Benjamin Phillips

I have gained a wide range of experience through my combined 7 years of graduate and undergraduate studies in environmental science at Ohio State University, which will culminate in multiple original scientific papers upon my anticipated graduation this May. As I reach the end of my formal educational journey, I am seeking a job where I can continue to develop my skills in project leadership, data analysis, and technical writing while having a positive impact on the environment. Due to the broad nature of environmental science, I do not have a specific area or profession of interest; I simply want a role where I can make meaningful, positive differences in my community.

Strategic Mowing and Nutrient Dynamics in Roadway Stormwater

September 2023 to May 2026

• Designed and conducted field-scale stormwater monitoring studies to evaluate the effects of roadside mowing treatments on water quality
• Selected study sites and installed hydrologic and water-quality monitoring equipment in highway roadside ditches
• Collected stormwater samples during storm events along with soil and vegetation samples throughout the duration of the project
• Performed statistical and spatial data analysis using R and ArcGIS Pro
• Led preparation and writing of final technical reports for transportation stakeholders

Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Vegetated and Unvegetated Roadside Ditches

January 2023 to December 2024

• Evaluated nutrient transport, storage, and processing in roadside drainage systems at the watershed scale using spatial data
• Developed experimental design and oversaw field instrumentation and sampling
• Analyzed hydrologic and water-quality data to assess impacts on downstream nutrient loading
• Contributed to technical reporting for state transportation agencies

Effectiveness of Conservation Channel Designs for Phosphorus Mitigation

September 2022 to December 2024

• Monitored agricultural drainage ditches before and after conservation channel construction
• Assessed phosphorus reduction during storm events using field data and statistical analysis
• Evaluated performance of alternative channel designs for nutrient mitigation

Undergraduate Researcher

February 2022 to May 2023

• Researched the impact of El Niño Southern Oscillation on precipitation patterns in the midwestern United States
• Used R-Studio to create a script that analyzed relevant meteorological data and created regression models based on the data
• Consulted with Dr. James Stagge on a weekly basis to evaluate research progress and further aims

Student Research Assistant

September 2021 to December 2022

• Processed and managed genomic datasets for downstream analysis
• Maintained pennycress and wine grape cultivars for laboratory research
• Assisted with experiments evaluating Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) feeding preferences across grape cultivars

Pathways Intern

May 2021 to August 2022

• Propagated and maintained over 7,000 American elm (Ulmus americana) cuttings under sterile conditions
• Conducted experiments related to Dutch elm disease resistance
• Collected field data on ash saplings across multiple sites in central Ohio

Master of Science in Environmental Science

August 2023 to Present

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (Water Science Specialization)

August 2019 to May 2023

Minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)