Current Research
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1. Animal-mediated carbon cycling in Botswana
We are exploring how livestock and wildlife influence soil carbon in Makgadikgadi National Park and the bordering community rangelands of Central District. Our goal is to improve our understanding of how large herbivore assemblages are distributed on the landscape and mediating soil carbon, in the context of anthropogenic presence and land management practices. Publication in prep PI: Dr. Oswald Schmitz Collaborators: Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana Round River Conservation Studies Elephants for Africa 3. Hurricane impacts on herbaceous plant dynamics in Puerto Rico
We are assessing the combined impacts of hurricanes, historical land use, and environmental covariates on Heliconia distribution (pictured right) in a subtropical montane forest in Puerto Rico. Using long-term ecological data collected from the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot in the Luquillo Experimental Forest LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research Network site), we are assessing trends in Heliconia population dynamics over the past three decades. Publication in prep. PI: Dr. Simon Queenborough Collaborators: University of Puerto Rico, El Verde Research Station Columbia University Susquehanna University University of Florida |
2. Moose impacts on boreal soils in Newfoundland
We are exploring the effects of invasive moose populations on soil carbon as well as relationships with mycorrhizal dynamics at sites across Terra Nova National Park in eastern Newfoundland. Our aim is to understand the indirect pathways and mechanisms through which moose are impacting these ecosystems over time. Publication in prep. PI: Dr. Shawn Leroux, Dr. Oswald Schmitz, Dr. Mark Bradford Collaborators: Memorial University of Newfoundland 4. Mountain gorilla governance: conflict and cooperation in the Greater Virunga Landscape
The endangered mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla dependent on habitat shared by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Rwanda, and Republic of Uganda in the Greater Virunga Landscape. We used a social-ecological systems framework to identify key variables influencing cooperation in the context of ongoing conflict over the past three decades, to inform next steps in species action planning. Publication in prep. PI: Anna Behm Masozera Collaborators: WWF Regional Office for Africa Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration TRAFFIC University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration University of East Anglia |
Previous Research
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1. A new strategy for free-ranging dog population management in India: "Social integration"
My undergraduate thesis at Worcester Polytechnic Institute explored the free-ranging dog (FRD) population of India as a case study to propose a novel "social integration" intervention alongside conventional methods for FRD management. We assessed the feasibility of these methods with three main goals in mind: improve animal welfare, reduce risks to public health, and reduce threats to conservation in both rural and urban contexts. I used field-based survey methods to study FRD population dynamics in West Bengal (east India), conducted semi-structured interviews with residents and researchers to assess attitudes and perceptions of FRD, and designed a system dynamics model to compare conventional FRD management policies with a new social integration pathway. (Publication: FRD system dynamics) PI: Dr. Marja Bakermans, Dr. Khalid Saeed Collaborators: Canines for Disabled Kids Kaziranga National Park Kolkata Police 
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2. Bacterial symbiosis in the human oral microbiome: using metagenomics and transcriptomics to identify gene expression in health and disease
As an NSF-REU student and visiting undergraduate at Harvard University, I conducted research exploring metagenomes and metatranscriptomes from healthy and diseased (periodontitis) patients to understand how bacterial symbiosis affects gene expression via the arginine deiminase pathway. We used a microbial 'omics platform to manually refine and generate metagenome-assembled genomes from various publicly available datasets and assessed differential gene expression between health conditions. Publication in prep. PI: Dr. Colleen Cavanaugh, Dr. Daniel Utter Collaborators: Organismic and Evolutionary Dept., Harvard University Last updated: February 9, 2024 |
