Nicole Duca Lechler
Santa Cruz
Summary
Personable and reliable individual with a passion for animal care and creating a positive and educational environment for clients. Knowledgeable about basic animal health and welfare, with skills in handling animals and assisting with medical procedures. Committed to contributing to the well-being of animals and supporting veterinary staff in delivering excellent care. Passionate about expanding skillset while undergoing continuing education in veterinary technology.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Veterinary Assistant
For the Birds DVM
San Jose, CA
03.2025 - Current
- Assisted veterinarians during examinations and procedures, ensuring patient comfort and care.
- Administered medications and vaccinations as directed by veterinary staff, improving treatment adherence.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of clinic facilities, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
- Monitored animal behavior and health status, providing critical information for diagnosis and treatment plans.
- Educated pet owners on proper care and nutrition, fostering healthier lifestyles for animals.
- Recorded medical histories accurately in electronic health records, improving data consistency and access for veterinarians.
- Managed client inquiries and appointments, ensuring efficient scheduling and customer satisfaction.
- Greeted and assisted clients upon arrival, providing exceptional service in a fast-paced environment.
- Processed payments and handled transactions efficiently, contributing to a positive client experience.
- Educated clients on pet health services and products, enhancing knowledge of available treatments.
- Managed multi-line phone system and pleasantly greeted patients.
- Provided compassionate support during difficult situations such as end-of-life decisions or emergency visits, establishing trust with clients.
Great Green Macaw Intern
Macaw Recovery Network
Punta Islita, Costa Rica
12.2023 - 07.2024
- Captive breeding management, parrot husbandry, and breeding bird management
- Aviary design and management
- Diet design and management
- Basic veterinary care
- Capture/handling/transport of birds
- Record keeping
- Tasks/Achievements
Field Biologist
Macaw Recovery Network
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
08.2023 - 12.2023
- Audiomoth installation via single rope access climbing, including battery removal and SD card swap
- Using telemetry to monitor previously released Great Green Macaws during the non-breeding season
- Seed collection and tree nursery maintenance
- Community outreach
- Data entry
- Driving off-road in difficult terrain
- Communicating in Spanish with landowners
Education
Bachelor of Science - Tropical Conservation and Diversity Study Abroad
UCEAP/Monteverde Institute, Costa Rica
06-2022
Bachelor of Science - Tropical Conservation and Diversity Study Abroad
UCEAP/Monteverde Institute, Costa Rica
06-2022
Associate of Science - Veterinary Technician
Penn Foster Career School
Online2027
Skills
- Basic veterinary care
- Patient restraint
- Medication administration (PO, IM)
- Medical record-keeping/charting
- Prescription filling
- Reception duties
- Client education and maintaining client relationships
- Laboratory procedures
- Sample collection
- Cleaning and sanitation protocols
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Multitasking and organization
- JMP, Excel, Microsoft suite proficiency
- Spanish (Intermediate)
- Excellent writing and communication skills
Timeline
Veterinary Assistant
For the Birds DVM
03.2025 - Current
Great Green Macaw Intern
Macaw Recovery Network
12.2023 - 07.2024
Field Biologist
Macaw Recovery Network
08.2023 - 12.2023
Bachelor of Science - Tropical Conservation and Diversity Study Abroad
UCEAP/Monteverde Institute, Costa Rica
Bachelor of Science - Tropical Conservation and Diversity Study Abroad
UCEAP/Monteverde Institute, Costa Rica
Associate of Science - Veterinary Technician
Penn Foster Career School
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Patterns of association and spatial structure among kelp forest species (11/2021)
- Conducted an observational field study comprising of kelp and urchin swaths and fish surveys to assess relationships between species
- All measurements were performed using SCUBA
- Identified algae, invertebrates, and fish to species level
- Ran PCA analysis and concluded there were significant patterns of association or disassociation between species, and that there were distinct groups of associated or disassociated species
Patterns of sea urchin larval recruitment by depth in California kelp forests (12/2021)
- Conducted an observational field study using SCUBA deploying brushes at different depths to count larvae for counting and surveyed 756 quadrats
- Processed brush samples in an ultrasonic bath in seawater and preserved them in ethyl alcohol for analysis
- Performed microscope analysis to determine the number of larval recruits in each brush
- Ran pairwise analysis and an LS Means test to determine that there was a significant relationship between depth and larval distribution
Relative contributions and levels of parental care in Streak-backed Orioles (Icterus pustulatus) during nesting period (05/2022)
- Conducted an observational field study observing five active Streak-backed Oriole nests for 8 hours each (40 hours total)
- Recorded behavior of male and female, including time in/near the nest, time away, time the nest was left unguarded, the nest phase (building, incubation, feeding), vocalization and interaction with potential egg predators
- Entered and analyzed data using Excel and JMP software
- Investigated impact of parental communication on nest success
- Found significant differences in the relative contributions of males and females across the stages of nesting
- Presented findings in a nine minute symposium open to the public at the Monteverde Institute in Costa Rica