Research output per year
Research output per year
Research activity per year
EXPERIENCE
University of Helsinki, Finland – Doctoral Researcher
May 2023-Present
I work as a Doctoral Researcher for the University of Helsinki based out of Tvärminne Zoological Station; Responsibilities include field work, data collection, and laboratory analysis related to carbon cycling and dynamic factors affecting carbon sink potential in Phragmites australis across coastal archipelago reed belts; Work with soil corers, quadrats, belowground and aboveground biomass collection, drying ovens, muffle furnaces (LOI), element and isotope analysis; My research is funded by a grant from the Nottbeck Foundation and I am employed as a researcher by the University.
GDOT, Atlanta, GA – Senior Ecologist
September 2022-April 2023
I worked as a Senior Ecologist for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT); Responsibilities included GPS use, ArcGIS, stream classification and delineation, wetland delineation, protected species surveys, protected species effects assessment protocols, aquatic surveys, technical report writing, review of consultant documents, ecological data collection, and NEPA compliance for state and federally funded government projects. I am SCUBA Certified.
Arcadis, Atlanta, GA –Ecologist 2/GDOT Jr Support Services Ecologist
February 2021 - Present
I worked as an Ecologist 2 at the consulting firm Arcadis on their GDOT Support Services Ecology contract; Responsibilities included GPS use (Trimble R1 antennae and Field Maps, Trimble Geo7X, creation and publication of maps through ArcGIS online for use in Field Maps and Collector, in-field data collection, post-processing, and general GPS unit maintenance), ArcGIS (shapefile creation, soils and NWI layer uploads, and figure completion, experienced with ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Online, publisher license), stream classification and delineation, wetland delineation, protected species surveys, aquatic surveys, technical report writing, ecological data collection, and NEPA compliance for GDOT projects.
NV5, Atlanta, GA - Environmental Scientist
November 2019 - February 2021
I worked as an Environmental Scientist at the consulting firm NV5; Responsibilities included Trimble GPS use (uploading .tif files, in-field data collection, post-processing, and general GPS unit maintenance), ArcGIS (shapefile creation, soils and NWI layer uploads, and figure completion), technical report writing, ecological data collection, aquatic surveys, protected species surveys, resource delineation, and NEPA compliance for GDOT projects and the private sector; I served on the LGBTQ+ Employee Resources Group, advocating for advances in diversity and inclusion within the company.
Alaskan Observers, Inc., Alaska — Fisheries/Field Biologist
JUNE 2018 - AUGUST 2019
I worked onboard fishing vessels in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska for 30-90 days at a time collecting environmental science data for NOAA; Data collected included genetics samples, biological samples, and ecological observations; I was promoted to Lead Scientist and was responsible for supervising other scientists onboard each vessel with me; I completed my full 13 month contract, including 5 deployments, and received a perfect score on my work evaluations from NOAA
Getson & Schatz, P.C., Philadelphia, PA — Science Writer
NOVEMBER 2016 - JUNE 2018
As a science writer at an immigration law firm, I completed technical reports about work done by foreign national scientists who were being sponsored for US work visas and green cards; Topics I wrote about included the work of scientists at the top of their fields in wetland ecology, watershed management, engineering, and more.
Starbucks, Georgia and Pennsylvania — Shift Supervisor
JANUARY 2014 - NOVEMBER 2016
I worked at Starbucks as a Shift Supervisor after returning from the Peace Corps while I returned to graduate school to complete a graduate certificate.
United States Peace Corps, Paraguay, South America — Environmental Conservation Volunteer
SEPTEMBER 2011 - DECEMBER 2013
I served as an Environmental Conservation Volunteer in Paraguay; My projects included stream cleanups and riparian zone restoration throughout the capital city, water quality analysis of lakes and streams, work with local water counsels, environmental science classes in local schools, urban youth development, and the construction of a community library. In Spanish, I successfully applied for several grants and completed technical reports for local environmental science organizations.
EDUCATION
University of Helsinki, Finland – Ph.D. Natural Sciences – Littoral Ecology
May 2023 - Present
I am currently working on my Doctoral degree in Natural Sciences – Littoral Ecology at the University of Helsinki; I am based out of the University’s Tvärminne Zoological Station where I am completing research related to carbon cycling and dynamic factors affecting carbon sink potential in Phragmites australis across coastal archipelago reed belts; My research is funded by a grant from the Nottbeck Foundation.
Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA — Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Design Practices
AUGUST 2014 - JULY 2015
I completed a Graduate Certificate from the College of Architecture and Built Environment on sustainable design with a focus on urban stormwater mitigation; Skills used included ArcGIS use to create figures of drainage systems in cities and ReVit use to create designs for green infrastructure devices.
University of Georgia, Athens, GA — M.S. Forest Resources - Hillslope Hydrology
AUGUST 2009 - AUGUST 2011
I received a Research Assistantship to complete my MS at UGA; My research project was funded by the Department of Energy to research the potential impacts of a future biofuel production site on groundwater hydrology, soil structures, and the transport of contaminants into drinking water supplies at a nuclear waste facility. Skills used included GPS Unit use (including transposing data from protected government property for accurate geolocating), and ArcGIS use (including processing LiDaR data to map groundwater and surface water flow).
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA — B.S. Natural Resources Ecology and Management - Conservation Biology, English
AUGUST 2004 - DECEMBER 2008
I attended LSU as a member of the Honors College on an academic scholarship; I applied for and was awarded a grant from the College of Agriculture to complete a thesis on Wetland Restoration and Biogeochemistry in coastal Louisiana post-Katrina; I managed the grant budget to cover field research, lab work, and an oral presentation at the 2008 Annual International Conference of the Society of Wetland Scientists.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Norkko, A. (Project manager), Brunberg, M. (Participant), Göbeler, N. (Participant), Hall, C. A. M. (Participant), Heiskanen, E. K. (Participant), Hermansson, I. E. A. (Participant), Kortsch, S. (Participant), Lammerant, R. (Participant), Mäkelin, S. E. I. (Participant), Nishant, N. (Participant), Pykäri, J. V. (Participant), Railo, S. (Participant), Rohlfer, E. K. (Participant), Salonen, I. (Participant), Stoffers, T. O. (Participant), Uth, C. (Participant), Uysaler, B. H. (Participant) & Williamson, M. (Participant)
Walter ja Andrée de Nottbeckin säätiö c/o Elina Leskinen
01/01/2023 → 30/04/2028
Project: Foundations (Private Foundations, Non-Profit Foundations, Charitable Trusts)
Williamson, M. (Invited speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Williamson, M. (Poster Presentation)
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
Williamson, M. (Host)
Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Academic visit at UH
Williamson, M. (Speaker: Presenter)
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
10/07/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
02/10/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media