Curriculum Vitae
Education
Master of Science, Biological Sciences. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2023)
Bachelor of Science, Botany, summa cum laude. Humboldt State University (2016)
Grants, Awards, Scholarships & Honors
2022 – Graduate Research Award, California Polytechnic State University – $500
2021 – Malcolm McLeod Scholarship, San Luis Obispo CNPS Chapter – $800
2021 – Paul Silva Student Research Grant, California Botanical Society – $600
2021 – Student Research Scholarship, Northern California Botanists – $1,000
2021 – Research Grant, Alta Peak California Native Plant Society Chapter – $500
2021 – Howard-Kohn Memorial Scholarship, Marin California Native Plant Society Chapter – $3,000
2021 – Graduate Student Research Fellowship, Torrey Botanical Society – $1,000
2021 – Summer Scholarship in Field Botany, Garden Club of America – $3,000
2021 – Gertrude R. Hardman Native Plant Research Award, California Native Plant Society – $600
2021 – Jessica Mae Orozco Grant, Southern California Botanists – $1,000
2020 – Sally Casey Graduate Research Scholarship, Santa Clara Valley California Native Plant Society Chapter – $1,500
2020 – Honorable Mention, Graduate Research Fellowship Program, National Science Foundation
2020 – David & Frieda Wertman Scholarship, California Polytechnic State University – $2,500
2016 – Dennis Walker Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University – $1,000
2015 – Blanche G. Williams & Gertrude G. Graham Award, Humboldt State University – $1,000
2015 – PLANTS Grant, Botanical Society of America & National Science Foundation – $1,000
Publications
Fryer, E. R., M. A. Afonin, B. Bomfleur, and A. M. F. Tomescu. (In preparation). A new species of Protocedroxylon from the Lower Cretaceous of California. Target journal: The International Journal of Plant Sciences.
Burnett, J. K., E. R. Fryer, C. R. Unger, and A. M. F. Tomescu. 2016. Pinaceous wood from the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian-early Aptian) of California, USA – Lower Chikabally Member, Budden Canyon Formation. Ameghiniana, 53(6): 685-694.
Presentations (* with published abstract)
1. Fryer, E. R., A. Shon, H. Huntley, R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2023 (abstract accepted; upcoming). Clay Endemism and Affinity in the California Floristic Province. International Conference on Serpentine Ecology, Nancy, France. *
2. Fryer, E. R., R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2023 (abstract accepted; upcoming). The Vertic Clay Flora of the San Joaquin Desert: Niche, Competition & Floral Mosaics on a Novel Substrate. International Conference on Serpentine Ecology, Nancy, France. *
3. Fryer, E. R., R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2022. The Role of Competition and Soil Chemistry in the Community Assembly of the Vertic Clay Endemic Annual Plant Communities of the San Joaquin Desert. California Native Plant Society Conference, San Jose, California. *
4. Fryer, E. R., R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2022. The Vertic Clay Endemic Annual Plant Communities of the San Joaquin Desert. Invited Speaker. North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa, virtual meeting.
5. Fryer, E. R., R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2022. The Role of Invasive Species and Soil Chemistry in the Community Assembly of the Vertic Clay Endemic Annual Plant Communities of the San Joaquin Desert. Botanical Society of America 117th Annual Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska. *
6. Eulensen-Wallace, J., C. Hodge, M. Mulroy, E. R. Fryer, and N. Rajakaruna. 2022. Lichens of Carrizo Plain. Biological Sciences Frost Research Symposium, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
7. Fryer, E. R., R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2022. How Invasive Species and Soil Chemistry Shape the Vertic Clay Endemic Annual Plant Communities of the San Joaquin Desert. California Native Plant Society San Luis Obispo Chapter Meeting, virtual meeting.
8. Fryer, E. R., and M. Mulroy. 2022. A Brief Introduction to Lichens. Student workshop, San Luis Obispo, California.
9. Fryer, E. R., Rajakaruna, N., Shon, A., and S. McKinnon. 2022. Community Assembly of Vertic Clay Endemic Annual Plants of the San Joaquin Desert. College of Science and Mathematics Student Research Conference, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California. *
10. Shon, A., E. R. Fryer, and N. Rajakaruna. 2021. Determining Edaphic Factors of Vertic Clay Communities. Biological Sciences Frost Research Symposium, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
11. McKinnon, S., E. R. Fryer, and N. Rajakaruna. 2021. Effects of edaphic factors and competition on flowering phenology and reproductive output of native California desert annuals. Biological Sciences Frost Research Symposium, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.
12. Fryer, E. R., R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2021. Community Assembly of Vertic Clay Endemic Annual Plants of the San Joaquin Desert. Botanical Society of America 116th Annual Meeting, virtual meeting. *
13. Fryer, E. R., R. E. O’Dell, and N. Rajakaruna. 2021. Community Assembly of Vertic Clay Endemic Annuals of the San Joaquin Desert. California Botanical Society 28th Graduate Student Symposium, virtual meeting. *
14. Fryer, E. R. 2019. Rare Lichens and Bryophytes. Caltrans Central Region Off-site Conference, Stockton, California.
15. Fryer, E. R., and A. M. F. Tomescu. 2016. Conifer wood from the Lower Cretaceous of northern California: implications for Protocedroxylon taxonomy. Botanical Society of America 111th Annual Meeting, Savannah, Georgia. *
16. Fryer, E. R., and A. M. F. Tomescu. 2015. Early Cretaceous permineralized wood with araucarioid characters in the Budden Canyon Formation of California. Botanical Society of America 110th Annual Meeting, Edmonton, Canada. *
Work Experience
California Polytechnic State University – Teaching Associate
January 2021 to March 2023
Prepared, wrote, and graded quizzes and coursework, prepared and delivered lab lectures in coordination with instructing professors and laboratory coordinator. Prepared course materials, syllabi, and curricula, held office hours, and provided student guidance on topics of plant and animal physiology and anatomy, and microbiology.
California Polytechnic State University – Graduate Supervisor, Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
July 2021 to September 2021, July 2022 to September 2022
Supervised undergraduate fellows in the Frost Undergraduate Research Program over two summers and two research projects. Planned and coordinated summer research projects and provided research mentorship and guidance for professional presentations on research. Trained undergraduate fellows in lichen identification and lab and field techniques and prepared research authorization requests to federal agencies.
California Polytechnic State University – Graduate Assistant
September 2020 to August 2021
Prepared grant applications and conducted literature reviews, experimental design, coordination, and implementation, and various academic research activities, on an as-needed basis in coordination with academic advisor.
HDR Engineering, Inc. – Field Botanist & Specialist Environmental Planner
October 2017 to November 2019
Provided staff augmentation and acted as a specialist environmental planner and field biologist for Caltrans Central Region Biology, preparing technical environmental documents, biological impact assessments, permit applications for Fish and Game Code Section 1602 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements, Clean Water Act Section 404 Nationwide Permits, and Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certifications. Prepared permit compliance reports, managed conservation measure compliance, conducted biological monitoring, worker environmental awareness training, and mitigation monitoring and reporting, and planned, lead, and reported for protocol- and reconnaissance-level surveys for special status species.
Research Projects
Saxicolous and terricolous lichens of Carrizo Plain National Monument (ongoing) – with Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna and Michael Mulroy (California Polytechnic State University).
Quantifying clay endemism and association with clay soils in California’s flora (ongoing) – with Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna (California Polytechnic State University) and Ryan O'Dell (Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office).
Community assembly of the vertic clay endemic annual flowering plants of the San Joaquin Desert (ongoing) – with Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna (California Polytechnic State University) and Ryan O'Dell (Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office).
Processing micrographs of an anatomical fossil of the dicksoniaceous fern Onychiopsis for 3D rendering and producing a 3D reconstruction of Onychiopsis vasculature – with Dr. Alexandru Tomescu (Humboldt State University)
Taxonomic placement and description of a Lower Cretaceous araucarioid fossil conifer wood from the Budden Canyon Formation of northern California – with Dr. Alexandru Tomescu (Humboldt State University)
Identification and description of a Lower Cretaceous pinaceous fossil conifer wood from the Budden Canyon Formation of northern California – with Dr. Alexandru Tomescu (Humboldt State University)
Chemical analysis of Apis mellifera-collected pollen from Humboldt County, California – In General Plant Physiology (BOT 310) (Humboldt State University)
Collection and mounting of a sample flora of the disturbed areas and roadsides of Humboldt County, California – directed study with the Humboldt State University Herbarium and Dr. J.P. Smith (Humboldt State University)
Investigation into the effects of media sucrose content and gas availability on gemmae production by cultured Marchantia polymorpha – directed study with Dr. Casey Lu (Humboldt State University)
Metabolic comparison of culturable endophytic and epiphytic bacteria associated with Chenopodium quinoa seeds – in General Bacteriology (BIOL 412) (Humboldt State University)
Teaching Experience
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2021 to 2023)
BOT 313 – Taxonomy of Vascular Plants: Laboratory
BOT 121 – General Botany: Laboratory
BIO 111 – General Biology: Laboratory
BIO 162 – Introduction to Organismal Form and Function: Laboratory
MCRO 221 – Microbiology: Laboratory
Field Work & Survey Experience
Lichen sampling: sampling and collection of saxicolous and terricolous lichens from Carrizo Plain National Monument – with Dr. Nishanta Rajakaruna and Michael Mulroy (California Polytechnic State University; July 2022).
Botanical surveys: point-intercept and percent cover, following project-specific protocol – with Dr. Tim Bean and Dr. Lorelei Larios (California Polytechnic State University and University of California Riverside; April 2022).
Botanical surveys: point-intercept, line-intercept, and percent cover, following project-specific protocols for vegetation sampling on Santa Cruz Island – with California Polytechnic State University (California Polytechnic State University and The Nature Conservancy, March 2022).
Small mammal trapping for Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), Fresno kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis), and giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) – with Caltrans Central Region staff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife (HDR, Caltrans Central Region Biology, Pixley Wildlife Refuge; May 2018 - October 2018).
Biological monitoring of migratory nesting birds and San Joaquin kit fox natal dens – with Caltrans Central Region staff (HDR and Caltrans Central Region Biology; February 2018 - November 2019).
Protocol surveys for Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), and blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) – with Caltrans Central Region staff (HDR and Caltrans Central Region Biology; February 2018 - November 2019).
Relocation and transplantation of a population of Sanford’s arrowhead (Sagittaria sanfordii) in Cameron Slough, Fresno County, California – with Caltrans Central Region staff (HDR and Caltrans Central Region Biology; November 2017).
Botanical surveys: percent-cover, presence/absence, and protocol, following Protocols for Surveying and Evaluating Impacts to Special Status Native Plant Populations and Sensitive Natural Communities – with Caltrans Central Region Biology staff (HDR and Caltrans Central Region Biology; October 2017 - November 2019).
Collecting Devonian plant fossils from Cottonwood Canyon, Wyoming – with Dr. Alexandru Tomescu (Humboldt State University; July 2017).
Volunteer Work
Mounting plant collections from the Central Valley region, processing and evaluating collections – with Dr. Katherine Waselkov and the Fresno State University Herbarium; October 2017 to present.
Rare plant status reviewer – with California Native Plant Society; March 2019 to present.
Student panelist, “Finding Your Way (in College and in Life)” – with Cal Poly Department of Biological Sciences; November 2020.
Workshops
California Environmental Quality Act Impact Assessment – with the California Native Plant Society
Berkeley, California, October 2019
Poaceae – with Dr. Travis Columbus and the Jepson Herbarium
Berkeley, California, May 2019
Wetland Delineation – with the Wetland Training Institute
Roseville, California, April 2019
Rare Plant Survey Protocols – with the California Native Plant Society
Imperial Beach, California, March 2019
Small Mammal Trapping Workshop – with the Yosemite Audubon Society
Ahwahnee, California, May 2018) – with Melissa Odell, SCIN 11023
Professional Affiliations
Botanical Society of America
California Botanical Society
California Native Plant Society
Southern California Botanists
American Bryological & Lichenological Society
Ecological Society of America