It takes more than one person to create research successes. 

I joined the lab as a postdoctoral associate in Fall 2023. I am using high-frequency accelerometer and location data from beef cattle to understand the effects of rangeland management techniques on production and ecosystem changes. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, and completed my undergraduate degree in Zoology with a concentration in Zoo and Aquarium Science at Michigan State University. Afterwards, I spent two years working for a non-profit in Namibia, where I was assigned a mix of cheetah husbandry and fieldwork. My interest in ecological research developed as I moved on to work as a field technician or intern on projects focused on ground squirrels, caracal, and scimitar-horned oryx. I obtained a Master of Science in Natural Resources at the University of Missouri, working with an international team of researchers to investigate how energy expenditure and foraging rates during spring migration were related to breeding deferral in two populations of greater white-fronted geese. From there, I went on to complete my PhD in Ecology at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where I studied rodenticide exposure and demography of fishers in New York. I am broadly interested in quantitative and applied ecology, especially related to conservation and management of terrestrial birds and mammals. I am keenly interested in population modeling and ecological applications of machine learning. In my spare time, I enjoy outdoor adventures, walking my dog, true crime podcasts, and dabbling in arts and crafts. 

I joined the lab in Fall 2023 to study movement ecology of Least Terns and Black Skimmers along the Mississippi coast, in collaboration with Audubon Delta. I am from Knoxville, TN, where I got my start in ecology and ornithology as an undergraduate student in Biological Sciences at the University of Tennessee. I later completed a Master of Science in Biology at Arkansas State University. I have worked on a variety of ecological field research projects, often studying songbird species of conservation concern like Cerulean Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers, and Loggerhead Shrikes. I have also contributed to studies of Northern Bobwhites and secretive marsh birds, as well as other taxa like reptiles, amphibians, and plants. My research interests include species-habitat relationships, population ecology, and spatial aspects of ecology like movements and space use, migration, distributions, and landscape ecology. I am also interested in conducting research that is relevant to conservation efforts. In my free time, I enjoy birding, photography, the outdoors, books, music, coffee, etc.

I joined the lab in summer 2024 as a MSc graduate student. I am researching catfish movement ecology and pond microbiology and do my work at the National Warmwater Aquaculture Center in Stoneville, MS. I am from Jackson, MS, but now I call Starkville home. I graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelors of Science with a concentration in Conservation Biology. I have a special interest in wildlife disease ecology and I have a variety of fieldwork experience including moist soil impoundment ecology; waterfowl ecology and monitoring; bat ecology, acoustic telemetry and capture; and museum specimen preparation and research. I am an active member of The Wildlife Society and the Mississippi Bat Working Group. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my four siblings and my two cats (Jinx and Spooky), hiking and exploring, running, gardening, and reading. Currently, I am working on developing my field journal (@lilysfieldjournal) into a podcast and learning as much as I can to develop my skills as a wildlife biologist and researcher.  

I am entering the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program Fall of 2024 to gain experience and skills with wildlife research. Originally from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, I am a sophomore in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture with a concentration in veterinary medicine. I am a part of the pre-vet club and archery club team at State. I hope to attend Mississippi States College of Veterinary Medicine and specialize in wildlife. My favorite wildlife species is white tailed deer. 

I joined the lab in February 2025. My research focuses on applying machine learning techniques to animal movement, using data-driven approaches to better understand spatial dynamics of Chronic Wasting Disease.

I earned my Master’s in Applied Data Science from New College of Florida, where my final semester included a practicum internship with the USDA, applying machine learning to ecological data. After graduating, I continued this trajectory as an ORISE fellow, working on integrating machine learning techniques to study cervid behavior. This experience marked the beginning of my work in movement ecology and solidified my passion for using data science to address ecological questions. I am broadly interested in quantitative ecology, artificial intelligence applications in wildlife research. Outside of work, I enjoy playing video games, exploring new programming techniques, listening to music, and spending time with my cat.