Elizabeth Sellers
Elizabeth is currently the Data Management Support Director at the USGS California Water Science Center. She has a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in botany, having studied compensatory growth and ecophysiology in the non-native invasive Zizyphus mauritiana Lam. tree in Australia.
Elizabeth first worked with the USGS in 2002 as a web content manager for the Invasive Species Science Program, through the agency's Volunteer for Science Program. She has expertise in invasive species and pollinators bioinformatics; data management; data and metadata standards development, and software design and development.
Professional Experience
- 2024-present: Director, Data Management and Support, USGS California Water Science Center
- 2020-2023: Data Manager and Scrum Manager, USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis Program, Core Science Systems Mission Area
- 2020-2021: Data Governance Policy Working Group, Department of Interior
- 2018-2022: Native Bee Monitoring Working Group, United States Department of Agriculture
- 2016-2023: Data Development Specialist, Integrated Taxonomic Information System, USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis Program, Core Science Systems Mission Area
- 2016-2023: Pollinator Working Group, United States Department of Agriculture
- 2016-2023: USGS Liaison, Federal Committee, Plant Conservation Alliance, USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis Program, Core Science Systems Mission Area
- 2009-2019: Application Development Coordinator, USGS Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation, Core Science Systems, Analytics and Libraries Program, Core Science Systems Mission Area
- 2009-2015: Steering Committee, United States Virtual Herbarium
- 2007-2023: Steering Committee, North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
- 2007-2011: Manager, Pollinators and Botany Projects, USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure Program, Office of Bioinformatics
- 2004-2011: Assistant Coordinator, Invasive Species Information Node, USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure Program, Office of Bioinformatics
- 2004: Assistant Coordinator, Global Invasive Species Information Network, USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure Program, Office of Bioinformatics
- 2003: Senior Naturalist, Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge, Environmental Education Center, Fort Belvoir
- 2002: Biological Intern, Institute for Bird Populations
- 2002: Technical Writer, Altarus, Inc.
- 2000-2001: Software Quality Assurance Analyst, TecSec Inc.
- 1999-2000: Quality Assurance Analyst and Technical Recruiter, Metron Inc.
- 1997-1999: Web Content Manager, Michael Round Fine China
- 1996: Assistant Research Publications Officer, Cooperative Research Center for the Sustainable Development of Tropical Savannas, Australia
- 1996: Herbarium Technician, James Cook University Herbarium, Australia
Education & Certifications
- Associate’s Certificate, Project Management, George Washington School of Business and Public Management
- Professional Education Certificate, Geographic Information Systems, George Mason University
- BSc (Honors), Botany, James Cook University, Australia
- BSc, Tropical Botany and Geomorphology, James Cook University, Australia
Science and Products
Assessing the value and usage of data management planning and data management plans within the U.S. Geological Survey Assessing the value and usage of data management planning and data management plans within the U.S. Geological Survey
As of 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fundamental Science Practices require data management plans (DMPs) for all USGS and USGS-funded research. The USGS Science Data Management Branch of the Science Analytics and Synthesis Program has been working to help the USGS (Bureau) meet this requirement. However, USGS researchers still encounter common data management-related challenges...
Authors
Madison Langseth, Elizabeth Sellers, Grace Donovan, Amanda Liford
Towards a U.S. national program for monitoring native bees Towards a U.S. national program for monitoring native bees
North America has more than 4000 bee species, yet we have little information on the health, distribution, and population trends of most of these species. In the United States, what information is available is distributed across multiple institutions, and efforts to track bee populations are largely uncoordinated on a national scale. An overarching framework for monitoring U.S. native...
Authors
Hollis Woodward, Sarah Federman, Rosalind James, Bryan Danforth, Terry Griswold, David Inouye, Quinn McFrederick, Lora Morandin, Deborah Paul, Elizabeth Sellers, James Strange, Mace Vaughan, Neal Williams, Michael Branstetter, Casey Burns, James Cane, Alison Cariveau, Daniel Cariveau, Anna Childers, Christopher Childers, Diana Cox-Foster, Elaine Evan, Kelsey Graham, Kevin Hackett, Kimberly Huntzinger, Rebecca Irwin, Shalene Jha, Sarah Lawson, Christina Liang, Margarita Lopez-Uribe, Andony Melathopoulos, Heather Moylett, Clint Otto, Lauren Ponisio, Leif L Richardson, Robyn Rose, Rajwinder Singh, Wayne Wehling
USGS enterprise tools for efficient and effective management of science data USGS enterprise tools for efficient and effective management of science data
The Science Data Management Branch (SDM) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides data management expertise and leadership and develops guidance and tools to support the USGS in providing the nation with reliable scientific information on the basis of which to describe the Earth. The SDM suite of tools supports the USGS Data Management Lifecycle by facilitating quality assurance...
Authors
Vivian Hutchison, Amanda Liford, Ricardo McClees-Funinan, Lisa Zolly, Drew Ignizio, Madison Langseth, Brandon Serna, Elizabeth Sellers, Leslie Hsu, Tamar Norkin, Marcia McNiff, Grace Donovan
National protocol framework for the inventory and monitoring of bees National protocol framework for the inventory and monitoring of bees
This national protocol framework is a standardized tool for the inventory and monitoring of the approximately 4,200 species of native and non-native bee species that may be found within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). However, this protocol framework may also be used by other organizations and individuals to monitor...
Authors
Sam Droege, Joseph Engler, Elizabeth Sellers, Lee O’Brien
Distribution and floral hosts of Anthophorula micheneri ( Timberlake, 1947) and Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869), (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with new staterecords in Giles and Loudoun counties, Virginia, eastern USA Distribution and floral hosts of Anthophorula micheneri ( Timberlake, 1947) and Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869), (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with new staterecords in Giles and Loudoun counties, Virginia, eastern USA
New collection records for Anthophorula micheneri (Timberlake, 1947) from Loudoun County and other locations in Virginia, USA document an approximately 1,350 km extension of its previously recorded geographic range. New state records for the rarely seen Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869) collected in Giles County and from a blue vane trap in Loudoun County, Virginia add to our knowledge of...
Authors
Elizabeth Sellers, David McCarthy
I3N risk assessment and pathway analysis: Tools for the prevention of biological invasions I3N risk assessment and pathway analysis: Tools for the prevention of biological invasions
Information on invasive alien species from published and unpublished accounts and databases is usually scattered in locations and formats that are not easily accessible. Customized informatics tools for collecting and organizing invasive species information can help resource managers better control biological invasions. The Invasives Information Network (I3N) of the Inter-American...
Authors
Annie Simpson, Elizabeth Sellers
Invasive species information networks: Collaboration at multiple scales for prevention, early detection, and rapid response to invasive alien species Invasive species information networks: Collaboration at multiple scales for prevention, early detection, and rapid response to invasive alien species
Accurate analysis of present distributions and effective modeling of future distributions of invasive alien species (IAS) are both highly dependent on the availability and accessibility of occurrence data and natural history information about the species. Invasive alien species monitoring and detection networks (such as the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England and the Invasive Plant Atlas...
Authors
Annie Simpson, Catherine Jarnevich, John Madsen, Randy Westbrooks, Christine Fournier, Les Mehrhoff, Michael Browne, Jim Graham, Elizabeth Sellers
Essential elements of online information networks on invasive alien species Essential elements of online information networks on invasive alien species
In order to be effective, information must be placed in the proper context and organized in a manner that is logical and (preferably) standardized. Recently, invasive alien species (IAS) scientists have begun to create online networks to share their information concerning IAS prevention and control. At a special networking session at the Beijing International Symposium on Biological...
Authors
Annie Simpson, Elizabeth Sellers, Andrea Grosse, Y. Xie
U.S. Geological Survey 2021 Data Management Planning Survey Results and Analyses U.S. Geological Survey 2021 Data Management Planning Survey Results and Analyses
In 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Science Data Management Team distributed four surveys related to Data Management Plans (DMPs) and Data Management Planning to USGS researchers, data managers and information technologists, Center Directors, and Program Coordinators and Bureau Approving Officials. This data release includes survey results with redactions (to allow survey...
United States Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (US-RIIS) United States Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (US-RIIS)
Introduced (non-native) species that becomes established may eventually become invasive, so tracking introduced species provides a baseline for effective modeling of species trends and interactions, geospatially and temporally. The United States Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (US-RIIS) is comprised of three lists, one each for Alaska (AK, with 532 records), Hawaii (HI, with...
A comprehensive list of non-native species established in three major regions of the United States: Version 3.0 A comprehensive list of non-native species established in three major regions of the United States: Version 3.0
Invasive species are a subset of non-native (or nonindigenous) species, and knowing what species are non-native to a region is a first step to managing invasive species. This is an update to the dataset "First comprehensive list of non-native species established in three major regions of the United States" supporting a USGS Open File Report by the same name published on 2018-10-17...
GBIF-US GBIF-US
Species observations for the United States and Territories.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
The ITIS mission is to communicate a comprehensive taxonomy of global species that enables biodiversity information to be discovered, indexed, and connected across all human endeavors. Use the ITIS search, download, API, and web tools as a standardized reference of scientific names and their taxonomic hierarchy.
Science and Products
Assessing the value and usage of data management planning and data management plans within the U.S. Geological Survey Assessing the value and usage of data management planning and data management plans within the U.S. Geological Survey
As of 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fundamental Science Practices require data management plans (DMPs) for all USGS and USGS-funded research. The USGS Science Data Management Branch of the Science Analytics and Synthesis Program has been working to help the USGS (Bureau) meet this requirement. However, USGS researchers still encounter common data management-related challenges...
Authors
Madison Langseth, Elizabeth Sellers, Grace Donovan, Amanda Liford
Towards a U.S. national program for monitoring native bees Towards a U.S. national program for monitoring native bees
North America has more than 4000 bee species, yet we have little information on the health, distribution, and population trends of most of these species. In the United States, what information is available is distributed across multiple institutions, and efforts to track bee populations are largely uncoordinated on a national scale. An overarching framework for monitoring U.S. native...
Authors
Hollis Woodward, Sarah Federman, Rosalind James, Bryan Danforth, Terry Griswold, David Inouye, Quinn McFrederick, Lora Morandin, Deborah Paul, Elizabeth Sellers, James Strange, Mace Vaughan, Neal Williams, Michael Branstetter, Casey Burns, James Cane, Alison Cariveau, Daniel Cariveau, Anna Childers, Christopher Childers, Diana Cox-Foster, Elaine Evan, Kelsey Graham, Kevin Hackett, Kimberly Huntzinger, Rebecca Irwin, Shalene Jha, Sarah Lawson, Christina Liang, Margarita Lopez-Uribe, Andony Melathopoulos, Heather Moylett, Clint Otto, Lauren Ponisio, Leif L Richardson, Robyn Rose, Rajwinder Singh, Wayne Wehling
USGS enterprise tools for efficient and effective management of science data USGS enterprise tools for efficient and effective management of science data
The Science Data Management Branch (SDM) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides data management expertise and leadership and develops guidance and tools to support the USGS in providing the nation with reliable scientific information on the basis of which to describe the Earth. The SDM suite of tools supports the USGS Data Management Lifecycle by facilitating quality assurance...
Authors
Vivian Hutchison, Amanda Liford, Ricardo McClees-Funinan, Lisa Zolly, Drew Ignizio, Madison Langseth, Brandon Serna, Elizabeth Sellers, Leslie Hsu, Tamar Norkin, Marcia McNiff, Grace Donovan
National protocol framework for the inventory and monitoring of bees National protocol framework for the inventory and monitoring of bees
This national protocol framework is a standardized tool for the inventory and monitoring of the approximately 4,200 species of native and non-native bee species that may be found within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). However, this protocol framework may also be used by other organizations and individuals to monitor...
Authors
Sam Droege, Joseph Engler, Elizabeth Sellers, Lee O’Brien
Distribution and floral hosts of Anthophorula micheneri ( Timberlake, 1947) and Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869), (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with new staterecords in Giles and Loudoun counties, Virginia, eastern USA Distribution and floral hosts of Anthophorula micheneri ( Timberlake, 1947) and Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869), (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), with new staterecords in Giles and Loudoun counties, Virginia, eastern USA
New collection records for Anthophorula micheneri (Timberlake, 1947) from Loudoun County and other locations in Virginia, USA document an approximately 1,350 km extension of its previously recorded geographic range. New state records for the rarely seen Hylaeus sparsus (Cresson, 1869) collected in Giles County and from a blue vane trap in Loudoun County, Virginia add to our knowledge of...
Authors
Elizabeth Sellers, David McCarthy
I3N risk assessment and pathway analysis: Tools for the prevention of biological invasions I3N risk assessment and pathway analysis: Tools for the prevention of biological invasions
Information on invasive alien species from published and unpublished accounts and databases is usually scattered in locations and formats that are not easily accessible. Customized informatics tools for collecting and organizing invasive species information can help resource managers better control biological invasions. The Invasives Information Network (I3N) of the Inter-American...
Authors
Annie Simpson, Elizabeth Sellers
Invasive species information networks: Collaboration at multiple scales for prevention, early detection, and rapid response to invasive alien species Invasive species information networks: Collaboration at multiple scales for prevention, early detection, and rapid response to invasive alien species
Accurate analysis of present distributions and effective modeling of future distributions of invasive alien species (IAS) are both highly dependent on the availability and accessibility of occurrence data and natural history information about the species. Invasive alien species monitoring and detection networks (such as the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England and the Invasive Plant Atlas...
Authors
Annie Simpson, Catherine Jarnevich, John Madsen, Randy Westbrooks, Christine Fournier, Les Mehrhoff, Michael Browne, Jim Graham, Elizabeth Sellers
Essential elements of online information networks on invasive alien species Essential elements of online information networks on invasive alien species
In order to be effective, information must be placed in the proper context and organized in a manner that is logical and (preferably) standardized. Recently, invasive alien species (IAS) scientists have begun to create online networks to share their information concerning IAS prevention and control. At a special networking session at the Beijing International Symposium on Biological...
Authors
Annie Simpson, Elizabeth Sellers, Andrea Grosse, Y. Xie
U.S. Geological Survey 2021 Data Management Planning Survey Results and Analyses U.S. Geological Survey 2021 Data Management Planning Survey Results and Analyses
In 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Science Data Management Team distributed four surveys related to Data Management Plans (DMPs) and Data Management Planning to USGS researchers, data managers and information technologists, Center Directors, and Program Coordinators and Bureau Approving Officials. This data release includes survey results with redactions (to allow survey...
United States Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (US-RIIS) United States Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (US-RIIS)
Introduced (non-native) species that becomes established may eventually become invasive, so tracking introduced species provides a baseline for effective modeling of species trends and interactions, geospatially and temporally. The United States Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (US-RIIS) is comprised of three lists, one each for Alaska (AK, with 532 records), Hawaii (HI, with...
A comprehensive list of non-native species established in three major regions of the United States: Version 3.0 A comprehensive list of non-native species established in three major regions of the United States: Version 3.0
Invasive species are a subset of non-native (or nonindigenous) species, and knowing what species are non-native to a region is a first step to managing invasive species. This is an update to the dataset "First comprehensive list of non-native species established in three major regions of the United States" supporting a USGS Open File Report by the same name published on 2018-10-17...
GBIF-US GBIF-US
Species observations for the United States and Territories.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
The ITIS mission is to communicate a comprehensive taxonomy of global species that enables biodiversity information to be discovered, indexed, and connected across all human endeavors. Use the ITIS search, download, API, and web tools as a standardized reference of scientific names and their taxonomic hierarchy.