Senior Laboratory Technician

B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Sciences

Phone: (888) 224-1221

West Sacramento, California

As a senior lab technician specializing in native fish populations, Vickie transforms DNA into actionable insights that protect our aquatic ecosystems. Vickie’s laboratory prowess spans the full spectrum of genetic analysis—from meticulous sample cataloging and multi-method DNA extractions to sophisticated quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis and gel electrophoresis. Vickie’s fieldwork reads like a conservation success story. They’ve tracked the leading edge of northern pike invasions in the Columbia River Basin, providing critical intelligence to protect native fish communities. Their work has shed light on Pacific lamprey populations in Oregon’s headwaters, providing vital information to Tribal nations. In Montana, Vickie played a key role in brook trout eradication projects, helping restore balance to threatened ecosystems. Vickie seamlessly bridges laboratory precision with hands-on fieldwork. Whether collecting eDNA samples that reveal the invisible presence of species, conducting electrofishing surveys, or expertly identifying fish species in the field, Vickie brings the same meticulous attention to detail that defines their lab work.

Selected Publications

Barber-Meyer, S.M., V. Zeller, and K.L. Pilgrim. 2022. Testing Environmental DNA from Wolf Snow Tracks for Species, Sex, and Individual Identification-An Addendum. Canadian Wildlife Biology & Management 11(1):12-14.

Young, M.K., D.J. Isaak, D. Nagel, D.L. Horan, K.J. Carim, T.W. Franklin, V.A. Zeller, B. Roper, and M.K. Schwartz. 2022. Broad-scale eDNA sampling for describing aquatic species distributions in running waters: Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus in the upper Snake River, USA. Journal of Fish Biology 101(5):1312-1325.

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