Reno, NV) 2017-2018
Docent at NV B&B events. Led hands-on activities at local elementary classrooms about insect ecology including live ‘insect petting zoos”.
Master Gardener Volunteer, Cooperative Extension (South Lake Tahoe, CA) 2015-2017
University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources South Lake Tahoe, CA
Facilitated free public workshops on high elevation, short season gardening. Assist in conducting phenology studies on local vegetable varieties. Tabled local events.
