RACHEL J. SMITH

Scientific Editor in earth, energy, and ocean sciences. Academics, cumulative skills & training, graphic design samples, employment history, merits & distinctions, and technical writing portfolio.

ACADEMICS

2019 | MSc in COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS

National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway), Ireland; first class honours. Research: Coastal survey of erosion, sediment dynamics, and potential functionality impacts of proposed rock armour placement. Courses: Biodiversity, coastal geomorphology, field research methods, GIS, global climate, marine spatial planning, research vessel skills, statistics.

2009 | BS GEOLOGY

Southern Oregon University (SOU), USA; first class honours. Research: Geomicrobiology growth experiments of iron-oxidizing bacteria to resolve acid mine drainage oxidation rates. Courses: Calculus, chemistry, environmental/field geology, geochemistry, hydrogeology, hydrology, lithology, mineralogy, petrology, physics, quaternary geomorphology, sedimentology, structural geology.

CUMULATIVE SKILLS & TRAINING

EDITING & WRITING

Copyediting, proofreading, and revision; consistency and readability; data entry; database management; figures, tables, charts, and graphics; original content and composition; spelling, punctuation, and grammar; style guides; typography and syntax. More than 700 documents edited: scientific research articles; academic, professional, and technical reports. More than 60 science topics, and familiarity with more than 120 international science journals and publishers.

ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING & LEADERSHIP

Basic, intermediate, and data cleaning in R; basic and intermediate Python; basic waterworks, small system operator; basic wetlands delineation; conflict resolution; database management in Access; drinking water corrosion; intermediate Excel; river restoration physical processes; streambank erosion through application of fluvial geomorphology; women’s leadership; yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction; young professionals leadership

FIELD & LABORATORY

Areal geologic and landslide mapping; beach and shoreline profiling; biodiversity assessment; digital shoreline interpretation; hydrologic survey: estuary, groundwater, lake, river, stream; GIS mapping and 3D data processing; marine research vessel sediment core sampling; policy review; remote sensing coastal survey; volumetric sediment analysis; water quality investigation for estuarine, marine, regulatory, terrestrial, and urban water resources.

SOFTWARE

Basic: Access, Drone Deploy, Pix 4D, Python, QGIS, R, Squarespace, TexMaker, Wix. Intermediate–Advanced: Excel, Gmail, Google Docs, Outlook, Powerpoint, Word.

GRAPHIC DESIGN & RESEARCH SAMPLES

EMPLOYMENT

2018–present | SCIENTIFIC EDITOR

Geowriters (freelance). Standard and premium proofreading and editing for science journal article submissions by ESL (English as second language) authors in the physical sciences for environmental science, energy, and sustainability; editing technical geoscience consultancy reports with text and graphics; composing editor reports and submission materials.

2015–2018 | WATER RESOURCES SPECIALIST

Hillsboro Water Engineering, Oregon, USA. Data analysis; database management; report writing/editing; water quality investigation by field data: algae, coliform, nutrients, oxygen, sediment, temperature, and toxins in reservoirs, lakes, streams, treatment plants, and urban sample points.

2015 | NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALIST

Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon, USA. Water quality investigation by field data: macroinvertebrates, nutrients, oxygen, sediment, stream survey, and temperature in coastal streams, estuaries, and marinas.

2011–2015 | OFFICE MANAGER and SALES ADMINISTRATOR

Momentum River Expeditions and Fly Water Travel, Oregon, USA. Administration, client services, liaison to sub-contractor sales associates, sales program management, staff management, writing/software skills: instruction manual and reservation system platform.

2008–2011 | WATER RESOURCES TECHNICIAN

Medford Water Commission, Oregon, USA. Trained incoming staff on data collection and database/software skills; water quality investigation by field data: precipitation, temperature, recharge rate, and velocity in groundwater monitoring sites, precipitation sites, rivers, reservoirs, and streams.

MERITS & DISTINCTIONS

2021: Best Contractual Editor, Clients’ Favourite Contractual Editor, Expert Editor, Cactus Communications; 2020: Chairperson, Galway Geological Association; 2019: Prof. Michàel Ó’Cinnéide Award for Academic Excellence, NUI Galway Geography Department; Guest lecturer in coastal dynamics, NUI Galway; 2018: Member, International Association of Professional Writers & Editors (IAPWE); 2015: Registered Geologist-in-Training #T2495, Oregon State Board of Geologists; 2009: American Association of University Women (AAUW) Outstanding Woman Graduate, Outstanding Senior in Geology, Purdom and Roxy Ann Field Camp Scholarship, SOU Dean’s List; 2008: Geology Merit Award, SOU Dean’s List; 2007: Research Education for Undergraduates full-time stipend for research in geomicrobiology at Portland State University, Oregon, USA.

TECHNICAL WRITING PORTFOLIO

LINKS TO ARTICLE EXAMPLES

ACADEMIC REPORTS

  • Appropriate assessment, Bertra Strand boardwalk, Clew Bay, Ireland

  • Areal geologic reports: Bunton Hollow, Yreka, CA; Yellow Butte and Borrow Pits, Mt. Shasta, CA

  • Barriers and enablers to coastal community resilience

  • Economic characteristics and interpretation of tectonic history and depositional paleoenvironments based on stratigraphic structure of Williston Basin, Canada and northern U.S.

  • Growth experiments of Acidothiobacillus ferroxidans to resolve oxidation rates of sulphide minerals at Blue Ledge Mine, Siskiyou Co., CA

  • Implications of proposed rock armour on soft-rock coast and saltmarsh sediment dynamics

  • Interpretation of freshwater limestones of the Morrison Formation, central CO

  • Marine cruise report, Galway Bay, Ireland

  • Marine spatial plan, Clew Bay, Ireland

  • More water for more people, water resource assessment for Jackson Co., OR

  • Role of geomorphologists in the controversy of sand over-harvesting

  • Structural geology of Colestin Valley volcaniclastics, Hilt, OR

  • Supporting a relationship between iron-oxidizing organisms and microchannels

PROFESSIONAL REPORTS

  • Bi-weekly stream gage summaries, Hillsboro Water

  • Big Butte Springs groundwater elevation profiles, Medford Water Commission

  • Big Butte Springs watershed precipitation estimation methodology, Medford Water Commission

  • Hagg Lake water quality summary 2014–2017, Hillsboro Water

  • Hillsboro and Cherry Grove water quality 2010–2015, Hillsboro Water

  • Quarterly water quality reports, Joint Water Commission

  • Rogue River velocity profiles at Duff Treatment Plant intake, Medford Water Commission

  • Stream temperature profiles, Medford Water Commission

  • Technical manual: Collecting and processing stream temperature data, Medford Water Commission

  • Water quality summary 2009–2014; Taste, odor and algae 2010–2015; Joint Water Commission

  • Willow Lake recharge rate analysis, Medford Water Commission

SAMPLES OF ORIGINAL REPORT CONTENT

Barriers and enablers of coastal community resilience; p. 14

Interestingly, the two most important enabling actions are not simply the opposite of these [aforementioned] barriers. Instead, they are centered around 1) the integration of management/policy/governance on all levels from international to community, especially by way of integrating local knowledge within management strategies, and 2) development of adaptation/resilience frameworks to assist in implementation. This phenomenon reflects the findings of Spires (2015) who determined qualitatively that community enablers tend to be centered around ‘changing the way things are done’ rather than simply enacting the opposite of a barrier. This points to the more tangible and explicit nature of recognizing barriers, which are usually existing conditions, as compared to enablers which are more often futuristic, conceptual notions that may be harder to perceive.

Implications of proposed rock armour on soft-rock coast and saltmarsh sediment dynamics; p. 93

The reason for accelerated erosion at the site of the talus slope may be related to preferential weakness in the upper drumlin layer at this location, suggesting that here this layer may be inherently, individually susceptible to erosional behaviour which may not be wholly related to wave undercutting. The layer is weakly cemented and composed of a matrix that is nearly 60% silt/clay/mud and, as described, shows considerable cliff top retreat at selected locations. Additionally, it bears numerous slump and scarp features originating from the top which may be related to gravity-induced landsliding rather than slump and topple failure originating from wave undercutting, and sits atop the consolidated riverbed layer which is more erosion-resistant and therefore introduces a plane of weakness that is well above the zone of wave-cut notching.