Academic Programs
MS Student, Sustainable Forest Management: Forest Geomatics
Graduate Research Assistant
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Forest Engineering, Resources and Management Department
College of Forestry, Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon, USA
2018 - 2025
GIScience Graduate Certificate
Geography, Environmental Sciences and Marine Resource Management Department
College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon, USA
2018 - 2020
BS Degree, Environmental Science and Policy: Land Use
GIS Minor Degree
Research Technician, Biology Department
Facilities Supervisor, University Recreation and Wellness
Geographical Sciences Department
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland, USA
2008 - 2012
Publications
Matheny C, Stauder C, Nicolato K, Van Gundy J. 2026. King of the Mountain. Nutcracker Notes 48 (2026): In press.
Wing M, Barker M, Nicolato K. 2024. Recovery of an Unoccupied Aircraft System and Recommendations for Avoiding Communication Loss in a Forested Environment. Journal of Geographic Information System 16 (6). 10.4236/jgis.2024.166025
Nicolato K. 2023. Using Drones to Support Five-Needle Pine Conservation. Nutcracker Notes 44 (2023): 20 - 23.
Nicolato K, Van Gundy J, Bohannon M. 2023. Postfire Whitebark Pine Regeneration in Oregon's Strawberry Mountains. Nutcracker Notes 43 (2023): 8 - 13.
Van Gundy J, Bohannon M, Nicolato K. 2021. Pioneering PIAL in the Strawberry Mountains of Eastern Oregon. Nutcracker Notes 41 (2021): 14 - 16.
Polasek L, Bering J, Kim H, Neitlich P, Pister B, Terwilliger M, Nicolato K, Turner C, Jones T. 2017. Marine debris in five national parks in Alaska. Marine Pollution Bulletin 117 (2017): 371 - 379. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.01.085
Presentations, Lectures, Webinars and Posters
Nicolato K. October 2025. Stay Limber: A Backpacking Video Journey to Oregon’s Oldest Trees. Conference presentation. Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation Science and Management Annual Conference. Bozeman, Montana, USA.
Nicolato K. February 2025. High-Elevation Five-Needle (Hi5) Pine Conservation Through UAS and Terrestrial Exploration. Conference poster. Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society and Oregon Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting. Salem, Oregon, USA.
Nicolato K. February 2025. UAS Imaging of Postfire Hydrogeomorphology: Burned Area Response for Private Landowners. Conference poster. Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society and Oregon Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting. Salem, Oregon, USA.
Nicolato K. October 2024. Citizen Conservation of Five-Needle Pines in Oregon’s Blue Mountains and Beyond. Conference presentation. Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation Science and Management Annual Conference. Baker City, Oregon, USA.
Nicolato K. September 2024. UAS and Remote Sensing Advance Asset and Vegetation Management in Sensitive Forest. Conference presentation. Society of American Foresters National Convention. Loveland, Colorado, USA.
Nicolato K. May 2024. Citizen Conservation of High Desert Five-Needle Pines. Conference presentation. Malheur Monitoring and Research Symposium. John Day, Oregon, USA.
Nicolato K. May 2024. Drones and Remote Sensing in Sensitive Forest Habitat. Conference presentation. Malheur Monitoring and Research Symposium. John Day, Oregon, USA.
Nicolato K. May 2024. Whitebark Pine Conservation. Webinar. Fire, Fuels and Density Management Webinar Series. Oregon State University Extension Service. Virtual.
Nicolato K, Kerstens M. November 2023. Forest Mensuration for Wildlife Habitat. Lecture. FOR 321 Forest Mensuration. Forest Engineering, Resources and Management Department, Oregon State University. Corvallis, Oregon USA.
Nicolato K. May 2023. Unmanned Aerial Systems and Hiking Surveys Quantify Whitebark Pine in Oregon’s Strawberry Mountains. Webinar. High-Elevation Five-Needle White Pines: Science and Management Webinar Series. Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation. Virtual.
Nicolato K. February 2023. Big Data and Burned Woodpecker Habitat in Eastern Oregon. Conference presentation. Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Bend, Oregon, USA.
Nicolato K. May 2021. Cloud Automated Lidar Segmentation Quantifies Salvage Logging Effects on Burned Woodpecker Habitat. Conference presentation. Research Advances in Fisheries, Wildlife and Ecology Symposium, Oregon State University. Virtual. Winner, Best MS Talk ($250).
Nicolato K. May 2020. Aerial Lidar Quantifies Snag Retention Treatments in Postfire Woodpecker Habitat. Conference presentation. Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, Oregon State University. Virtual.
Pister, B., E. Kunisch, L. Polasek, J. Bering, S. Kim, P. Neitlich, K. Nicolato. February 2016. Marine Debris Composition on Remote Alaskan National Park Shores. Conference presentation. American Geophysical Union Ocean Sciences Annual Meeting. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Nicolato K. September 2014. Using ArcMap as a Platform to Document Temporal and Spatial Bear Use of Coastal Sites in Katmai National Park. Webinar. National Park Service Alaska Region GIS Division. Virtual.
Nicolato K. April 2012. Examining Pre-15th Century Norse Settlement and Extinction in the North Atlantic from an Environmental Standpoint. Capstone presentation. Geographical Sciences Department, University of Maryland. College Park, Maryland, USA.
Professional Positions
Owner and Contractor-Consultant, Violet Green, operating worldwide based in Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2024 - 2026
Geospatial Analyst and UAS Pilot, Drone Services Team, Davey Resource Group, operating worldwide based in Kent, Ohio, USA 2024 - 2026
Graduate Research Assistant, Aerial Information Systems Laboratory, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2020
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Forest Engineering, Resources and Management Department, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2019 - 2025
Biological Science Technician (GS-7), Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Forest Service, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2018 - 2019
Forestry Technician (GS-7), Malheur National Forest, US Forest Service, John Day, Oregon, USA 2016 - 2019
Crew Lead Biological Science Technician (GS-6), Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, John Day, Oregon, USA 2016 - 2017
Education Specialist, Alaska Peninsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges, National Park Service, King Salmon, Alaska, USA 2015
Biological Science Technician (GS-6), Katmai National Park and Aniakchak National Monument, National Park Service, King Salmon, Alaska, USA 2014 - 2015
Ecologist and GIS Specialist, Montana Natural Heritage Program, University of Montana, Helena, Montana, USA 2013 - 2014
Research Technician, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA 2012
Assistant Director and Instructor, Camp Habitat Nature Education and Ecology Camp, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA 2010 - 2011
Awards
Davey Tree Expert Scholarship, $2,500 The Davey Tree Expert Company 2024
Lee Harris Travel Grant, $500 College of Forestry, Oregon State University 2023
Arborist Community Expert Video Contest, $500 TreeStuff 2022
Dean’s Award for Achievement, $1,500 College of Forestry, Oregon State University 2021
Best MS Talk, $250 Research Advances in Fisheries, Wildlife and Ecology Symposium 2021
Stewart Scholarship, up to $6,700 US Bank 2018 - 2020
Scholarship, up to $2,000 Little Bear Creek Company 2018, 2019
Safety Award Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service 2016, 2017
Extra Effort Award and Certificate of Merit, $500 Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service 2016
Alaska Geographic Award, $1,000 Alaska Pensinsula and Becharof National Wildlife Refuges 2015
Special Thanks for Achievement Award, $500 Katmai National Park and Aniakchak National Monument 2014, 2015
Safety Award Katmai National Park and Aniakchak National Monument 2014
Associations
American Packrafting Association Current
President, Vice President and Secretary, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Oregon State University Chapter 2018 - 2021
Association for Fire Ecology, Oregon State University Chapter 2018 - 2022
Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International Current
Coalition of Graduate Employees, Oregon State University 2018 - 2025
Spatial Data Management Group, Oregon State University 2019 - 2021
Society of American Foresters 2018 - 2025
The Wildlife Society 2019 - 2025
Web Manager and Planning Committee, Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium 2018 - 2021
Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation Current
Internships
Media Intern, Alliance for Community Trees, College Park, Maryland, USA 2012
Sustainable Transit Campaign Intern, The Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, Alexandria, Virginia, USA 2011
Research Technician, Borgia Bowerbird Lab, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA 2011
Caretaker and Interpreter, Wolf Conservation Center, South Salem, New York, USA 2007 - 2009
Volunteer Service
Project Advisor, Adventure Scientists, operating worldwide based in Bozeman, Montana, USA 2025 - 2026
Conservation Educator, Society of American Foresters and US Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers, Oregon, USA 2024
Advisory Board Member, Precision Forestry Cooperative, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA 2023 - 2025
Field Crew, Forest Animal Ecology Lab, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2022 - 2025
Research Mentor, URSA Engage Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2019 - 2020
Field Crew, Forest Health and Five-Needle Pine Protection Programs, Malheur, San Bernardino and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, California and Oregon, USA 2019 - 2026
President, Vice President and Secretary, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Oregon State University Chapter, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2018 - 2021
Web Manager and Planning Committee, Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium, Corvallis, Oregon, USA 2018 - 2021
Instructor, Natural Resource Camp, Oregon State University Extension Service Grant County, John Day, Oregon, USA 2018
Field Crew, Global Observation and Research Initiative in Alpine Environments, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Baker City, Oregon, USA 2018
Master Gardener, Oregon State University Extension Service Grant County, John Day, Oregon, USA 2018 - 2020
Trail Crew, Eastern Oregon Trail Alliance, John Day, Oregon, USA 2017 - 2018
Executive Board Secretary, Creative Life Project Arts Council, John Day, Oregon, USA 2017 - 2020
Gardener and Caretaker, John Day Community Garden, John Day, Oregon, USA 2017 - 2019
Field Crew, Large Mammal Program, Starkey Experimental Forest and Range, US Forest Service, La Grande, Oregon, USA 2017
Field Crew, Native Fish Ecology and Conservation Program, Grand Canyon National Park, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA 2017
Environmental Educator, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA 2010
Trail Crew and Music Leader, Terrapin Trail Club, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA 2008 - 2012
Project Collaborations
Aerial Information Systems Lab, Oregon State University
Alagnak Wild River
Alaska Bird Observatory
Alaska Region GIS Division, National Park Service
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University
Borgia Bowerbird Lab, University of Maryland
Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team
Deschutes Land Trust
Earth Resources and Observation Science Center, US Geological Survey
Elliot State Research Forest
Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Service, Oregon State University
Forest Animal Ecology Lab, Oregon State University
Forest Health Lab, Oregon State University
Forest Health Protection Program, US Forest Service
Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, Oregon State University
Fremont-Winema National Forest
Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments
Grant Soil and Water Conservation District
HJ Andrews Experimental Forest
Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Landscape Fire and Conservation Science Research Group, Oregon State University
Little Bear Creek Company
Malheur National Forest
Management, Algorithms and Remote Sensing Lab, Oregon State University
Montana Natural Heritage Program
National Atmospheric Deposition Program
Native Fish Ecology and Conservation Program, Grand Canyon National Park
Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Forest Service
Private Forests
Private Ranches
Queen Salmon
Research Advances in Fisheries, Wildlife and Ecology Symposium
Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service
Sara Wolman Designs
Society of American Foresters
Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network
Starker Forests
Starkey Experimental Forest and Range
The Wildlife Society
URSA Engage, Oregon State University
Violet Green
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Western Forestry Graduate Research Symposium
Western Hemlock Dwarf Mistletoe Project
Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation
Willamette National Forest
Wolf Conservation Center