DEMITRA E.

BLYTHE
565 W 400 S | Logan, Utah 84321 | 406-670-8252 | demitrasuko13@gmail.com

EDUCATION
Utah State University
M.S. Fisheries Ecology

January 2016 - Present

University of Montana
B.A. in Biology
Focus: Ecology and Organismal
Graduated with High Honors and a cumulative GPA of 3.80

May 2013

AWARDS
Montana Institute on Ecosystems Research Experience For Undergraduates Recipient

May 2012 - August 2012

Governors Best and Brightest Scholarship

August 2009 May 2013

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
University of Montana Giant Asian Rhinoceros Beetle Visual Acuity
Performed independent research understanding the morphology and sexual dimorphism of Giant Asian Rhinoceros beetles
University of Montana Understanding the dynamics between Lake Trout and Bull Trout on Flathead Lake, Montana
Worked as a student lab assistant collecting data for the Bull Trout/Lake Trout tribal management strategies research.
Examining/identifying/weighing gut contents, drying contents to be analyzed for isotopes
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Mountain Lakes Intern for Beartooth-Absaroka Wilderness (Summer 2012)
Extensively backcountry hiked into rocky, mountainous terrain to sample alpine fish populations. Performed fish counts
through setting gill nets, measured lengths and weights of identified fish species, observed and noted spawning habitats,
conducted necropsies and took scale samples
R Essentials for Natural Resource Professionals Online Course
Non-credit course through Michigan State University that covered basic R functions such as creating vectors, matrices and
data frames to looping, conditional statements, user-defined functions, probability distributions and optimization.

WORK EXPERIENCE
U.S. Forest Service | Billings, Montana
Biological Science Technician (Fisheries/Hydrology)
Traveled throughout all of the Custer-Gallatin National Forest in south-central to south-east
Montana performing various tasks including: conducting crossing inventories to assess
conditions of culverts, surveyed area of through-fill and slope of culvert using CST/Berger
self-leveling rotary laser level and optical levels, surveyed road and streambed slopes using a
TruPulse 360 laser rangefinder, measured draw and bankfull width, recorded position with
handheld Garmin GPS, direction of flow, assessed ditches draining to culvert, also condition
of roads and embankments. Hiked up drainages of assigned stream order to assess flow
conditions and classify the drainage as either a candidate perennial, candidate intermittent, or
ephemeral. I planted buffaloberry shrubs and willow root stocks as part of a riparian
restoration and bank stabilization project. Assisted lead hydrologist with wetted perimeter
measurements at predetermined cross sections, also collected data to determine a stream's
likelihood of gaining instream water rights. I used a Smith-Root LR24 backpack
electrofisher to survey fish population density and range in mountain streams as well as
assess the efficiency of the backpack electrofisher through depletion estimates. Sedate,
measure, weigh and occasionally take genetic samples of specimens as needed. Trained in:
prairie fish identification and collection procedures, Guard School (Federal Wildland
Firefighting and leadership course), ATV operation and trailer use in off-road environments.

April 2015 -- October 2015

U.S. Fish and Wildlife | New Franken, Wisconsin

Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)
Performed gill net surveys on Lake Michigan where I assisted with the net lifting procedure,
picked fish out of nets, recorded data, and re-boxed the net. Processed the catch through
surveying fish for sea lamprey wounds, dissecting and determining sex, and extracting
otoliths. Aided in the annual Lake Michigan Hydroacoustic survey where forage species
were studied using nighttime mid-water trawls aboard the 95 foot Spencer F. Baird vessel.
Duties for this survey included counting and recording lengths and weights of each species
of prey fish. Facilitated experimental work implementing bottom trawl surveys to target
additional prey items within the waters of Green Bay. Tasks included deploying/picking up
the trawl net using a hydraulic net reel, identified, weighed, measured, and bagged all of
catch. Assisted the aquatic invasive species program in filtering water to isolate potential
invasive DNA. Involved in research on Lake Sturgeon and assisted with nighttime visual
surveys that targeted juvenile sturgeon on local rivers. Sturgeon were caught, measured, PITtagged and water velocity was taken using a Marsh-McBirney flowmeter. Monofilament gill
net surveys were also employed to target one- to two-year old sturgeon. Laboratory
experience included thin sectioning, mounting, and aging otoliths of various fish species and
processing stomachs by identifying prey items in each species of fish. Data analysis included
entering, querying and manipulating data on Microsoft Access and running statistical
validation on aging otoliths using R

June 2013 December 2013

May 2014 November 2014

Red Lodge Mountain | Red Lodge, Montana

Lead Ticket Sales Cashier
Customer service in selling tickets and passes, using printers, database software, and credit
card/cash handling. Assured all customers were treated courteously, safely and efficiently.
Assisted the manager in day to day operation of the ticket office. Coordinated with other
departments to ensure effective and efficient operations are in place. Assisted set up and
monitors point of sale (POS) system used for ticket sales. Solved ticket seller problems and
assisted with customer complaints. Assured that daily cash sales reports were completed
accurately. Assisted other ticket employees in performing ticket selling duties, group
ticketing and billing, scheduling and implementation of season pass events, and attended
events as needed. Managed the seasonal and daily locker inventory. Additional duties
included keeping the work area clean, answering phone, taking in lost items, inventory of
our merchandise, kept track of and catalogued customer transactions within the database,
filed hard copy liability and order forms, printed and alphabetized tickets that had been
purchased online

December 2013 April 2014

November 2014 April
2014

Pennsylvania Power and Light | Colstrip, Montana

Summer Utility
Maintained plant facility by mowing, weed-eating, using a chainsaw, and painting. Studied
blueprints to aid in the completion of work. Trained in Tool Cat machinery, and operated
four-wheel drive motor vehicles while observing OSHA practices

May 2011 August 2011

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Participated on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Motorboat Operation Certification Course for the Spencer F. Baird ship for
hydroacoustic and trawl surveys on Lake Michigan
University of Montana Golden Key International Honor Society Chapter Treasurer
Volunteered at UM Paleontology Center, digitizing and cataloguing specimens into online database
Volunteered at SimBio Software for Teaching and Research Inc., Software Tester
Skilled in handling and manipulating dissecting microscopes and Spot camera software
Have ability to practice and implement the use of wilderness survival skills
Versed in various lab safety procedures and practices including the handling of dangerous chemicals, and the composition of
chemicals

MEMBERSHIPS
Golden Key International Honor Society
American Fisheries Society

January 2012
August 2014

REFERENCES
Dale Hanson
Fisheries Biologist
Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
2661 Scott Tower Drive
New Franken, WI 54229
(920) 569-5870
dale_hanson@fws.gov
Dr. Douglas Emlen
Evolutionary Biology Professor
University of Montana
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-2535
Doug.Emlen@mso.umt.edu
Dr. Craig Stafford
Adjunct Professor for College of Forestry
University of Montana
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812
kregstafford@yahoo.com