Education
Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Kent State University, Kent, OH, 2020 – 2026
Bachelors of Science in Zoology
Kent State University, Kent, OH, 2016 – 2020
Professional experience
Current Appointments
VOC Laboratory Technician | Alliance Technical Group | July 2026 – Present
- Process and prepare environmental samples for VOC and GRO analysis, following established laboratory methods, SOPs, and QA/QC protocols.
- Perform sample preparation and extraction procedures while maintaining chain-of-custody documentation, sample inventories, and laboratory records.
- Process and review GC/MS analytical data for accuracy and quality-control issues; organize and upload results to for project managers and reporting.
- Coordinate with project managers and laboratory personnel to support accurate, timely, and traceable environmental sampling.
Adjunct Instructor | Kent Stat University / American Academy, PUCPR in Brazil | August 2026 – Present
- Taught Life on Planet Earth, a three-week intensive course covering biology, evolution, ecology, and biodiversity.
- Communicated biological concepts to students from varied academic backgrounds using accessible and example-driven instruction
- Developed and delivered lectures, activities, and discussions connecting biological concepts to real-world examples.
Previous Appointments
Adjunct Instructor | Kent State University / American Academy, PUCPR in Brazil | August 2026 – Present
- Taught Life on Planet Earth, a three-week intensive course covering biology, evolution, ecology, and biodiversity.
- Communicated biological concepts to students from varied academic backgrounds using accessible and example-driven instruction
- Developed and delivered lectures, activities, and discussions connecting biological concepts to real-world examples.
Graduate Teaching Assistant | Kent State University | August 2020 – May 2026
- Led field-based and laboratory-based instruction on wetland plant identification and ecological assessment, and sampling methods.
- Trained students to identify Midwestern wetland flora and terrestrial and aquatic fauna using field guides and taxonomic keys.
- Guided students through field data collection, ecological sampling techniques, habitat evaluation, and interpretation of ecological information.
Research Technician| Kent State University | December 2016– May 2020
- Conducted standardized field sampling across aquatic and terrestrial systems in Ohio and Costa Rica, including vertebrate, amphibian, insect, and vegetation surveys.
- Assisted with research examining invasive plant, decomposition, biodiversity, and species-environment relationships.
- Identified invertebrates using microscopy and taxonomic keys. Identified vertebrates through field observations and camera-trap imagery.
PUBLICATIONS
Submitted
1. Rush, H.A., Rocha, O.J., & Kershner, M.W. Is there no place like home? Evaluating effects of habitat and decomposer access on Home-Field Advantage in two closely related Oaks. Oikos.
Preprint
2. Rush, H.A., Rocha, O.J., & Kershner, M.W. Insects, Trees, and Trails: Effects of urbanization and vegetation on flying insect communities of temperate forests. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8059895/v1
Manuscripts in Preparation
3 . Rush, H.A., Rocha, O.J., Kershner, M.W., Harville, E.M. Effects of urbanization on tree community structure and diversity in northeast Ohio. In preparation.
4. Rush, H.A., Rocha, O.J., & Kershner, M.W. Leaf litter chemistry and invertebrate communities drive variation in oak leaf litter decomposition. In Preparation.
5. Rush, H.A., Rocha, O.J., Kershner, M.W., & Guerrero-Barrantes, M. Decay above the clouds: elevational variation alters leaf litter decomposition and decomposer activity. In preparation.
teaching experience
2025-2026
Wetland Ecology and Management, Lab instructor / TA trainer
Fall 2025 BSCI 40368, 1 lab section (20 students)
Vertebrate Zoology Lab instructor / TA coordinator
Spring 2026 BSCI 40556, 1 lab section (~20 students)
2024-2025
Entomology, Lab instructor / TA trainer
Fall 2024 BSCI 30580, 1 lab section (15 students)
Invertebrate Zoology, Lab instructor
Spring 2025 BSCI 30560, 1 lab section (22 students)
2023-2024
Wetland Ecology and Management, Lab instructor
Fall 2023 BSCI 40368, 1 lab section (18 students)
Vertebrate Zoology, Lab instructor
Spring 2024 BSCI 40556, 1 lab section (10 students)
2022-2023
General Ecology, Lab instructor / Lab coordinator
Fall 2022 BSCI 30360, 1 lab section (20 students)
Invertebrate Zoology, Lab instructor
Spring 2023 BSCI 30560, 1 lab section (20 students)
2021-2022
General Ecology, Lab instructor
Fall 2021 BSCI 30360, 1 lab section (22 students)
Biological Foundations, Lecture Aide
Spring 2022 BSCI 10120, All sections (~100 students)
2020-2021
Biological Foundations, Lab instructor
Fall 2020 BSCI 10120, 2 lab sections (~50 students)
Spring 2021 BSCI 10120, 1 lab section (~60 students)
presentations AND conferences
“Leaf litter chemistry and invertebrate communities drive variation in oak leaf decomposition” (Talk). Ecological Society of America, Great Lakes Regional Meeting. April 2026.
“Decay above the clouds: Elevational variation alters leaf litter decomposition and decomposer activity” (Talk). Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. August 2025.
“Homefield Advantage: elevation, invertebrate communities, & oak leaf decomposition” (Slide). Kent State University Biological Sciences Data Blitz. February 2024.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Kent State University Graduate Student Research Symposium. April 2023.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Entomological Society of America Annual meeting. November 2023.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Ecological Society of America Annual meeting. August 2023.
“Bugs and booze: an analysis of urbanization and vegetation effects on flying invertebrate communities” (Poster). Kent State University Graduate Student Research Symposium. April 2022.
“The pitfalls of pitfall trapping: a comparison of classical insect collection and novel camera trapping techniques in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park” (Virtual Poster). Kent State University Graduate Student Research Symposium. April 2021.
”Career Conversations in Scientific Research and Graduate School” (Talk). Invited Seminar. Kent State University Biology Club.
“Career Conversations in Scientific Research” (Talk). Kent State University Honors College. October 2020.
”Career Conversations in Scientific Research and Graduate School” (Talk). Invited Seminar. Mahoning County Career and Technical Center-Animal / Pre-Veterinary Science Program. October.
“Golf Green to Green stream: does a stream restoration in an ex-golf course impact terrestrial invertebrate communities?” (Virtual Poster). Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. May 2020.
“A Survey of Rolled-Leaf Beetle communities (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the new leaves of Heliconiaceae and Marantaceae plants of Costa Rica (Virtual Poster). Kent State University Undergraduate Symposium on Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. May 2020.
“Golf Green to Green stream: does a stream restoration in an ex-golf course impact terrestrial invertebrate communities?” (Talk). Kent State University Summer Undergraduate Research Experience 3-minute Thesis Competition. November 2019.
Collections and curation
Tom S. and Miwako K. Cooperider Herbarium, Kent State University, 2019-2020
- Curated and maintained herbarium specimens, including specimen identification, organization, labeling, and collection maintenance.
- Prepared, mounted, labeled, and preserved specimens for long-term use in teaching, research, and reference collections.
- Used taxonomic keys and morphological characteristics to identify and organize specimens.
Wetland Ecology and Management Herbarium Collection, Kent State University, 2023-2026
- Curated plant and herbarium specimens used for teaching and reference in wetland ecology and management.
- Prepared, mounted, labeled, and organized herbarium specimens following standard collection practices.
- Identified plant specimens using field guides, dichotomous keys, and wetland indicator information.
Additional Collections Experience
- Vertebrate specimen identification, maintenance, and collection management
- Invertebrate and insect specimen preparation, identification, and collection management
- Herbarium specimen preparation and curation
awards / grants
2026
- Outstanding Teaching Assistantship Award – Kent State University – Department of Biological Sciences
- Graduate Student Research Excellence Award – Kent State University – Department of Biological Sciences
2025
- ESDRI Graduate Student Research Award, Kent State University- Environmental Science and Design Resarch Institute
- Great Lakes Chapter Student Travel Award – Ecological Society of America
- Domestic Travel Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
2023
- Special Contingency Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- Travel Award, Kent State University – Department of Biological Sciences
- Outstanding Teaching Assistantship Award – Kent State University – Department of Biological Sciences
2022
- Small Research Grant – Geauga Park District
- Graduate Student Research Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- International Travel Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- Art and Margaret Herrick Endowment for the Aquatic Ecology Research Facility
- Domestic Travel Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
2021
- Graduate Student Support Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate
- Graduate Student Research Award, Kent State University– Graduate Student Senate
2020
Book Award, Kent State University – Graduate Student Senate.
professional and institutional service
- Ecological Society of America Regional Meeting Planning Member. 2026
- Graduate Student Advisor for Herrick Conservatory and Sustainability Club. 2020-2026
- Graduate Student Mentor for Kent State Biology Club. 2020-2026
- Coordinating Committee Member of Herrick Conservatory Plant Sale. 2017-2026
- Earth Month Planning Committee Member. 2018-2023
- President of Herrick Conservatory and Sustainability Club. 2017-2020
- Cochair of Kent State Biology Club’s Animal Collection. 2019-2020
- Vice President of Kent State Biology Club. 2018-2019
- Treasurer of Kent State Biology Club. 2017-2018
- Treasurer of Kent State To Write Love on Her Arms University Chapter. 2016-2017
mentorship
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program
-6 undergraduate students. 2023-2026
Rocha/Kershner Labs
-As doctoral student: 5 graduate students; 18 undergraduate students. 2020-2026
Biological Sciences incoming graduate student peer mentorship program
-3 students. 2023-2026
current affiliations
Kent State University Environmental Science and Design Research Institute
Society for Freshwater Science
Entomological Society of America
Ecological Society of America
– Great Lakes Chapter – Planning Committee
– Inclusive Ecology Section
– Student Section
– Soil Ecology Section
Technical skills
Environmental & Field Assessment: Ecological field surveys, vegetation and habitat assessment, plant community assessment, tree inventories, forest ecology, wetland assessment, biodiversity surveys, aquatic and terrestrial sampling, environmental monitoring, native and invasive species identification
Environmental Science: Wetland ecology, stream ecology, forest ecosystem processes, plant–invertebrate interactions, decomposition, biodiversity, invasive species management, ecological restoration
Data & Quantitative Analysis: R, ArcGIS, Microsoft Excel, R Markdown, data management, data visualization, ecological statistics, generalized linear models, GLMMs, multivariate analysis, PERMANOVA, NMDS, RDA/dbRDA
Research & Project Management: Research design, project coordination, technical and scientific writing, proposal development, grant development, scientific documentation, QA/QC, scheduling, procurement, budget management
Laboratory & Sample Processing: Plant and soil sample processing, plant trait measurements, leaf chemistry assays, invertebrate sample processing and identification, microscopy, environmental sample processing, VOC/GRO analysis, GC/MS data processing and review, chain-of-custody documentation, LIMS
Collections & Curation: Invertebrate and insect specimen curation, vertebrate collections, herbarium specimen preparation and curation, specimen identification and taxonomy, collection organization and maintenance; Tom S. and Miwako K. Cooperrider Collection, Wetland Ecology and Management Collection — Kent State University
Harlee Rush 