Curriculum vitae

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Ecology (2023)

Cornell University

Concentrations: Fishery & Aquatic Sciences, Quantitative Ecology, and Human Dimensions to Natural Resource Management

Master of Science in Ecology (2013)

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Concentration: Aquatic Ecology

Master of Public Administration (2013)

Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University

Concentration: Environmental Policy

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Biology (2008)

SUNY College at Brockport

Concentration: Aquatic Ecology, Chemistry, Political Science

Professional Experience

University of Vermont/Visiting at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

USGS Powell Center Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2023 - present)

Co-Principal Investigator of the “Synthesizing patterns and drivers of changes in lake zooplankton community dynamics worldwide” project through the USGS Powell Center.
Co-leading the working group of 15 international aquatic ecologists at the Powell Center and leading the larger international group, ZIG, to develop the largest biological community dataset known to date.

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

Graduate Research Assistant, Applied Ecology (2019 - 2023)

Using long-term monitoring datasets to understand the lower trophic levels of the Great Lakes Read
Selected uses of zooplankton as indicators of community change from 1998 - 2019 in the Great Lakes
Launched a Zooplankton as Indicators (ZIG) project in Nov 2019 (>165 participants) as part of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network to investigate the use of zooplankton as indicators with a global dataset (L&O Community News).

USEPA, Office of Research and Development (Narragansett, RI)

Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education Research Participant (2015 - 2019)

Determined the impact of impervious cover on macroinvertebrate communities in intermittent and perennial streams using Threshold Indicator Taxa ANalysis in R and introduced a statistical R package, pTITAN2
Developed a Spatial Statistical Network stream temperature model to guide the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians riparian restoration priorities by predicting several restoration scenarios using four restored riparian buffer widths (published)

Wissahickon Trails (former Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association, Ambler, PA)

Water Quality Program Manager (2014 - 2015)

Team leader and program manager of a $143K/year Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI) grant
Expanded an existing water quality program by (1) improving the statistical quality of data by implementing a QA/QC plan, (2) bolstering sampling at restoration sites to quantify improvements, and (3) leading the DWRI water quality sub-committee and implementing monitoring plans, QA/QC practices, and developing a water quality database for four partner watershed organizations

Independent Contractor (2016 - 2017)

Quantified trends in habitat, macroinvertebrate, and water quality with over a decade of monitoring data
Summarized findings for public, municipalities, and scientific audiences in a white paper (92 pages)

SUNY ESF (Syracuse, NY)

Graduate Research Assistant, Ecology (2009 - 2011)

Investigated invertebrate dispersal to newly created vernal pools in an experimental forest (39 ponds) and survey ponds (40 ponds) surrounding the experimental forest (published)
Led field sampling, analyzed water chemistry, created a database, and identified invertebrates

Graduate Teaching Assistant (2011 - 2012)

Taught upper level courses: Marine Ecology (~100 students) and Limnology (~80 students)
Led weekly lecture presentations on ecological concepts, organisms, and foundation water quality sampling and laboratory methods

Clarkson University (Potsdam, NY)

Research Technician, Limnology (2009)

Determined the accuracy and precision of aquatic research equipment, the bbe FluoroProbe® (published)

Research Foundation (Brockport, NY)

Research Technician, Limnology (2007 - 2008)

Analyzed water quality samples following Standard Operating Procedures, maintaining laboratory databases, and ensuring Quality Assurance/Quality Control practices in accordance to NELAC

Awards and Successful Grant Applications

USGS John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis funding working group titled “Synthesizing patterns and drivers of changes in lake zooplankton community dynamics worldwide”
IAGLR David M. Dolan Quantitative Ecology Scholarship. 2021.
Serve-in-Place. 2021. $700. Vaccination Conversations with Scientists.
WVWA. Growing Greener. 2015. $369,600. Stream restoration.
WVWA. William Penn Foundation. 2015. $82,500. Stakeholder collaboration.
WVWA. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 2015. $190,000. Restoration construction plans.
SUNY ESF. Seven grants totaling $8500 for research and travel funds.

Professional Societies

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography
Ecological Society of America
Society for Freshwater Science
Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network
International Association for Great Lakes Research

Certifications and Workshops

Colman Inclusive Leadership Program. Ithaca, N.Y.
Communications Boot Camp for Scientists. American Institute of Biological Sciences. Washington, D.C.
Certified Wetland Delineator, Rutgers University
Open Water Dive and Dry Suit Certified
New York Boater Safety Course

Presentations (past ten years)

Figary, S. July 2023. Small, but powerful: Using decades of zooplankton community structure data to understand the Laurentian Great Lakes and beyond. Cornell Biological Field Station Summer Seminar Series. Presentation.
Figary, S., J. M. Watkins, L. G. Rudstam. Jan 2023. Zooplankton indicator development for Erie, Great Lakes, and globally. Department of Natural Resources Symposium. Ithaca, New York. Presentation.
Bruel, R., Z. Ersoy and others including S. Figary. Nov 2022. ZooSize – Crustacean zooplankton community size distribution across a worldwide set of freshwater lakes. GLEON All-hands meeting. Lake George, New York. Poster.
Figary, S., J. M. Watkins, L. G. Rudstam. Oct 2022. Zooplankton Indicator development for Erie, Great Lakes, and globally. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office. Biological Monitoring Program Grantees Meeting. Presentation.
Jordan, P. D., S. Figary, C. Hotaling, A. VanDeValk, T. Brooking, L. Rudstam. Sept 2022. Invasive Bythotrephes longimanus are selected by Age-0 Yellow Perch and do not negatively affect perch growth. PERCIS V, Biology of Percid Fishes. Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. Presentation.
Figary, S., K. Holeck, J. M. Watkins, L. G. Rudstam. May 2022. The nearshore habitat of large lakes may be an early indicator of future offshore changes. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Presentation.
Kovalenko, K., E. D. Reavie, Figary, S., L. G. Rudstam, J. M. Watkins, C. T. Filstrup. May 2022. Zooplankton-phytoplankton relationships in the Great Lakes. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Presentation.
Scofield, A., J. M. Watkins, Figary, S., J. E. Lietz, L. G. Rudstam. May 2022. Insights from extensive zooplankton length data from a long-term monitoring program. Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Presentation.
Figary, S., R. Barbiero, D. Kane, J. Hood, S. Ludsin, L. Rudstam, J. Watkins, and C. Winslow. March 2022. Using zooplankton to track ecosystem condition in Lake Erie. State of Lake Erie Conference. Cleveland, Ohio. Presentation.
Watkins, J., L. Rudstam, S. Figary, W. Currie, K. Bowen. March 2022. Seasonal succession of zooplankton in Lake Erie in 2019. State of Lake Erie Conference. Cleveland, Ohio. Presentation.
Figary, S., K. Holeck, J. Watkins, and L. Rudstam. Comparing Lake Ontario’s nearshore and offshore zooplankton communities using long term monitoring datasets. Presentation.
- March 2021. State of Lake Ontario Conference. Virtual.
- May 2021. International Association for Great Lakes Research Annual Conference. David M. Dolan Quantitative Ecology Scholarship presentation. Virtual.
- September 2021. New York Department of Conservation Partner’s Meeting. Virtual.
Figary, S., N. Detenbeck, and C. O’Donnell. Creating a high resolution spatial statistical network model to guide riparian restoration strategies in a transboundary watershed. Presentation.
- March 2020. Northeast Aquatic Biologists Conference. Newport, Rhode Island. Best student presentation award.
- April 2020. Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation Watershed Division. Invited webinar.
- May 2020. Maine Stream Temperature Monitoring Working Group. Invited webinar.
Figary, S.. Jan 2020. Exploring variability in the Great Lakes using lower trophic levels. Department of Natural Resources Symposium. Ithaca, New York. Presentation.
Figary, S., L. G. Rudstam, and J. M. Watkins. Nov 2019. Determining zooplankton community response to changing water quality parameters in large lakes using Taxa Indicator Threshold ANalysis (TITAN). Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network All-Hands meeting. Huntsville, Canada. Poster.
Figary, S., N. Detenbeck, and C. O’Donnell. May 2019. Building a spatial statistical network model of stream temperature to guide restoration decisions in an international watershed. Society for Freshwater Science. Annual meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah. Presentation.
Figary, S. and N. Detenbeck. May 2018. Intermittent and perennial stream macroinvertebrate community response to impervious cover: threshold indicator taxa analysis and permutations. Society for Freshwater Science. Annual meeting. Detroit, Michigan. Presentation.
Figary, S. and N. Detenbeck. June 2017. Evaluating macroinvertebrate community responses to impervious cover in California with threshold indicator taxa analysis. Society for Freshwater Science. Annual meeting. Raleigh, North Carolina. Presentation.
Figary, S. and N. Detenbeck. July 2016. Evaluating the effectiveness of best management practices and green infrastructure in the State of California. American Water Resources Association. Summer Specialty Conference: GIS and Water Resources IX. Sacramento, California. Poster.
Schulz, K. L. and S. Figary. November 2015. Establishment and effects of predatory invasive zooplankton in the food webs of the Finger Lakes and Great Lakes. Finger Lakes Research Conference: Threats to the Finger Lakes. Geneva, New York. Presentation.
Figary, S. May 2015. A Creek in Crisis: Time for Action. Ambler, Pennsylvania. Presentation and panel discussion.
Figary, S. March 2015. Monitoring the Delaware Watershed Initiative. Saint Joesph University Stormwater Management Workshop. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Presentation.
Cooper, A, J. Musselman and S. Figary. March 2015. Streamkeepers from Scratch: Building a Volunteer Monitoring Program. Watershed Congress along the Schuylkill. Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Presentation.
Figary, S., A. Cooper, R. Eisman, P. Gardener, and B. Nyholm. January 2015. Using Citizen Scientists To Monitor Watershed Improvements In Five Philadelphia Area Watersheds. Delaware Estuary Science & Environmental Summit. Cape May, New Jersey. Poster presentation.