1. I have beenemployed asa Biologistonthe MercuryResearchTeam(MRT) at the U.S.Geological Survey
(USGS) since 2007. Since 1995, the MRT has conductedresearchcritical tothe advancementof
knowledge formercuryinthe environment.The central feature of the MRT isthe Mercury ResearchLab
(MRL) locatedat the WisconsinWaterScience CenterinMiddleton,WI.The MRL specializesinultra-
trace level cleanmethyl andtotal mercury analysesformostenvironmental samples. Inadditiontoour
internal researchinterests,the MRLprovidessupport tootherUSGS groups,federal agencies,and
universities.
Our teamtypically consistsof 4-6core members.Ourteammay alsoinclude undergraduate,graduate,
and post-doctoral students.Additionally,we supportresearchinterests throughcollaborationwithguest
researchers--arelationshipwhere we trainandassistindividualshow to processandanalyze their
samplesinthe MRL. In 2006, I hadthe opportunity asa guestresearchertoanalyze isotopically
amendedsedimentcores thatIcollectedformygraduate researchat the MRL, an opportunitythatled
to full-time employmentin2007 while Ifinished writingmythesis.
My primary role inthe MRL isthe LeadAnalyst,andI am responsible forthe analysisof methylmercury
inenvironmentalsamples.Methylmercury,one of the mosttoxicspecies of mercury,isimportant
because itbioaccumulatesthroughthe food-webandultimately resultsinconsumptionadvisoriesin
fish.Methylmercury isachallengingconstituentbecauseitis a minorfractionof the total mercurypool,
oftenexistsatthe parts pertrillionlevels,andissubject tomatrix interferencedue tostrongbinding
withsulfurcompoundsand dissolvedorganiccarbon. Tocompensate formatrix interferences
throughoutmethylmercury analysis,ourlabutilizesisotope dilution usingastable methylmercury
isotope.Sample analysisisconducted withaBrooks-RandAutomatedMethylmercuryAnalyzer(cold
vapor atomicfluorescence spectrometer) interfacedwith aThermoScientificiCAPRQ(Inductively
CoupledPlasmaMassSpectrometer,ICP-MS).
I alsohave many additional responsibilitiesasthe LeadAnalystonthe MRT. Although methylmercury
analysisismyprimaryresponsibility,Ialsoconductother mercury analysesasthe needarises.I
communicate with the LabManager and TeamLeaderto assesprioritiesforthe teamand oversee
workflowthroughthe lab.I conductdata compilationandinterpretation,andhave presented(orallyand
by poster) the resultsof researchonnumerousoccasions.Ihave athoroughknowledge of the mercury
instrumentationinourlab,andit ismy responsibilitytoconductmethoddevelopment,and perform
instrumentmaintenance,calibration, troubleshooting,andrepair. Itisalsomyresponsibilitytomaintain
and update ourcatalog of standard operatingprocedures sothattheyare accurate and readily available
to MRT membersandoutside collaborators.
Since 2012, I have also servedasthe Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) forthe MRL. As the CHO,it ismy
responsibilitytoreview andupdate the Chemical Hygiene Plan(CHP) annually.Iconducta complete
chemical inventory(atleast)annuallyandreportthe resultstothe Lab Manager and Environmental
Coordinator. Inthe interim,Ialsomaintainthe stockof commonlyusedreagentsandensure the proper
use and storage of chemicalstomaintaina safe labenvironment. Itismyresponsibilitytoorientatenew
personnel tooursafetymeasuresandproperprocedure outlinedinthe CHP.
Some of my favorite duties onthe MRT are trainingnew personnel, participatinginfieldwork,and
methoddevelopment. Duringmytenure onthe team,ourlabhas had a relativelyregularrotationof
students,guestresearchers,andnewpersonnel.Itisextremelysatisfyingtocommunicate my
experience sothatsomeone newcanbe successful inourlab.Fieldworkisanotherexcitingaspectof

2. workingonthe MRT, and I have participatedinorledtripsto the San JoaquinDelta,EvergladesNational
Park,PugetSound,Lake Powell, andLake ClarkNational Park(AK).Mymostextensivefieldworkefforts
(2010 – 2015) have beenonthe Great Lakesonboardthe EPA researchvessel Lake Guardian.Workingin
conjunctionwiththe EPA,we have participatedin biannualsampling(April andAugust) surveys across
all five of the Great Lakes.
The most excitingrecentdevelopmentforourteamisthe purchase of a high-resolutionMulti-Collector
ICP-MS.Thisnewtool is capable of highprecisiondeterminationof natural mercuryisotope
fractionation.These small,yetmeasureable,deviationsinmercuryisotope ratiosgiveus new insightto
environmental mercurysourcesandprocesses.Whilethe applicationof thistechnologyisrelativelynew
and unexplored, researchonthe natural isotopicfractionationof mercurywill continue toadvance our
understandingof mercuryinthe environment.