MARIAH P.

MAYFIELD
mariah.mayfield@gmail.com
541.482.8175
Qualifications Statement
I am an energetic and experienced early-career research biologist with a focus on native fish
ecology and conservation. I have extensive knowledge of sampling and analysis techniques that I
hope to use to better address pertinent fisheries management and research questions.

Education
Master of Science. Montana State University, Bozeman, MT Completed January 2013
Major: Fish and Wildlife Management
Thesis Title: “Limiting Factors for Trout Populations in the Upper Clark Fork
River Superfund Site: Habitat Use, Movement, and Survival”

Bachelor of Arts. Willamette University, Salem, OR Completed May 2007

Major: Biology

Research and Work Experience

Fisheries Extension Agent, United States Peace Corps 2/2014 - Present
Supervisor: Cleopher Bweupe
71B Chitemwiko Rd, Kabulonga, Lusaka, Zambia
Cbweupe@peacecorps.gov
(+26) 096.643.8118
 Provided technical advice and training for Department of Fisheries officials, rural fish
farmers, and at a nationally accredited agriculture school, in all aspects of low- and
semi-intensive aquaculture activities.
 Developed data collection tools, including a mobile data collection application, to
monitor and evaluate aquaculture activities for Peace Corps Zambia. These tools have
since been adopted for use in other Peace Corps countries.
 Facilitated inter-agency cooperation and communication between rural farmers, local
leaders, traditional leaders, and federal government leaders in order to repair a furrow
to bring a reliable source of water for aquaculture, agriculture, and household use.
 Organized and led a leadership camp for rural young women, including managing the
grant and budgets, facilitating educational sessions, and working as a liaison between
sponsoring organizations.

Faculty Research Assistant, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 4/2013 - 2/2014

40 hours per week, $2900 per month
Supervisor: Carl Schreck
104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331
541.737.1961
carl.schreck@oregonstate.edu
 Completed the first stage of a baseline study and monitoring plan for Pacific lamprey, a
native anadromous species of concern in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. This included
monitoring spawning activity and sampling juveniles during the freshwater phase to
determine habitat characteristics that may be limiting Pacific lamprey populations
during different life history stages.
 MARIAH P. MAYFIELD
mariah.mayfield@gmail.com

 Used both on-the-ground habitat surveys and large-scale GIS habitat data, including
geology, topography, and riparian land use information, to assess habitat use and
availability patterns.
 Designed a plan for further monitoring of spawning Pacific lamprey populations by
determining appropriate survey length requirements based on habitat variables and
the sample size needed for population assessment.
 Created and managed a database for collected data and used various statistical
programs, including Program R, ArcGIS, Sigmaplot, to analyze fish population, habitat,
and large-scale spatial data.
 Conducted spawning surveys using small watercraft in swift water conditions.
 Communicated with supervisors, fellow biologists, cooperating agencies, and media
outlets through presentations, outreach activities, and written reports, including peer-
reviewed articles.

Graduate Research Assistant, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 3/2009 - 1/2013

40 hours per week, $2167 per month
Advisor: Tom McMahon
310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT 59715
tmcmahon@montana.edu
406.994.2492
 Managed a fisheries radiotelemetry project in a mining-impacted Superfund Site, in
order to prioritize areas for remediation, with a focus on native trout restoration,
including sensitive species such as bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. This work
was completed as part of a graduate research project and was partially funded through
the USEPA Science to Achieve Results Graduate Fellowship Award.
 Evaluated stream habitat availability and suitability for native fish restoration focusing
on fish passage issues and mining remediation. Habitat assessment included both field
surveys and landscape-scale GIS data sets.
 Provided recommendations for management and riparian restoration activities, based
on cost-benefit theory, for state, federal, and non-governmental agencies.
 Completed parametric and non-parametric data analysis using a variety of statistical
methods and programs, including Microsoft Excel, Sigmaplot, Program R, Program
MARK, and ArcGIS. Developed a multistate mark-recapture model (in Program MARK)
to estimate movement and survival rates of tagged fish.
 Used kayaks, rafts, and drift boats to complete field work activities.
 Completed written and oral progress reports for state fisheries officials, funding
agencies, interested community members, and professional societies.

Additional Experience
Contract Fisheries Biologist
Cramer Fish Science, Gresham, OR Throughout 2013
Anchor QEA, Seattle, WA
 Provided project proposals for governmental and non-governmental contracts,
including detailed project plans for endangered and threatened fish population
monitoring, habitat suitability assessments, budgeting, and field work coordination.

Experimental Biology Aide 10/2012 – 1/2013 and

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 10/2007 – 1/2008
40 hours per week, $2100 per month

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 MARIAH P. MAYFIELD
mariah.mayfield@gmail.com

Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 5/2008 – 10/2008
40 hours per week, GS-05
Biological Science Technician (Fisheries)
Crater Lake National Park, OR 6/2007 – 9/2007
40 hours per week, GS-05
 Monitored cold water aquatic species, including threatened and endangered salmonid
species (bull trout, Coho salmon, and cutthroat trout), using a variety of techniques,
including electrofishing, snorkeling, juvenile and adult fish trapping, tagging (PIT, Floy,
and fin clips) and spawning ground surveys.
 Collected biological samples and data from fish, including length and mass, genetics,
scales, and carcass sampling.
 Used standard methods of habitat surveys, including calculating stream discharge,
substrate composition, habitat complexity, and gradient.
 Evaluated survey sites for habitat suitability and availability for all life stages of
salmonid fish species. Collected macroinvertebrate samples to evaluate stream health.
 Compiled and analyzed data using Microsoft Excel, Access, and SigmaPlot and prepared
written reports on the monitoring programs. Updated Microsoft Access databases in an
effort to make data entry more efficient and user friendly.
 Coordinated field work activities, including providing training and supervision for
interns, volunteers, and visiting biologists. Communicated relevant information
effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and other stakeholders.

Publications and Selected Presentations

Publication: Schultz, L. D. and M. P. Mayfield. Sample sizes needed to describe length frequency
distributions of small bodied fishes: an example using Pacific lamprey. Journal of Fish and Wildlife
Management. In review.
Publication: Schultz, L. D., B. Chasco, S. L. Whitlock, M. P. Mayfield, and C. B. Schreck. An integrated
length-based method for estimating mortality of larval lampreys. Fisheries Research. In review.
Publication: Mayfield, M. P., L. D. Schultz, L. A. Wyss, B. J. Clemens and C. B. Schreck. 2014. Spawning
patterns of Pacific Lamprey in tributaries to the Willamette River, Oregon. Transactions of the
American Fisheries Society. 143: 1544-1554.
Publication: Mayfield, M. P., L. D. Schultz, L. A. Wyss, M. E. Colvin, and C. B. Schreck. 2014. Using
spatial resampling to assess redd count survey length requirements for Pacific Lamprey. North
American Journal of Fisheries Management. 34: 923-931.
Publication: Schultz, L. D., M. P. Mayfield, S. Whitlock, B. J. Clemens, and C. B. Schreck. 2014. Role of
large- and fine-scale variables in predicting catch rates of larval Pacific lamprey in the Willamette
Basin, Oregon. Ecology of Freshwater Fish.
Publication: Schultz, L. D., M. P. Mayfield, L. A. Wyss, G. T. Sheoships, B. J. Clemens, B. Chasco, and C.
B. Schreck. 2014. The distribution and relative abundance of spawning and larval Pacific Lamprey in
the Willamette River basin. Final Report to the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission,
Portland, Oregon.
Lecture Presentation: Mayfield, M. P., T. E. McMahon, and J. J. Rotella. February 2013. Estimating
survival and movement rates using multistate mark-recapture models. Oregon Chapter of the
American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Bend, Oregon.

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 MARIAH P. MAYFIELD
mariah.mayfield@gmail.com

Publication: Mayfield, M. P. 2013. Limiting factors for trout populations in the upper Clark Fork
River Superfund Site, Montana. Master’s thesis. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana.
Lecture Presentation: Mayfield, M. P., T. E. McMahon, R. Gresswell, and J. J. Rotella. March 2012.
Limiting factors for trout populations in the upper Clark Fork River Superfund Site. Western
Division of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Jackson, Wyoming.

Lecture Presentation: Mayfield, M. P., T. E. McMahon, R. Gresswell, and J. J. Rotella. February 2012.
Limiting factors for trout populations in the upper Clark Fork River Superfund Site. Montana
Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Helena, Montana.

Poster Presentation: Mayfield, M. P., T. E. McMahon, and R. Gresswell. September 2011. Habitat use,
movement, and survival of trout in the upper Clark Fork River Superfund Site. USEPA Science to
Achieve Results Fellowship Conference, Washington, D.C.
 Selected as a finalist poster to be displayed and presented at Capitol Hill

Fellowships and Awards

USEPA Science to Achieve Results Graduate Fellowship: 2010 - 2012
Best Student Paper, Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Meeting: 2012
Best Student Paper, Western Division of the American Fisheries Society Meeting: 2012
National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship Honorable Mention: 2010
Montana Water Center Fellowship: 2010
Montana Westslope Chapter of Trout Unlimited Fellowship: 2010

Leadership and Volunteer Positions

Peace Corps Zambia Monitoring and Evaluation Volunteer Liaison: 2015 - 2016
Student Representative to the Western Division American Fisheries Society: 2011 - 2012
Founding Member, Women in Science and Engineering Association, Montana State University: 2011

Computer Competencies
Microsoft Office Suite, Program R, Program MARK, Sigmaplot, ArcGIS

Certifications
American Red Cross First Aid and CPR: 2013
Whitewater Rescue Institute Swiftwater Rescue Technician: 2012

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 MARIAH P. MAYFIELD
mariah.mayfield@gmail.com

References
Dr. Tom McMahon
Professor, Montana State University
310 Lewis Hall, Bozeman, MT
406.994.2492
tmcmahon@montana.edu

Dr. Carl Schreck

US Geologic Survey
Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Oregon State University
104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331
541.737.1961
carl.schreck@oregonstate.edu

Cleopher Bweupe
Associate Peace Corps Director
Rural Aquaculture Promotion Program
71 Chitemwiko Rd, Kabulonga, Lusaka, Zambia
(+26) 096.643.8118
CBweupe@peacecorps.gov

Luke Schultz
Fisheries Biologist
Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey, Corvallis, Oregon
651.366.7413
lschultz@usgs.gov

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