Makenzee KING
West Alexander
Summary
Motivated senior at Texas A&M University working toward a BS in Ecology and Conservation Biology. Hardworking individual with hands-on experience in the fishery and conservation field, committed to developing career pathways and perusing a Master's degree in aquaculture or fisheries management.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Hatchery Intern
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
Spearfish, SD
05.2026 - Current
- Wrote and edited scientific papers for publication on a variety of topics including hatchery exercise in steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and feeding trials of walleye (Sander vitreus).
- Stocked and loaded steelhead trout for recreational angling.
- Collected hatchery and experimental data including length, weight, viscerosomatic weight, liver weight, spleen weight, and more.
- Supported staff members in their daily tasks, reducing workload burden and allowing for increased focus on higher-priority assignments.
- Collaborated with others to complete labor-intensive tasks including trenching, concrete laying, landscaping, and more.
Research Assistant
Texas A&M Aquaculture Research
College Station, TX
10.2025 - Current
- Create and distribute diets for trials with variables including glycogen content and protein (amino acid) content to quantify nutritional needs of various fish species.
- Conduct water quality tests including but not limited to pH, temperature, ammonia content, DO content, and primary productivity to ensure health of stock.
- Terminate feeding trials and conduct tissue analyses, including blood, fat, and liver content to determine effectiveness of diets.
- Analyze samples on a dry matter basis for protein, lipid, vitamin, and mineral on both feedstuffs and whole-body samples of feeding trials.
Fishery Intern
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
Webster, SD
05.2025 - 08.2025
- Conducted surveys of local fish populations to gather valuable information about age and structure of populations. Results were reported for anglers.
- Administered field studies and data collection efforts including gill net sampling, frame net sampling, and fish biology.
- Inspected watercraft to allow minimal transmittance of aquatic invasive species (AIS) between water bodies.
- Informed local and visiting boaters on local regulations to mitigate spread of AIS.
- Carried out electrofishing surveys on local species of interest to provide non-lethal data in surveys contributing to population data.
- Backed boats and trailers into water in a safe and efficient manner to allow access of boat ramp to recreational boaters and anglers.
- Measured and counted annuli on otolith samples to accurately age local species of interest.
Café Attendant
Sam’s Club Member Cafe
Washington, PA
05.2024 - 08.2024
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by providing efficient and friendly service in a fast-paced cafe setting.
- Maintained cleanliness of cafe, ensuring a welcoming environment for all guests.
- Collaborated with team members to optimize workflow and cultivate smooth daily operations.
Education
B.S. - Ecology & Conservation Biology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX12-2026
High School Diploma - undefined
McGuffey High School
Claysville, PA06-2023
Skills
- ArcGIS Pro
- Data Collection
- Use of Gill and Frame Nets
- Microsoft Office
- Trailering
- Boating
Accomplishments
- McGuffey FFA Scholarship (2023)
- Claysville Sportsman’s Club Scholarship (2023)
Affiliations
- Texas A&M Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (01/2026-Present)
Certification
- Texas state boater’s education certification (2025)
- ESRI ArcGIS Pro Online Basics Certification (2025)
- Pennsylvania driver’s license (2022)
Timeline
Hatchery Intern
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
05.2026 - Current
Research Assistant
Texas A&M Aquaculture Research
10.2025 - Current
Fishery Intern
South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
05.2025 - 08.2025
Café Attendant
Sam’s Club Member Cafe
05.2024 - 08.2024
High School Diploma - undefined
McGuffey High School
B.S. - Ecology & Conservation Biology
Texas A&M University