2022 Awards
USGS MD-DE-DC Water Science Center 2022 Awards
Every year, the USGS Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center hands out awards to employees and teams for their outstanding contributions to our center. Their selfless dedication, scientific excellence, and work ethic bring great credit upon themselves and the U.S. Geological Survey, and truly uphold the USGS motto, "Science for a changing world."
🏆 Employee of the Year – Dr. Michelle Lorah 🏆
In recognition of her outstanding scientific and leadership contributions to the mission of the USGS Maryland-Delaware-Washington D.C. Water Science Center, Dr. Michelle Lorah is awarded the Employee of the Year.
Dr. Lorah provides outstanding scientific leadership within the Center. As a renowned scientist and prolific published author, her research is recognized nationally. Dr. Lorah is regularly sought out by other USGS Centers and Mission Areas, as well as other Federal and non-federal organizations, for her expertise in bioremediation.
She also provides scientific leadership by mentoring early career scientists working on fate and bioremediation projects, always making time to answer questions and offer guidance. In addition, she is a leader within the Center for developing new work related to her area of expertise.
Dr. Lorah’s selfless dedication, scientific excellence, work ethic, program development and mentoring of staff bring great credit upon herself and the U.S. Geological Survey.
🏆 Project of the Year Award 🏆
The Chesapeake Bay Delmarva (Eastern Shore) BMP Stream Project was successfully managed and executed by a team of Hydrologic Technicians. The team installed stream-stage equipment at 30 sites, and efficiently collected water-quality samples and discharge measures for 30 stream reaches during two separate synoptics which occurred in the spring and summer of 2022 and includes the management of the resultant data.
The equipment installation and sample and discharge data collection were accomplished during some very adverse weather conditions and frequently required changing priorities due to unpredictable weather and the resultant streamflow conditions. The entire team pitched in to successfully complete the project's sample and discharge requirements, which often necessitated last-minute changes to landowner permissions and sampling schedules.
Congratulations to Brenda Majedi, Tristan Mohs, Erica Warner, Brett McFarland, Jim Broadwater, Tyler Bowser, Michael Brownley, Sam Woomer, Ashley Melvin, Tony Tallman, Jacob Mavrogeorge, and Dave Brower on this award. Their contributions, selfless dedication, commitment to teamwork, and ability to meet project goals under adverse conditions bring great credit upon them, the Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Photos from Nassawango Creek, one of the sites from the project.
BMP = Best Management Practices
🏆 Best Publication Award 🏆
In recognition of outstanding research contributions to the mission of the USGS and the interests of cooperating agencies, Emily Majcher and USGS coauthors Trevor Needham, Michelle Lorah and Ellie Foss, are granted the USGS Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center 2022 Publication of the Year, for “Refining Sources of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Back River Watershed, Baltimore, Maryland, 2018–2020” published as a USGS Series report in February 2022.
Comparing results from innovative sampling methods to results from previous studies, this publication characterized the inputs of PCBs from various sources to several streams, refining the current understanding of PCB occurrence and movement and improving the conceptual site model of PCBs in Back River. Study findings can be used to inform mitigation approaches in Back River and demonstrated a sampling strategy and methods that can be implemented in other watersheds and in municipal separate storm sewer systems to address legacy PCB contamination.
🏆 Innovation Award 🏆
In recognition of their outstanding innovation contribution to the mission of the USGS Maryland-Delaware-Washington D.C. Water Science Center, Tristan Mohs and A.J. Greise are granted the 2022 Innovation Award.
Mr. Mohs and Mr. Greise took great initiative to research new surveying equipment for the Center including researching equipment types and purchasing options, acting as a point of contact for the new equipment, including training other employees to use it. Tristan and A.J.’s innovative ideas and initiative bring great credit upon themselves, the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
🏆 Program Development Award 🏆
In recognition of outstanding leadership contributions to the mission of the USGS Maryland-Delaware-Washington D.C. Water Science Center, Michelle Lorah and Emily Majcher are granted a 2022 Program Development award.
Dr. Lorah and Ms. Majcher have taken the lead on program development with the Fate and Bioremediation Team, bringing in numerous projects to include groundwater and surface water studies at Joint Base Andrews, a study at the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant, additional work at the Delaware City Superfund site and Cannon Air Force Base, among other funding for continuing studies.
Michelle and Emily also serve on inter-office and inter-agency committees that bring visibility and study opportunities to the Center. Their program development skills bring great credit upon themselves, the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
🏆 Efficiency Award 🏆
In recognition of his outstanding efficiency contributions to the mission of the USGS Maryland-Delaware-Washington D.C. Water Science Center, Todd Lester is being granted the 2022 Efficiency Award.
Todd Lester created a method to update the status of our Center's water-quality, groundwater, and surface-water records daily. Mr. Lester created scripts that pull information from three sources: the RMS Status of Records, the CRP Status, and the RMS Recent Actions text files, to create Excel sheets which provide the data analysis, approval, and audit status of every site and of every parameter for every one of our Center's sites. Technicians can now view their CRP status daily on an easy-to-use spreadsheet, rather than weekly using older methods. The ability to view the status of our data records assists our staff immensely with the assessment of priorities and has helped greatly in improving the Center's CRP status. Mr. Lester’s innovative ideas and initiative bring great credit upon himself, the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
🏆 Best Mentor/Teacher Award 🏆
In recognition of his outstanding leadership contributions to the mission of the USGS Maryland-Delaware-Washington D.C. Water Science Center, Michael Wieczorek is awarded the 2022 Best Mentor/Teacher award.
In addition to his assigned duties, Mr. Wieczorek selflessly makes time to mentor and assist fellow employees. This past year, he has introduced newer employees to new data types, code languages, data storage solutions, and data processing techniques. He goes the extra mile to help newer employees connect with new people, answering questions and solving problems, offers friendship and makes the office a welcoming place for newer employees.
Mr. Wieczorek’s mentoring skills bring great credit upon himself, the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
🏆 JEDI Award 🏆
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the mission of the USGS Maryland-Delaware-Washington D.C. Water Science Center, Durga Ghosh is awarded the 2022 JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) award.
Ms. Ghosh has made numerous contributions to the Center’s JEDI team and has also made significant contributions to the Northeast Region DEIA committee and serves as the Center’s peer support worker.
She has done an excellent job of ensuring that the Center is informed of opportunities and resources to support JEDI activities. Ms. Ghosh’s commitment to JEDI principles brings great credit upon herself, the Maryland-Delaware-DC Water Science Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey.