Halle Nienhaus
About Halle Nienhaus
Halle Nienhaus is a Fisheries Field Assistant at the U.S. Geological Survey, specializing in coldwater fisheries and habitat restoration. She has a strong academic background in biology and natural resources management, with experience in various research and field roles.
Current Role at U.S. Geological Survey
Halle Nienhaus currently serves as a Fisheries Field Assistant at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Bozeman, Montana. She has held this position since 2022, contributing to various projects focused on fisheries research. Her responsibilities include conducting habitat surveys and managing data collection initiatives aimed at assessing and restoring stream health, particularly for coldwater fisheries.
Previous Experience at U.S. Geological Survey
Prior to her current role, Halle Nienhaus worked as a Fisheries Field Crew Lead at the U.S. Geological Survey from 2021 to 2022. In this capacity, she led field crews in various research projects. Her work included collecting comprehensive datasets, such as environmental DNA (eDNA) for Bull Trout detection in the Lewis River basin, Washington.
Education and Academic Background
Halle Nienhaus obtained her Master of Science in Biology/Biological Sciences from Western Michigan University, where she studied from 2018 to 2020. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Natural Resources Management and Biology from Grand Valley State University, completing her studies from 2014 to 2017. Her academic background has provided her with a strong foundation in biological sciences and resource management.
Field Research and Data Collection Expertise
Halle Nienhaus has extensive experience in field research and data collection related to fisheries. She conducts valley bottom delineation across Nevada river basins and performs habitat surveys for Lahontan cutthroat trout. Her work involves various methodologies, including snorkel surveys, electrofishing, and PIT tagging for mark-recapture studies. She utilizes qGIS to synthesize spatial datasets to support restoration projects.
Previous Roles in Academia and Research
Before her current position, Halle Nienhaus held multiple roles in academia and research. She worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at Western Michigan University from 2018 to 2021, and as a BIOS 1100 and BIOS 3010 Teaching Assistant during her time there. Additionally, she was an Undergraduate Biology Researcher at Grand Valley State University in 2017, gaining valuable experience in biological research.