Jackson Vanfleet-Brown - CV

Experience

Research operations

Research Intern

Underwater Acoustic & Navigation Lab, University of Haifa, Israel 2024

  • 6+ years as a research technician serving world-class scientists and engineers across many disciplines. Experienced mariner.

Environmental diplomacy intern

Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Ketura, Israel 2022

  • QC’ed and installed an autonomous water quality monitoring system at West Bank village.
  • With minimal training, contributed meaningfully to an ambitious humanitarian project led by US tech startup and international researchers.

American Samoa Station Chief

Global Monitoring Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2020 - 2021

  • Learned best mechanical and electrical practices for servicing sophisticated instrument systems while in training at NOAA headquarters in Boulder, Colorado.
  • While on-station in American Samoa, a remote Pacific island, I increased data quality and output through excellent management of two locally-based staff.

Junior bridge watch officer

NOAA Ship Fairweather, Ketchikan, Alaska 2017 - 2020

  • Led navigational watches aboard 230-ft hydrographic survey vessel.
  • Valued member of ship’s command due to breadth of qualifications:
    • Primary voyage planner for coastal passages from San Diego to the Arctic.
    • Coxswain of 28-ft small boats.
    • Multibeam sonar operator.

Education

M.S. Marine Science

Estuary and Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University 2022-2024

  • For thesis research, developed machine learning models to classify dolphin species in passive acoustic recordings.
  • Used operational expertise to assist with projects outside my primary research area:
    • Deployed scientific moorings offshore central California.
    • Piloted UAV in San Francisco Bay to test new vessel tracking software.
    • Trailered and coxswained 19-ft boat with two crew sampling zooplankton in San Francisco Estuary.

B.A. Geology

Carleton College, Northfield, MN, USA 2011-2015

Awards

NOAA Corps Achievement Medal (2019 and 2021)

Awarded on two occasions by different supervisors for notably positive impact on research operations – aboard NOAA Ship Fairweather as well as at the NOAA atmospheric observatory in American Samoa.

Distinction in Geology (2015)

Awarded by the Carleton College Geology faculty for an exceptional oral presentation of my senior thesis project.

Training and Qualifications

FAA UAV Remote Pilot (issued 2023)

USCG Master 100 Ton Inland (issued 2023, expires 2028)

Motor Boat Operator (2022) Scientific Boating Safety Association

NOAA Ship Fairweather: Officer of the deck, small boat coxswain, hydrographer-in-charge (2018-2019)