Research Experience, Skills, and CV
Experience
Before I began my academic and professional career in wildlife ecology, I spent four years working in program coordination, education coordination, and administrative roles focusing on data management. While I am rueful that I didn’t pursue my love for natural science earlier, I feel grateful for my communications background, and I know that administrative and communications-based skills are invaluable in any position.
My coursework at UW Madison has allowed me to develop a strong background in wildlife field work, experimental design, scientific report writing, animal handling, and data management.
Skills
Surveying: vegetation, radio telemetry (triangulation and homing), bird point count, Midwest vertebrate identification
Trapping/handling: small mammals (Sherman, Havahart traps), songbirds (mist netting, bander’s grip, photographer’s grip), insects (light sheets, bucket traps)
Writing: science, report, creative
Data and Analysis: database management, data collection (water quality, species diversity and density), experimental design, ArcGISPro, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR)
Other: rigorous fieldwork, survey and lab equipment maintenance
My CV
Emily Ugoretz
Wildlife Ecology graduate with demonstrated fieldwork and lab experience. Passionate about wetland ecology, especially relating to insect diversity, botany, and the impacts of beaver. A dedicated naturalist seeking admission into a Master’s program focusing on wetland ecology and incorporating Indigenous knowledges.
EDUCATION
BS Wildlife Ecology; University of Wisconsin - Madison; 2023-2025
GPA: 3.908
Honors: Graduated with distinction, Dean’s List 4 semesters
BA Communication Arts & English; University of Wisconsin - Madison; 2015-2019
GPA: 3.858
Honors: Graduated with distinction, Dean’s List 6 semesters
RECENT RESEARCH & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Research Specialist, Middleton, WI | June 2023 – Present
Organization: Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center
Collected and prepared plant tissue samples and conducted qPCR and Droplet Digital PCR analysis to investigate gene expression in research plants
Conducted germination and growth experiments, gathered data, and reported findings for university researchers and private clients
Volunteer Bird Bander, Baraboo, WI | May 2026 – Present
Organization: Baraboo Hills Ecology Research Collective
Deployed mist nets across the study area, routinely checked nets, detangled and transported songbirds, and took down nets at the end of each session
Handled songbirds to place leg bands and gather data about condition according to NABC guidelines
Stream Monitor, Madison, WI | April 2026 – Present
Organization: Water Action Volunteers
Measured dissolved oxygen, temperature, transparency, streamflow, macroinvertebrate diversity, and monitored for invasive species monthly at a 20 ft. section of stream in Madison, Wisconsin
Uploaded data to the Surface Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS) database
Bird Collision Corps Monitor, Madison, WI | April 2026 – Present
Organization: Bird Collision Corps
Surveyed one location weekly for bird-window collisions
Safely handled injured and deceased birds and collected data on collision area
Field Intern, Milwaukee, WI | May – August 2024
Organization: Milwaukee Public Museum; Principle Investigator: Dr. Nick Dowdy
Deployed light sheet and bucket traps for moths in Milwaukee and Cable, WI
Collected, euthanized, and preserved Erebidae moth and bumblebee specimens for museum research
Sorted frozen moth specimens by family and genus to isolate Erebidae species for study
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Data Entry and Library Inventory Assistant, Milwaukee, WI | March 2022 – May 2023
Organization: Milwaukee Public Museum
Skills: Data entry, database management, Google suite
Substitute Teacher, Milwaukee, WI | September 2021 – September 2022
Organization: Teachers On Call
Skills: Public speaking, presenting educational material, following lesson plans, connecting with and engaging large groups of children
Education Coordinator, Milwaukee, WI | March 2021 – July 2021
Organization: Executive Director, Inc.
Skills: Database management, creating reports, communicating with clients and researchers, invoice management
Technical Writer, Madison, WI |May 2020 – March 2021
Organization: Epic Systems
Skills: Technical writing, database management, organizing meetings
Festival Program Coordinator, Milwaukee, WI | May 20219 – November 2019
Organization: Milwaukee Film
Skills: Forming and running committees; database management; communicating with distributors, filmmakers, and community members; organizing events, running inboxes and answering questions, invoice management
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
2024 Treating for Woody Invasives Increases Abundance of Native Plant Species
2023 Factors Impacting the Prevalence and Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease on White-tailed Deer in Wisconsin
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
Vascular Flora of Wisconsin Complex Conservation of Deer (Capstone)
Terrestrial Vertebrates Disturbance Ecology Lab: Forest Pathogens
Wildlife Ecology Summer Field Practicum Animal Population Dynamics
Forest Ecology Birds of Southern Wisconsin
Wildlife Management Evolutionary Biology
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2026 BeaverCon 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota
2025 Midwest Beaver Summit; Des Plaines, Illinois
SKILLS
Surveying: vegetation, bird point count, Midwest vertebrate identification
Trapping/handling: small mammals (Sherman, Havahart traps), songbirds (mist netting, bander’s grip, photographer’s grip), insects (light sheets, bucket traps)
Writing: science, report, creative
Data and Analysis: database management, data collection (water quality, species diversity and density), experimental design, ArcGISPro, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR)
Other: rigorous fieldwork, survey and lab equipment maintenance
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
2026-Present The Wildlife Society
2023-2025 Audubon Society at UW-Madison
2023-2025 The Wildlife Society at UW-Madison