Graduate Student M.S. and Employee, Cornell University, Ithaca NY
Melanie K. Hayn
Ecosystems Center
7 MBL Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
mhayn@cornell.edu
Education
Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Science
B.S. in Science of Earth Systems, Concentration: Biogeochemistry, May 2004
Summa Cum Laude with Distinction in Research
Cornell Presidential Research Scholar
Cumulative GPA: 4.0, Major GPA ~ 4.1
Honors Thesis: Impact of ground water sulfate delivery on anaerobic respiration and dissolved CO2 concentrations in
a rich fen in Central New York (pdf)(Advisor, Barbara Bedford)
- Cornell Dean’s List (Fall 2000 – Spring 2004)
- Udall Scholarship; Cornell nominee (2003)
Marine Biological Laboratory, Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA; Semester in Environmental Science, Fall 2003
Project Titles:
- Effect of changes in salinity and sulfate concentration on potential nitrification in freshwater, estuarine, and
marine sediments (Advisor, Anne E. Giblin) (pdf)
- A Model of Microbial Processes Relating to Sulfur Cycling in a Peatland: Effects of Climate Change (Advisor, Ed Rastetter) (pdf)
Bacon Academy, Colchester, CT. Graduated June 2000.
Senior Project: Seasonal changes in interstitial ammonium concentrations and organic carbon percentages in the Thames River Estuary (in conjunction with Project Oceanology)
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Employment
Research Support Aid, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca NY;
Ecosystems Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.
January 2005 – present. Supervisors: Robert Howarth (rwh2@cornell.edu), Roxanne Marino (rmm3@cornell.edu)
Responsible for laboratory and field work necessary for implementation of research project studying eutrophication in shallow
coastal estuaries. Involves working independently in Woods Hole, MA with regular contact with supervisors at Cornell.
This position also involves informal supervision of temporary and student lab assistants, as well as planning and implementation of
field experiments, and methods developments, training, and implementation of laboratory procedures.
Research Assistant/Lab Technician, Natural Resources Ecosystem Laboratory, Ithaca, NY.
Supervisor: Noel Gurwick (npg1@cornell.edu). July 2004-December 2004.
Responsible for daily implementation of research project studying carbon mineralization and denitrification in riparian zones.
Work involves minimal supervision, weekly meetings with the principal investigator, and a significant amount of decision-making
about the project.
- Optimized gas sampling equipment for the range of samples in our experiment.
- Analyzed gas samples from laboratory incubations for [N2O], [CO2], [CH4], and 15N-N2.
- Developed and assessed methods for storing gas samples for N2 analysis.
- Analyzed and interpreted complex data resulting from instrumental measurements.
- Participated in decisions about which samples to incubate and when to sample incubations.
- Supervized two undergraduate laboratory employees.
- Maintained analytic equipment (gas chromatograph, IRGA, vacuum pump and manifold).
- Determined how to use [SF6] as a conservative trace gas in incubations
- Keeping inventory of gas cylinders and ordering replacement supplies
Research scholar, Bedford Wetland Ecology/Natural Resources Lab, Ithaca, NY (2001-2004).
Supervisors: Barbara L. Bedford (blb4@cornell.edu, 607-255-2402), Kathy M. Bailey (kmb9@cornell.edu).
Full-time summers 2002 and 2003, part time academic year spring 2001- spring 2003.
Responsible for daily laboratory and field work contributing toward two projects: 1) the hydrologic controls on groundwater
chemistry and plant species composition in rich fens, and 2) the impact of fertilization and Typha spp. removal on wetland plant
and moss species diversity. Work involved minimal supervision, semi-weekly meetings with project supervisors, and extensive
teamwork for both field and laboratory procedures.
- Supervised and coordinated summer field chemistry data collection
- Constructed, and installed piezometers and water table wells, and took hydraulic head measurements
- Used field probes to measure DO, pH, and conductivity.
- Used wet chemical methods to measure alkalinity, [PO4-3], [DIC], [DOC]
- Used instrumental chemical methods to measure [CO2]
- Identified wetland plants and estimated species percent cover data
- Took field peat cores and analyzed for bulk density, % moisture, and soil [NO3] and [PO4]
- Searched the literature for relevant publications/data and summarized and analyzed this data using graphical procedures
- Took complex surveying data, and combined with head measurements to analyze multiple site’s data on land surface topography, groundwater elevation, and groundwater flowpaths
- Entered complex chemical and physical data, compiled various data sets, and analyzed using graphical and statistical procedures, and compared to literature data
Ponds Technician GS/04, National Park Service; Wellfleet, MA (Summer 2001) Supervisor: Krista Lee (Krista_Lee@nps.gov)
Responsible for collection, chemical analysis and data analysis in a project monitoring seasonal changes and
water quality in kettle ponds on the coast of Cape Cod. Work involved minimal supervision, weekly meetings with project supervisor, and a significant amount of daily decision-making regarding project details.
- Coordinated field work and sampling schedule
- Maintained field analytical equipment (YSI field multiprobe, spectrophotometer)
- Performed wet chemical analyses (e.g. chlorophyll a, pH, conductivity)
- Performed instrumental chemical analyses (e.g. Lachat flow injection analysis, atomic absorption spectrophotometer)
- Supervised two volunteers assisting on the project
- Entered and analyzed complex chemical and depth profie data
- Maintained a historical database of chemical and hydrologic data
- Attended training course on YSI multiprobe maintenance and use
Computer Center Employee, PCShop; Ithaca, NY 14850 (2001-2002)
- Aided in computer construction. - Provided technical support for hardware and software problems.
Seasonal Wildlife Specialist, Department of Environmental Protection; Waterford, CT (2000)
Responsible for the safety of nesting endangered waterfowl at Harkness State Park during the summer and part time during the school year.
- Educated the public about endangered waterfowl of the CT shoreline (~40 people per day)
- Built enclosures to protect nesting birds from human intrusion
- Monitored nesting sites during heavily trafficked times to protect nesting birds
Research Assistant in Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (Summer 1999)
Responsible for implementing procedures to test methods of isolating bacterial plasmids with minimal daily supervision, following a procedure outlined in laboratory protocols. - Performed standard analyses (e.g., polymerase chain reaction, bacteria culture incubations)
GIS Teaching Assistant, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (Summer, 1998)
- Assisted with practical exercises designed to teach principles and operation of Arcview software.
-----------------------------------Technical Skills and Procedures:
- Computer modeling software (Borland Delphi, Stella)
- GIS/GPS (Arcview 3.2; ArcGIS 9.2; ArcExplorer; Garmin GPS Units and computer interface)
- S-Plus Statistical Software
- Microsoft Windows, Excel, and Office
- Flow injection analysis (Lachat, O.I., Astoria-Pacific, and Orion Autoanalyzers)
- Spectrophotometry/colorimetry (LaMotte, Hach, Shimadzu)
- Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Perkin-Elmer)
- Gas chromatography (Varian and Shimadzu)
- Ion Chromatography (Dionex)
- CHN elemental analysis (Perkin-Elmer)
- Li-Cor Photosynthesis System (6200/6250)
- Water quality multi-probe use and maintenance (Hydrolab and YSI)
- Field pH and conductivity probes (YSI, Orion, and Fisher Scientific)
- DO field probe maintenance and use (YSI)
- Hydraulic head measurement and analysis, construction of groundwater equipotential maps
- Water quality and soil chemistry analyses, including ammonium, phosphate, iron, nitrate, chlorophyll a, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, DOC, and DIC.
- Soil digestion/analysis for carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphate, bulk density, and pH.
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Field Sampling Skills
- Scuba Diving (PADI certified, with current AAUS scientific diving certification), Snorkling
- Small watercraft operation, motor and paddle-powered (CT State Boating Safety License)
- Experience driving large vans and vehicles with boat trailers
- porewater sampling (tension lysimeters, porewater samplers, piezometers)
- sediment sampling (peat, sediment, and soil core sampling)
- Trawl collection and Peterson sediment grabs
Presentations
New England Estuarine Research Society, Salem MA, 2009
Cornell Graduate Research Symposium Oral Presentations, Ithaca NY, 2008
National Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Providence RI, 2007
National Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Norfolk, VA, 2005
Cornell Presidential Research Scholars Poster Presentation, 2004
Natural Resources Department Honors Thesis Poster Presentation, Cornell, 2004
Final Project Oral Presentation, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA, 2003
Modeling Project Oral Presentation, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole MA, 2003
Weekly research presentations on current laboratory projects, MBL, Woods Hole, 2003
Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium Presentation, Univ. of Connecticut, 2000
Water Quality and Resources Congress Oral Presentation, CT DEP, 1998