Education
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences & Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources – University of Vermont (2020 – 2024 (est.))
M.S in Complex Systems and Data Science
Certificate of Graduate Study in Complex Systems & Data Science
Advisors: Dr. Anthony Amato, Dr. Donna Rizzo, Dr. Jennifer Pontius, Dr. Aaron Weiskittel
School of Forest Resources and College of Engineering – University of Maine (2015 – 2020)
B.S in Forestry and Survey Engineering Technology (Dual Major)
Advisors: Dr. Aaron Weiskittel, Dr. Dan Hayes
Select Professional Reports, Papers, Presentations
Regional Forest Health Monitoring Program 2023 Report, Porter B, Sirch M, Donisvitch S, Voorhis N, Wolf A, Menzies H, Schuett E, Adams A, and Pontius J. 2022. Regional Forest Health Monitoring Program: 2023 Report. Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative. South Burlington, Vermont. https://doi.org/10.18125/jlz8fos
Donsivitch, Soren, Anthony D'Amato, Aaron Weiskittel, Chris Woodall, and Jennifer Pontius. Decadal Changes in Forest Adaptability and Vulnerability to Climate, Insects, and Disease. FEMC 2022 Conference, University of Vermont, 2022. Presented by Soren Donsivitch, University of Vermont. Link
New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, Pisgah State Park Carbon Assessment Estimates of Storage, Sequestration, Harvest-Related Removals and Transport-Related Emissions of Carbon in the Pisgah State Park, 2008 to – https://www.doi.org/10.18125/v31lrj Primary Transportation carbon costs using custom-built Google Matrix API wrapper (Python) Carbon forecasting dataset estimated sequestration in Above Ground Biomass
Dartmouth College, Second College Grant Harvest Sustainability and Carbon Offset Assessment Provided third-party evaluation of sustainable forest harvesting targets 100-year geospatially optimized growth and yield projections using the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) Generated long-term carbon forecasting dataset and projection forward 40 square miles of managed forest
Research Contributor - Kelty, Matthew J., Anthony W. D'Amato, Paul K. Barten, et al. Beyond the Illusion of Preservation: Towards a More Balanced Approach to the Management of the Public’s Forests. Independent Report supported by USDA’s Renewable Resources Extension Act, 2007. Available Link
Research Experience
USDA Forest Service - Forest recreation, both motorized and non-motorized, is increasing. Different types of recreation place varying levels and types of pressure on forests. These pressures can be concentrated (e.g., mountain bike trails) or diffuse (e.g., cutting for ski glades), with potential impacts on forest hydrology, soils, invasive species propagation, wildlife movement, tree regeneration and health. Monitoring and analysis of forest health impacts by recreational activities in the Northeast is limited, but of growing interest to land managers.
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) – Masters Student In association with Dartmouth College, exploratory forest modeling using the FVS Geospatial Modeling exploration of regional carbon sink dynamics Quantifying changes in regional forest stand dynamics Forest inventory data enhancement impacts on Biomass estimation and forecasting
National Science Foundation (REU) – Undergraduate Student Wind-induced mortality modeling using Machine learning and Statistical modeling Database management and cleaning using Microsoft Access and R-Studio
Cooperative Forest Research Unit – Research Assistant Forest summary statistics and figures using R-programming language Controlled thinning research network database manager
Work experience
Data Engineer University of Vermont - Research Staff
06/2022 – present Burlington Vermont
Developed and optimized ETL systems using Python, MySQL, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, and R for data ingestion and transformation processes, significantly reducing manual reporting time and minimizing data processing errors.
Managed and updated the Forest Health Atlas, enhancing interactive geospatial tools using Carto, JavaScript, and PHP with CodeIgniter, improving data accessibility and optimizing the querying of geospatial data resulting in 10% increase in rendering speed.
Utilized Git and GitLab for version control and deployment in a production environment, ensuring smooth and reliable data workflows for the FHM Automated QAQC and Reporting system, , reducing data quality review time by 25% and improving the speed and accuracy of generated reports.
Contributed to Landclass Change Modeling and reporting on land clearing changes in the Northeast (2015-2024), improving the timeliness and precision of land use data delivery to stakeholders.
Leveraged High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments for complex data processing, enabling large-scale analysis without reliance on third-party cloud systems, improving scalability and processing time.
Ensured data governance compliance, managing public and private datasets with strict adherence to data quality, security, and licensing requirements, resulting in more reliable and compliant data management processes.
Data Analyst – Master Associate Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative (FEMC)
06/2020 –2022 Remote Team Member
Primary constituent correspondent and program outreach coordinator
Developed research targets and database standardization and transnational code (python + R)
Managed multiple forms of internal and external data visualization presentations
Research Assistant Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (UVM)
06/2020 –2022 Burlington Vermont
National level ecosystem changes modeling and change analysis (ArcGIS, R)
Summary statistics with target audience comprehension
Interactive dashboard generation using R Shiny
Research Assistant Cooperative Forest Research Unit (CFRC) 06/2018 – 06/2020 Orono Maine
Professional data analysis and summary generation
Dedicated to achieving concise and understandable forest ecosystem metrics
Experience dealing with large datasets and database management
(CFRU) Forestry Field Technician Cooperative Forestry Research Unit
02/2018– 09/2018 Orono Maine
Precise field tree measurements
Proficient data entry and dataset management
Remote fieldwork requiring on-site camping
Rock Wall Manager & Head Wilderness Trip Leader University of Maine Campus Recreation
05/2015 – 06/2019 Orono Maine
Experience in employee management
Led professional development and training initiatives
Advanced medical certification - Current (Wilderness First Responder)
Presentations
Donisvitch, Soren (2023). Northeastern Forest Inventory Network. ESIP. Poster. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23686332.v1
Donsivitch, Soren, Anthony D'Amato, Aaron Weiskittel, Chris Woodall, and Jennifer Pontius. Decadal Changes in Forest Adaptability and Vulnerability to Climate, Insects, and Disease. FEMC 2022 Conference, University of Vermont, 2022. Presented by Soren Donsivitch, University of Vermont.
Pontius, J, D’Amato, Weiskittel, A, Duncan, Donisvitch, Soren, J, Kosiba, A, Tait, E, Cooper, C (2021). FEMC Working Session - New England Forest Inventory Network (NEFIN) Working Session. 2021 Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative Conference (PowerPoint Presentation). Virtual conference presentation. Dec 17.
Donisvitch, Soren, Pontius, J, D’Amato, Weiskittel, A, Duncan, J, Kosiba, A, Tait, E, Cooper, C (2020). The applications and utility of a unified continuous forest inventory network in the Northeastern United States. 2020 Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative Conference (PowerPoint Presentation). Virtual conference presentation. Dec 17.
Donisvitch, Soren, J, D’Amato, C, Littlefield (2020). Second College Grant FVS Report 2020, Forest Harvesting Sustainability Assessment. Remote Presentation (PowerPoint Presentation) Given to the Second College Grant Management Committee. Remote, August, 28.
Donisvitch, Soren, Weiskittel, A. (2019). Site factor influence on wind-induced mortality in pre-commercial and commercially thinned Spruce-Fir stands in Maine. University of Maine Research Capstone Presentations (PowerPoint Presentation). Bangor, ME. April 10.
Donisvitch, Soren, Weiskittel, A., Pekol, J. (2019). Evaluation of wind-induced mortality for pre-commercial and commercially thinned Spruce-Fir stands in Maine. University of Maine Student Symposium (Poster Presentation). Bangor, ME. April 10.