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Erika Koontz is a dedicated scientist pursuing a Master of Science degree in the Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences program at the University of Maryland, currently serving as a Graduate Research Assistant focused on the effects of constructed sills and living shorelines on aquatic vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay. Previously, Erika worked at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center as a Biological Science Laboratory Technician, contributing to NASA's Carbon Monitoring System through the study of methane emissions in tidal wetlands. Erika's early career includes roles at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science as a Faculty Research Assistant and internships with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, where environmental initiatives were developed, and at various institutions where expertise in GIS, field biology, and environmental research was applied. Erika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Washington College, complemented by minors in Biology and Spanish.