Jessica Nicole Welch, PhD
About Jessica Nicole Welch, PhD
Jessica Nicole Welch, PhD, is a Technical Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she has worked since 2021. With a background in ecology and evolutionary biology, she has dedicated her career to conservation biology and biodiversity protection.
Work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Jessica Nicole Welch has served as a Technical Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 2021. In this role, she provides technical support for NASA’s Distributed Active Archive Center for Biogeochemical Dynamics. Her work focuses on managing projects and organizing researchers to achieve conservation goals. Welch's position at Oak Ridge highlights her commitment to advancing scientific understanding and supporting environmental initiatives.
Education and Expertise
Jessica Welch earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, completing her studies from 2011 to 2017. Prior to her Ph.D., she obtained a Bachelor of Science (BS) in the same field from the same institution, graduating in 2010. Her educational background provides her with a strong foundation in conservation biology, a field she is dedicated to due to the implications of biodiversity loss.
Professional Background
Welch has a diverse professional background in academia and research. She worked as an Adjunct Professor at Pellissippi State Community College for nine months in 2018-2019. Prior to that, she held various research assistant positions at the University of Tennessee, including roles in multiple labs within the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Additionally, she has experience as a Laboratory Coordinator and as an External Affairs Intern at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Conservation and Outreach Initiatives
Jessica Welch is deeply motivated to protect Earth's biodiversity, inspired by the human-induced extinction of the Tasmanian tiger. She engages in outreach efforts to promote nature protection, actively communicating with various stakeholders, including policy-makers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Her dedication to conservation is reflected in her aim to manage projects that align with these goals.
Previous Work Experience
Throughout her career, Welch has held several positions that contributed to her expertise in conservation biology. She worked as a Client Services representative at the East Tennessee Technology Access Center and as a Database Specialist at Island Conservation. Additionally, she was involved in research coordination at Samford University and served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Tennessee for four years, further enhancing her teaching and research skills.