Ben Girgenti

Experience

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  Wilmette Park District

  Apr 2010 - May 2012

  Seasonal Soccer Referee

  Teaching and instructing kids kindergarten through sixth grade how to play soccer and to play as a sporting team. As well as dealing with overzealous parents in an orderly manner and controlling the game.

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  Brown University Sports Foundation

  Jan 2013 - Dec 2014

  Event Intern

  During the academic school year, I worked as a part time employee for the BUSF helping run alumni events for a variety of Brown sports teams as well as prep for larger alumni events. My main responsibilities included interacting with and engaging with alumni as well as help ensure events ran smoothly (*I did not work during the summer, no way to denote this in the "Time Period"*).

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  Chicago Botanic Garden

  Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

  Research Experience for Undergraduates: Conservation Intern

  Conducted research under a PhD. student that revolved around the conservation of prairies and how management can restore them. Conducted an independent research project on the ecological effects of Rhamnus cathartica invasion and restoration using field and laboratory methods. For both projects, I collected and analyzed soil samples for moisture, nutrients and microbial activity using an elemental analyzer, enzyme assays and spectrophotometry. I also learned field sampling and monitoring, laboratory methods, GPS navigation and plant identification. Show less

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  Chicago Botanic Garden

  May 2014 - Aug 2014

  Aquatic Plant Maintenance

  Maintained 500,000 native plants along the Chicago Botanic Garden's 4.5 miles of restored lake shoreline. I learned the identification of over 200 taxa, including native plants, common weeds, and invasive species. From 630 am to 3 pm, my general activities included weeding, pruning, and planting of new plugs, as well as removal of nuisance algae and invasive submerged aquatic plants.

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  Chicago Botanic Garden

  May 2015 - May 2016

  Restored Shoreline Assessment Intern

  Between the months of May and August I developed methods for assessing the survival of plantings made as part of the Garden's restored lake shoreline. I then conducted the assessment, spending long days in the field, up to 10 - 11 hours 4 times a week (of 5 or 6 day work weeks). The assessment included 1500+ plantings of 119 different taxa, representing 130,500+ plants in 950+ unique beds. Survival data, elevation data and historical water level records were collected, organized and digitized. Between the months of September and April, I continued work at Brown analyzing and exploring the data using Excel, RStudio and JMP. The project focused on exploring and answering the question of how inundation frequency, duration and amplitude effects the survival of a plant species (95 different prairie and wetland plant species native to the Chicago Region). I was able to produce exploratory findings but was limited by my statistical knowledge and the nature of the data (often poorly replicated). My final report was given to the Aquatics department for consideration and accepted by Brown University as my practicum project. Show less

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  Applied Ecological Services

  Nov 2016 - Jun 2020

  While at AES I led crews in the ecological restoration of woodlands, savannas, prairies, wetlands, and riparian corridors. These projects involved the direction and use of Rx fire, silvicultural practices, herbicide applications, species reintroductions, and earthwork to meet their various ecological and cultural objectives.I also conducted feasibility assessments for restoration projects and functioned as a company liaison - acting as the face of the company for the clients, the public, subcontractors, general contractors, ecologists, and engineers. Show less

  • Landscape Management Supervisor

    Sept 2017 - Jun 2020

  • Restoration Field Crew Member

    Nov 2016 - Sept 2017
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  Yale University

  May 2022 - Apr 2023

  Research Assistant

  I reran my thesis experiment a during the summer with slight modifications in order to get better data for analysis and eventual publication. During this time I also trained and advised a colleague on my project and in their complimentary experiment.I participated in the fall 2022 Raymond Lab two week long field campaign in the Everglades in association with the NASA Blueflux carbon monitoring project. We collected greenhouse gas emission data from mangrove forest trees, soils, and water - all in an effort to characterize the methane emissions from mangrove forests which would inform the possibilities and limitations of blueflux climate mitigation projects. Show less

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  USDA Forest Service

  Feb 2023 - now

  I worked within the forestry entomology unit at the Southern Research Station in Asheville, NC. We conduct forest pathology research, with much of it revolving around Hemlock Woolly Adelgid biological controls and stand management, as well as Sassafras and Spice Bush management in response to Laurel Wilt.

  • Research Ecologist

    Feb 2024 - now

  • Resource Assistant Biologist

    Feb 2023 - Feb 2024