From Rabbits to Research: Samantha Kremidas Finds Her Niche at Battelle

For Samantha Kremidas, the journey to a thriving career in ecological science began with a love for animals. Growing up, she knew she wanted to work with animals in some way but found her calling beyond the walls of veterinary clinics.

“One of my favorite high school marine biology teachers introduced me to the idea of pursuing work in the fields of wildlife management and ecology,” Kremidas recalls. “It seemed like the perfect fit.”

This idea set the stage for a dynamic career path and journey. As a Program Analyst for the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), an ambitious, continental-scale, long-term ecological monitoring program funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and managed by Battelle, she leads NEON Sample Analysis. It’s a job that delves into the vast array of sample collection logistics across the network. After more than 10 years with NEON, she knows the ins and outs of the Observatory and is looking forward to what comes next with Battelle.

Finding a Path in Ecology, and Across the U.S.

Kremidas’s career in ecology has been as diverse as the ecosystems she has worked in. From trapping cottontail rabbits for research with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to managing field teams in Colorado, she has embraced every opportunity to work hands-on with wildlife. “I had some of the most fun when I worked trapping rabbits,” she shares. “Accidentally capturing skunks and raccoons really keeps you on your toes.”

As an undergraduate, Kremidas worked with the Wildlife Society at the University of Connecticut and accompanied the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as they monitored collared black bears and their cubs (2012).

Originally from Connecticut, her career led her far from home. After graduating from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in wildlife management, Kremidas accepted a seasonal field position in 2014 with NEON in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. NEON was in its infancy at the time—it was the very first season of operations in NEON’s Domain 08, the ecoregion of the Ozarks Complex in the southern United States, one of NEON’s 20 Domains.

“I packed up my car fully expecting it to be a six-month position,” Kremidas says, “but that clearly was not the case! At the end of that season, I then accepted a role as a full-time fauna ecologist with NEON to assist in starting up the Domain 06 office in Manhattan, Kansas and associated sites.” She trained, led, and supervised 15 seasonal technicians in conducting terrestrial fauna ecology sampling, from small mammal traps to beetle pitfall collection, plus assisting with maintaining NEON instrumentation on the tower and surrounding plots

Kremidas pulls a small mammal from a Sherman Trap for measurements, data collection, and tissue sampling before releasing it as part of the NEON Small Mammal protocol in at the Konza Prairie Biological Station (KONZ) field site in Kansas (2016).

After spending three years with the field team in Kansas, in 2017 Kremidas moved one more state over to manage the fauna field team in Colorado in Domains 10 and 13. “I’ve now been in Colorado for several years—all thanks to NEON,” she says. In Boulder, she’s embraced the outdoor lifestyle, enjoying paddleboarding, biking, camping, and skiing with her fiancé and their dog.

Kremidas setting an off-season NEON mosquito trap in frigid weather in Colorado (2019).

Growing with NEON and Battelle

In 2021, Kremidas moved out of Field Science and to the Project Management team as a Program Analyst II, where she was responsible for managing NEON Research Support Services (formerly the Assignable Assets program) and proposal submissions by NEON Program staff. Earlier in 2024, she accepted her current role as a Program Analyst III and now leads NEON Sample Analysis for the NEON Science Team, working at the intersection of science, collaboration and logistics. She works with NEON field staff across the United States to ensure field sample shipments go smoothly, with the Science Team when they revise analysis requirements, and with contracted external labs to ensure analysis is on track.

“A main responsibility is helping teams spanning departments and external organizations make progress on project tasks amid a sea of competing priorities,” explains Kremidas. “Having clear communication and organization helps to ensure people understand requests made of them and where to find the necessary resources.”

Although the projects and teams she has worked with cover a wide variety of topics, a common task for Kremidas is developing workflows and tools that help improve processes. By creating clear communication channels and organizing resources effectively, Kremidas ensures her teams stay on track.

Motivated by Impact

Kremidas says accepting the seasonal technician role in Alabama in 2014 was a pivotal moment for her, and a challenge. Leaving her home state and stepping outside her comfort zone required courage but ultimately led to a fulfilling career. “I’d recommend early career professionals consider opportunities that push them beyond what they envisioned for themselves,” she advises. “You might discover roles or experiences you hadn’t considered.”

Her transition from fieldwork to project management also posed its challenges but offered valuable insights into her strengths and interests. Collaborating with external researchers, like those working on innovative projects such as integrating iButton sensors into NEON small mammal traps, has been particularly rewarding. “These collaborations make you see the work that NEON does from a whole new perspective,” Kremidas says.

For Kremidas, the most rewarding part of her work is helping people and teams achieve their goals. “I get a lot of satisfaction from setting up systems that make it easier for others to accomplish their tasks,” she says. The feedback she receives fuels her passion for creating efficient workflows and fostering progress.

Up at NEON’s Niwot Ridge (NIWO) field site in the Colorado Rockies, Kremidas hauls electric fencing to deter black bears from disturbing NEON pitfall traps, during her last day with Field Science (2021).

NEON’s mission to make science impactful and accessible deeply resonates with Kremidas. She values the organization’s commitment to outreach and its emphasis on engaging diverse groups, from young students to underrepresented communities. “Science is most effective when it’s accessible to a wide variety of audiences,” she affirms. By working to expand the reach of science, Kremidas contributes to a growing and inclusive scientific community.

What Lies Ahead

Looking to the future, Kremidas is excited about the opportunities to refine and innovate NEON’s sample analysis processes. To address instances where analysis methodologies don’t meet user needs, she collaborates with scientists, field teams, and external labs to find innovative solutions. “Challenges like these offer a chance for creative thinking and collaboration,” she notes.

Through her work at Battelle and NEON, Kremidas exemplifies how passion, adaptability, and teamwork can drive meaningful progress in science. Her story serves as an inspiration to others pursuing careers in STEM, encouraging them to embrace unknown opportunities and contribute to the broader goal of advancing science for the good of society.

Learn more about the NEON program at neonscience.org and Battelle at battelle.org.