More About Me
I am currently working towards my PhD in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). I am co-advised by Dr. Shizuka in the School of Biological Sciences and Dr. Jamilynn Poletto in the School of Natural Resources, and I am supported by a National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT), which is a program that educates students about resilience theory in agroecosystems. My research focuses on how culturally transmitted behavioral traits affect ecosystem resilience at multiple scales of biological organization. I am currently building simulations to test various aspects of cultural transmission and population dynamics, as well as testing broad aspects of social and environmental factors on spatial use of Asian elephants (Elaphus maximus) and golden-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla).
Prior to accepting a PhD position at UNL, I worked for Dr. Shizuka, managing a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) bird feeder project at the Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. This ongoing project uses feeders outfitted with RFID antennas and data loggers (pictured left) to study the winter ecology of birds that participate in mixed-species flocks. I built a weather station controlled by an Arduino Uno to collect fine-scale weather data on-site in conjunction with the RFID feeders. Using the weather station and RFID feeders, I asked questions about the effects of weather on feeding rates of RFID-tagged birds. We also investigated whether birds with similar foraging activity are more connected in a social network (manuscript coming soon!).
While finishing my BS at UNL, I spent two years working for Dr. Fontaine at the Nebraska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit (NECFWRU). A large portion of my work at NECFWRU included pheasant and hunter research in Nebraska. I also worked with the Nebraska Canid Project, managing camera trap data and writing a formal research paper for my Cabela's-funded research project on the effects of weather and length of deployment on camera trap detection of coyotes—see it in the June issue of Wildlife Society Bulletin!
Some of my broad research interests include: individual variation in social behaviors, the evolution and function of social groups and pair bonds, social network structure, the effects of anthropogenic change on ecosystem structure and function, and the effects of climate change on animal movement and behavioral plasticity.
In my spare time, I draw animals and play music. Below are some of my final illustration pieces from a Science Illustration course I took at UNL.
Prior to accepting a PhD position at UNL, I worked for Dr. Shizuka, managing a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) bird feeder project at the Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. This ongoing project uses feeders outfitted with RFID antennas and data loggers (pictured left) to study the winter ecology of birds that participate in mixed-species flocks. I built a weather station controlled by an Arduino Uno to collect fine-scale weather data on-site in conjunction with the RFID feeders. Using the weather station and RFID feeders, I asked questions about the effects of weather on feeding rates of RFID-tagged birds. We also investigated whether birds with similar foraging activity are more connected in a social network (manuscript coming soon!).
While finishing my BS at UNL, I spent two years working for Dr. Fontaine at the Nebraska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit (NECFWRU). A large portion of my work at NECFWRU included pheasant and hunter research in Nebraska. I also worked with the Nebraska Canid Project, managing camera trap data and writing a formal research paper for my Cabela's-funded research project on the effects of weather and length of deployment on camera trap detection of coyotes—see it in the June issue of Wildlife Society Bulletin!
Some of my broad research interests include: individual variation in social behaviors, the evolution and function of social groups and pair bonds, social network structure, the effects of anthropogenic change on ecosystem structure and function, and the effects of climate change on animal movement and behavioral plasticity.
In my spare time, I draw animals and play music. Below are some of my final illustration pieces from a Science Illustration course I took at UNL.