aerial vievw of people in a boat

Christina

Appleby

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Data Scientist Intern
Rocky Mountain Inventory & Monitoring Network (Remote)
Jun. 2025 - Present
  • Assists wetlands and ungulate ecological monitoring field crews with data collection to understand protocol workflows and database needs
  • Modifies existing Survey123 Connect forms to meet the data collection needs of field crews
  • Creates Microsoft Access queries to QAQC wetlands and ungulate ecological monitoring, ensuring data quality and integrity for data analysis and publication
  • Develops R scripts to automate camera trap image processing, file organization, and QAQC checks


Research Assistant
Idaho State University & Boise State University (Remote)
Jan. 2025 - Present
  • Led the development and evaluation of a deep learning model for automating detection of black-tailed jackrabbits in thermal drone imagery
  • Verified manual black-tailed jackrabbit detections by cross-referencing observations across two or more overlapping videos of the same area
  • Extracted and annotated over 1,100 images from thermal drone footage to create multiple datasets for training a YOLOv5 deep learning model
  • Leading the manuscript development process on research findings and survey protocols, incorporating co-author feedback, and ensuring adherence to the target journal's author guidelines


Data Scientist Intern
North Coast and Cascades Inventory & Monitoring Network (Remote)
Feb. 2024 - Feb. 2025
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to design and build data models and develop ETL (extract, transform, and load) processes to ensure data quality and integrity
  • Developed user-friendly R scripts and packages to simplify the data publication process, including metadata creation
  • Leveraged strong collaboration and communication skills to work effectively with stakeholders to create database models and ArcGIS Pro geoprocessing tools for monitoring protocols
  • Employed ArcGIS Pro geoprocessing tools to extract relevant data from feature classes and raster datasets, optimizing datasets for machine learning model input
  • Created and updated Microsoft Access front-end applications for SQL Server databases using Visual Basic for Applications to simplify data loading and data entry
  • Performed QAQC checks of monitoring data in databases, verifying suspect entries with scanned datasheets and performing corrections, if necessary
  • Utilized shared OneNote notebooks, Microsoft Teams, and email to communicate with remote coworkers and coordinate tasks


Career Pathways Intern
State of Idaho (Remote)
May. 2023 - Jun. 2023
  • Assisted the Idaho Hazards Technical Working Group to identify authoritative GIS datasets
  • Worked with stakeholders to develop, improve, and refine draft standards for authoritative GIS datasets
  • Published chosen authoritative GIS datasets to ArcGIS Online, including metadata


Reactor Operator & Instructor
Idaho National Laboratory (Hybrid)
Sep. 2020 - Jan. 2024
  • Developed in-person presentations and web-based training courses to enhance training curriculum
  • Trained operators on complex reactor plant systems, including classroom and hands-on training, resulting in increased operational efficiency and safety
  • Performed steady-state and transient reactor operations and handled special nuclear material as a certified reactor operator and fissile material handler


Coastal Fellow - Student Researcher
University of Rhode Island Environmental Data Center, Kingston, RI
May 2017 - May 2018
  • Evaluated the potential of UAS for mapping the dynamic morphology of a sandy spit subject to frequent storm-induced changes
  • Developed flight plans for UAS imagery acquisition to support mapping projects, incorporating UAS battery life, transect overlap, and flight altitude
  • Processed UAS imagery using PIX4Dmapper and ground control point coordinates to generate georeferenced orthomosaics with a spatial resolution of 3.14 centimeters


Electronics Technician Nuclear (E7)
United States Navy
Aug. 2001 - Aug. 2012
  • Tracked and monitored staffing of over 400 department personnel and scheduled attendance to advanced schools to maintain production, flexibility, and proficiency during inevitable crew turnovers
  • Provided one-on-one training for nuclear power plant operations and prepared students for hands-on operations with procedure reviews, demonstrations, and knowledge checks (5 years)
  • Performed, scheduled, and supervised reactor instrumentation and controls maintenance following strict procedures and recording data
Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID
M.S. in Geographic Information Science

December 2024

GPA 3.96/4.0

Select Coursework:

  • Advanced GIS Programming: Utilized Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and Google Colab to perform geospatial data analysis, including machine learning
  • Geostatistical Spatial Data Analysis: Analyzed UAS imagery to identify prairie dog burrow locations using machine learning, as well as exploratory analysis, pattern detection, regression modeling, random forest predictive modeling
  • Advanced Remote Sensing: Analyzed various remotely sensed data, including multispectral imagery, radar, and thermal data
  • Advanced Analysis Methods of UAS Data: Processed LiDAR data for mapping landslides, detecting individual trees, identifying Golden Eagle nesting locations, and canopy height models
  • GPS/GNSS Applications in Research: Collected coordinates using GNSS devices and ESRI Field Maps, and conducted sagebrush surveys



University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
B.S. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

May 2018

GPA 3.97/4.0

Select Coursework: Natural Resource Economics, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Econometrics, Programming for Data Science, Statistical Methods in Research I, Calculus I