Yishen Li

Experience

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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

  Jan 2012 - May 2012

  Laboratory Assistant

  • Contributed to Dr. Ian Enoch’s research on ocean acidification and coral growth• Performed titration of seawater samples using computer software TxTools• Conducted 3-dimentional CT scanning of sea urchin and cobia samples• Performed daily water quality sampling

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  University of Miami

  Oct 2012 - May 2013

  • Provided one-on-one tutoring on college introductory level math, chemistry, physics, biology, marine science, physical science, and Chinese courses at the Camner Academic Resource Center (ARC)• Co-held ARC’s final exam review session for General Chemistry classes• Obtained CRLA Level I Certification • Contributed to the planning of the Language Corner under the Undergraduate Program inChinese on a regular basis• Graded homework assignments and exams for Professor I-hao Woo

  • Peer Tutor

    Oct 2012 - May 2013

  • Teaching Assistant

    Oct 2012 - Apr 2013
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  University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

  Dec 2012 - May 2015

  • Completed senior thesis research project "Linking Coastal Water Quality and Eutrophication to Land-based Anthropogenic N Footprint: a Case Study in Georgetown, Great Exuma, The Bahamas"• Managed daily water quality sampling across 35 sites and processed samples for analyses of dissolved inorganic nutrients, chlorophyll-a, DOC/TDN, and nutrient bioassay• Field-surveyed and mapped landscape-scale occurrences of anthropogenic ecological disturbance• Analyzed PO43- and NOx- in water samples with UV-vis spectrophotometer and chemiluminescence analyzer• Spatially analyzed septic tanks, anthropogenic N footprint data, and multiple water quality parameters with ArcGIS• Served as teaching assistant for Dr. Sealey’s field course Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas Show less

  • Honors Research Fellow

    May 2013 - May 2015

  • Laboratory Assistant

    Dec 2012 - Dec 2013
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  Virginia Institute of Marine Science

  May 2014 - Aug 2014

  REU Research Fellow

  • Conducted research on the effects of boring sponge on nitrogen cycling of eastern oysters• Collected oyster samples and performed microcosm incubation to determine rates of denitrification and several chemical fluxes• Analyzed N2 and O2 fluxes with membrane-inlet mass spectrometer, and collected water samples for analysis of dissolved inorganic nutrients• Participated in program-wide field surveys of salt marshes, barrier islands, estuarine river channels, and freshwater tidal creeks Show less

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  Dauphin Island Sea Lab

  May 2015 - Nov 2015

  Research Intern

  • Conducted research on sedimentary records of recurrent phosphate spills to the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR)• Collected and processed water and sediment samples for analyses of dissolved inorganic nutrients, particulate organic phosphorus, trace elements, C/N stable isotope signals, and sediment grain size• Contributed to a NOAA fluorescent dye study on hydrodynamic transport of pollutants as a disaster response simulation of spilling events at GBNERR• Performed habitat samplings of water quality and submerged aquatic vegetation at 6 sites for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and assisted with necropsies of West Indian Manatees and Bottlenose Dolphins Show less

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  Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

  Sept 2016 - Jun 2018

  Graduate Research Assistant

  • Completed master's thesis "Water Residence Time Controls Organic Matter Processing and Export from Major North American Rivers" through the USGS National Water Quality Network (NWQN)• Analyzed 754 water samples for stable isotopes δ18O and δ2H, total iron concentration, UV-vis absorbance spectra, and fluorescence excitation-emission matrices• Quantified spatially-aggregated precipitation water isotope values from monthly isoscapes across NWQN watersheds through ArcGIS. Analyzed precipitation-streamflow dynamics• Maintained automated water quality monitoring sonde probes at 12 sites across the Farmington River watershed. Conducted stormwater sampling and processed ISCO water samples for subsequent chemical analyses• Attended and contributed to the monthly Connecticut Source Water Protection Workgroup meetings Show less

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  Urban Ecology and Design Laboratory at Yale

  Mar 2017 - Dec 2017

  Program Coordinator and Research Fellow

  • Evaluated green infrastructure design and implementation practices for adaptive stormwater management with the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (Portland BES)• Coordinated a team of academic advisors, landscape architects, Portland BES officials, and 25 research fellows for the Earth Stewardship Initiative Demonstration Project at Ecological Society of America’s 2017 Meeting• Co-authored white paper “Designed Experiments for Spatial Planning of Green Infrastructure and Resilient Landscape in Watershed Management” for Portland BES• Developed with student colleagues the New Haven Prospect Street Stormwater Master Plan in the Yale Experimental Watershed, which was submitted to the 2017 EPA Campus RainWorks Challenge Show less

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  US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  Jul 2018 - May 2019

  Hypoxia Task Force ORISE Fellow

  Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Participant with the Mississippi River-Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient/Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) under the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (OWOW), Watershed Restoration, Assessment & Protection Division's Nonpoint Source Management Branch. Responsibilities include:• Coordinated with 12 partner states and 5 federal agencies (EPA, NOAA, USACE, USDA, USGS) to develop and evaluate metrics tracking the progress of nutrient reductions in the Mississippi Basin through monitoring data and watershed models• Co-led a federal-state workgroup to write the 2019 Point Source Progress Report. Extracted, summarized, and QA'ed state-level nitrogen and phosphorus loads from EPA’s ICIS-NPDES database• Assisted with coordinating and writing the 2019 HTF Report to Congress• Coordinated and planned biannual HTF meetings; managed the official HTF website: https://www.epa.gov/ms-htf• Completed the EPA Water Quality Standard Academy, the National Nonpoint Source Pollution Training Workshop, the National Urban Waters Training Workshop, and Surface Water Modeling Workshop Show less

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  Maryland Department of Natural Resources

  Aug 2019 - Mar 2020

  Natural Resources Biologist

  • Managed projects through the State Lakes Protection and Restoration Fund for 16 state-owned lakes under the Resources Assessment Service • Organized open house sessions and webinars to solicit public input and develop annual work plans• Developed and implemented water quality monitoring plans for 16 lakes. Led monitoring fieldwork • Assisted DNR and external professionals in evaluating and prioritizing lake restoration proposals. Managed contracts, prepared reports to track project progress and budgets, and maintained the program website• Assisted with other Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment Division duties, such as harmful algal bloom assessment, habitat monitoring, invasive species assessment, and aquatic vegetation restoration Show less

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  ICF

  Mar 2020 - now

  • Provided U.S. federal and state government clients with applied research, analysis, technical assistance, and implementation support to address complex environmental and natural resources policy, management, and regulatory challenges• Analyzed scientific literature and policy reports, develop and apply watershed and water quality models (HAWQS, SPARROW, WMOST, etc.), statistical methods, and other quantitative analyses to characterize environmental impacts, analyze environmental data, assess human health and ecological risk, support natural resources damage assessments, and support general environmental policy and program evaluation• Contributed to economic analyses, regulatory impact analyses, and benefit-cost analyses for rulemaking, writing reports and policy memos to communicate with clients Show less

  • Water and Carbon Cycle Science Coordinator, USGCRP

    Oct 2022 - now

  • Environmental Policy Analyst

    Mar 2020 - Oct 2022
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  U.S. Global Change Research Program

  Oct 2022 - now

  Water and Carbon Cycle Science Coordinator

  The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) coordinates and integrates global change research and supporting activities conducted by 15 U.S. federal agencies. It is overseen by representatives from these agencies and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). As a Water and Carbon Cycle Science Coordinator contracted to ICF, I• Coordinate the implementation of USGCRP’s water and carbon cycle-related priorities, using scientific expertise relevant to water and carbon cycle science; Provide input on planning and implementation of the broader USGCRP research coordination portfolio.• Serve as the coordinator of USGCRP’s Interagency Integrated Water Cycle Working Group, Carbon Cycle Interagency Working Group, and Indicators Interagency Working Group while taking on other related science coordination responsibilities.• Serve as the USGCRP National Coordination Office (NCO) liaison to the federal water and carbon cycle science communities. Provide strategic advice to the NCO leadership on emerging science opportunities.• Contribute to USGCRP assessments (e.g., National Climate Assessment, National Nature Assessment), serving on the Water and Coasts Chapters of the Fifth and Sixth National Climate Assessments.• Support other science coordination needs as they evolve, such as serving as USGCRP staff liaison to other relevant interagency entities or related programs as requested. Show less