OLGA KOVALCHUK, M.Sc., G.I.T.

I am a self-driven geoscientist with a comprehensive background in GIS, petroleum geology, environmental sciences and computer programming.

RESUME

 
 

Education

MSc, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

2017
University of Alberta

BSc, Honors in Geology

2014
First Class Honors, University of Alberta

Computer Systems Technology Diploma

2009
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Work & Teaching Experience

GIS Specialist

Sept. 2017 - Present
Forsite Consultants Ltd.

  • Providing support to land development and resource management projects that utilize GIS.

  • Developing custom script tools in Python that automate data processing workflows.

  • Web-mapping using ArcGIS Online, Portal, REST, Web AppBuilder, ArcGIS API for Java Script.

Teaching Assistant

Jan. 2015 - Apr. 2017
University of Alberta

  • Advanced Geobiology (EAS 460/560)

  • Advanced Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Basins (EAS 462/562)

  • Petroleum Systems and Subsurface Methods (EAS 364)

  • Recipient of the 2017 Graduate Student Teaching Award

Research Assistant - Ichnology Research Group

Sept. 2014 - Apr. 2017
Dr. Murray Gingras, University of Alberta

  • Conducted fieldwork in the Belt-Purcell Basin, which included regional mapping, measuring outcrop sections, and interpreting sedimentary structures and microbial horizons.

  • Prepared and delivered 15 minute oral presentations at the Vancouver GSA Conference (2014), the University of Alberta ATLAS Research Symposium (2016), and the Calgary AAPG Conference (2016).

Research Assistant - Ecology and Remote Sensing

May. 2013 - Aug. 2014
Dr. John Gamon, University of Alberta

  • Designed experiments that involved remote monitoring of plant physiology using optical sensors.

  • Automated NDVI/PRI calculations and averaging using Python scripts and Excel macros.

Resource Management Technician

May. 2012 - Aug. 2012
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology

  • Produced and edited maps of Alberta’s historical, paleontological and archeological resources using ArcGIS 10.0 for Desktop (ArcMap and ArcCatalog).

  • Produced and maintained geospatial data, georeferenced unprojected drawings.

Volunteering

QGIS-2-web Plugin Contributor

Apr. 2017 - Present
GitHub

  • Debugging and improving functionality of the QGIS-2-web plugin.

  • Contributing to the open source code (Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, OpenLayers library).

  • Fixes include: getting clustering to work correctly for point features, getting popups with info to display correctly for clustered and non-clustered layers.

Gardening Volunteer

Apr. 2016 - Present
Prairie Urban Farm, Edmonton, AB

  • Performing gardening duties in a team environment and participating in produce sales.

Publications


Kovalchuk, O., Owttrim, G. W., Konhauser, K. O., Gingras, M. K. (2017). Desiccation cracks in siliciclastic deposits: Microbial mat-related compared to abiotic sedimentary origin. Sedimentary Geology, 347, 67-78.

Warchola, T. J., Flynn, S. L., Robbins, L. J., Liu, Y., Gauger, T., Kovalchuk, O., …, Konhauser, K. O. (2017). Field- and Lab-Based Potentiometric Titrations of Microbial Mats from the Fairmont Hot Spring, Canada. Geomicrobiology Journal (advanced online publication).

Gamon, J. A., Kovalchuk, O., Wong, C. S., Harris, A., Garrity, S. R. (2015). Monitoring seasonal and diurnal changes in photosynthetic pigments with automated PRI and NDVI sensors. Biogeosciences, 12(13), 4149-4159.



Awards

  • Graduate Student Teaching Award, University of Alberta

2017

  • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship (Master's), University of Alberta

2014, 2015

  • The Dr. Sam Nelson Undergraduate Scholarship in Geology, University of Alberta

2013

  • Jason Lang Scholarship, University of Alberta

2012, 2011, 2013

  • Bill Elder Scholarship in Geology, University of Alberta

2012

  • University of Alberta Undergraduate Scholarship, University of Alberta

2012

  • The Darol and Evelyn (nee Linke) Wigham Scholarship, University of Alberta

2011
GIS & Remote Sensing

  • Good working knowledge of ArcGIS and QGIS environments.

  • Knowledgeable in configuring and maintaining shapefiles, geodatabase, CAD, tiff and CSV files.

  • Experience with georeferencing unprojected drawings.

  • Good understanding of cartographic principles and experience producing topologically correct and visually appealing maps.

  • Ability to write Python scripts and construct SQL queries.

  • Experience with web mapping using the OpenLayers library (JavaScript, GeoJSON, HTML, CSS).

  • Proficient in field mapping of geological units using a portable GPS device.

  • Experience working with large, remote sensing datasets, and automating NDVI, PRI calculations with Python scripts.

  • Good understanding of plant physiology, remote sensing techniques and vegetation indices.

Petroleum Geology

  • Strong understanding of sedimentology, stratigraphy and petroleum systems within the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin.

  • Proficient in logging core, including accurate ichnological and sedimentological observations.

  • Proficient in interpreting and correlating seismic and well log cross-sections using the sequence stratigraphic approach (worked as a Teaching Assistant for the Advanced Sequence Stratigraphy Lab for 8 months).

  • Extensive field work experience, including MSc field mapping in Montana, completion of 3 field schools and participation in field seminars around Canada and USA.

  • Participation in the Imperial Barrel Competition, including hydrocarbon evaluation using 3-D seismic and well log datasets in Petrel.

  • Proficiency in geoSCOUT and Surfer (working as a Teaching Assistant for the Petroleum Geology Lab for 8 months).

Environmental Sciences

  • Completion of relevant courses, including Hydrogeology, Contaminant Hydrogeology, Advanced Environmental Geochemistry, Advanced Geomicrobiology and others.

  • Ability to interpret and model geochemical datasets and contaminant plumes using PHREEQC and Hydra/Medusa software.

  • Familiarity with Phase I, II and III ESAs and the Alberta Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines.

  • Experience testing ang managing mold and/or asbestos containing materials in compliance with OH&S.

  • Experience making detailed field observations and conducting lab experiments, focusing on the interactions of mat building bacteria with sediment.

  • Experience performing potentiometric titrations of microbial mats.