Environmental Justice in Detroit Seminar course at WSU
2022
Wayne State University
GLIER Windsor and WSU T-RUST Seminar Series Planning Committee
2020 - 2021
Wayne State University
Produced 1-minute research video used for outreach and teaching material
2020
Wayne State University
Presentation for Career Day
2019
Hutchinson @ Howe Elementary Middle School - Detroit, MI
Co-taught Design of Fish and Wildlife Projects course
2016
Colorado State University
Skills for Undergraduate Participation in Ecological Research program mentor
2014-2015
Colorado State University
Detroit River Fish Advisory program
2010
Michigan Department of Community Health and Wayne State University
BRITTANIE LEE DABNEY - CV
Last Updated: 2022
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Experience
Ph.D. Candidate, NSF T-RUST & NIH IMSD Fellow
Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
(
Detroit, MI
)
2018 - Present
Studying the combined impacts of microplastics and a PFAS compound on benthic invertebrate communities. Performed surveys for microplastics in rivers and single-species toxicity tests. Also working on an interdisciplinary team that addresses urban sustainability issues in Detroit, MI where I am determining the accumulation of microplastics in green stormwater infrastructure sites.
Publication - Dabney, B. L., & Kashian, D. R. (Submitted for Publication - 2023) The Type of Urban Stormwater Drainage Infrastructure Influences Microplastic Transport in Rivers
Publication - Febria, C.M., D.R. Kashian, K.R.T. Bertrand, B. Dabney, M. Day, M. Dugdale, K.O. Ekhator, H. Esparra-Escalera, R. Graham, K. Karshaw, S. Knorr, K. Lewandowski, C. Linn1, A. Lucas, S. O.C. Mundle, G. Raoufi, C. Salter, Z. Siddiqua, S. Tyagi, and M.M. Wallen. Early career researchers benefit from inclusive, diverse & international collaborations: Changing how academic institutions utilize the seminar series. Journal of Great Lakes Research.
Research Assistant
Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, WSU
(
Detroit, MI
)
2023 - Present
Performed field work collecting soils and soil hydraulic methods, HYPROP and WP4C to characterize soils in Detroit and understand stormwater management practices for diverse soil types, including urbanized and novel shrink-swell soils.
Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
(
Detroit, MI
)
2021 - 2022
Collaborating with an interdisciplinary student team on the project, “GSI-Informed Urban Groundwater Monitoring Networks”. We tested and designed a low-cost system for groundwater monitoring at green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) sites with the city of Detroit. Additionally, we worked with nonprofit organizations and researchers to develop educational resources for the community. Primary tasks involved managing the environmental contaminant sampling and analysis portion of the project. This included designing a protocol for testing nutrients, microplastics, and microbes in groundwater and soils for interested nonprofits and community science organizations.
Stormwater Management Coordinator Summer Intern and Ford Community Corps Lead Liaison
Chandler Park Conservancy and NFS T-RUST Program, WSU.
(
Detroit, MI
)
2019 - 2020
The Chandler Park Conservancy is a non-profit in Detroit, MI where I completed a summer internship to assist with GSI-related projects in the park and grant writing. As a Ford Community Corps student awardee, I also served as the lead liaison to manage WSU project deliverables for the Conservancy and developed a plan for environmental education programming for the park.
M.S. Thesis Student, Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University
(
Lubbock, TX
)
2017 - 2018
Studying harmful alga, Prymnesium parvum growth when exposed to varying concentrations of glyphosate-based herbicides and under phosphorus limited conditions.
Publication - Dabney, B. L., & Patiño, R. (2018). Low-dose stimulation of growth of the harmful alga, Prymnesium parvum, by glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides. Harmful algae, 80, 130-139.
M.S. Thesis Student, NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University
(
Fort Collins, CO
)
2013 - 2017
Studied the effects of heavy metals and fine-sediment deposition on benthic invertebrate communities combining mesocosm and field experimental approaches at two EPA Superfund Sites. Used multivariate statistical techniques to examine the usefulness of species traits and environmental data in stream assessments.
Publication - Dabney, B. L., Clements, W. H., Williamson, J. L., and Ranville, J. F. (2018). Influence of Metal Contamination and Sediment Deposition on Benthic Invertebrate Colonization at the North Fork Clear Creek Superfund Site, Colorado, USA. Environmental Science & Technology 52 (12), 7072-7080.
Manuscript in Preparation - Dabney, B.L., Clements, W.H. Effects of Metal-Contaminated Sediment on Colonization Dynamics of Benthic Invertebrates in the Upper Arkansas River, Colorado, USA.
NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Fellow
Research Center for Life and Environmental Sciences, Toyo University
(
Itakura-machi, Ora-gun, Gunma. Japan
)
2016 - 2016
International research collaboration to study the impacts of metal-contamination and fine-sediment deposition on benthic invertebrates. Focused on field experiments to study the usefulness of macroinvertebrate traits across large spatial scales. Also, conducted laboratory experiments on the accumulation of sediment-bound zinc-nanoparticles in chironomids and medaka to gain skills needed in performing metal-nanoparticle research. Obtained skills in fish dissections, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy imaging for quantitative and visual analysis of metals.
U.S. Geological Survey Research Volunteer
U.S Geological Survey, Aquatics Lab
(
Fort Collins, CO
)
2014 - 2016
Collaborative project studying effects of bifenthrin and imidacloprid on benthic invertebrate periphyton grazing in mesocosm experiments. I specifically collected periphyton and performed fluorometric analysis throughout the experiment and assisted with experiment setup.
Publication - Rogers, H. A., Schmidt, T. S., Dabney, B. L., Hladik, M. L., Mahler, B. J., & Van Metre, P. C. (2016). Bifenthrin Causes Trophic Cascade and Altered Insect Emergence in Mesocosms: Implications for Small Streams. Environmental science & technology, 50(21), 11974-11983.
Field and Lab Technician
Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois
(
Urbana – Champaign, IL
)
2012 - 2012
Assisted with a statewide survey on freshwater mussel populations in several drainage basins, included extensive field work and travel, identification of live mussels and shells in the field and measuring stream habitat. Worked in the aquatic insect collections assisting with data entry and database management, and insect sorting.
Student Research Assistant
Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
(
Detroit, MI
)
2011 - 2012
Led a field survey to examine native mussel and aquatic insect biodiversity at seventy-six sites in the Clinton River Watershed. Conducted water quality analysis, site assessment, GIS and data analysis, identification of live mussel specimens in the field, and identification of aquatic insect samples.
Undergraduate Research Grant Awardee
Honors Department and Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
(
Detroit, MI
)
2011 - 2011
Designed and conducted a research project to study mortality and spawning of zebra and quagga mussels in PCB contaminated sediment.
Senior Research
Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
(
Detroit, MI
)
2010 - 2010
Created and designed an experiment testing the lethal and sub-lethal effects of salts, heat stress, and PCB contaminated sediment and water on zebra and quagga mussels.
Student Research Assistant
Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
(
Detroit, MI
)
2010 - 2010
Performed water quality analysis for microbial abundances, evaluated quagga mussel spawning and performed toxicology bioassays on Daphnia and Ephemeroptera. Led field sampling collections for quagga mussels and microbial work. Assisted on field survey for mayfly nymphs in Saginaw Bay, Michigan. Performed basic lab functions, such as creating artificial lake water, insect picking, data entry, and assisting with field and lab projects.