Mentor Profiles
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Molly Tuma - MS - molly.tuma@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Abby Powell Area of emphasis: Quantitative Analysis Work description: My research is on nonbreeding shorebirds wintering on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. I am focusing on estimating baseline population parameters for Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and rufa Red Knots (Calidris canutus rufa) in Florida from a long-term database collected by the US. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Florida Audubon Society. Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Data entry; Identification; GIS; My research is retrospective, so I cannot offer many fieldwork opportunities in relation to my project. However, I do go out to the Panhandle to resight banded shorebirds from time to time and would be happy to bring a student. Affiliated with: Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |
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Peter Monte - MS - pmonte@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Katie Sieving Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Avian ecology, community ecology, Paridae, Mixed-species forest bird aggregations, mobbing, anti-predatory behavior Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume Editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work (Nov 2018 - Jan 2019); Lab work (available through other bird-related opportunities in the Sieving Lab); Data entry (Fall 2018); Acoustic Identification (Fall 2018) Affiliated with: ARCI |
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Thomas Smith - PhD - thomassmith@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Robert Fletcher Area of emphasis: Ecology; Quantitative Analysis Work description: An experimental landscape ecology project using cactus and cactus bugs to explore matrix effects on movement and population dynamics. Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Coursework; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work; Data entry; Identification; GIS |
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Victoria Robbins - DVM (Veterinary school) - vrobbins@ufl.edu
Area of emphasis: Population Medicine Work description: I am a first year veterinary student at UFCVM, planning on working in wildlife conservation medicine after graduation. Mentoring advice: Application development; Pre-veterinary curriculum and advice for admissions; Description and experience at UFCVM; Comparing other veterinary programs; Deciding if a veterinary career is a good fit, pros/cons of the field, etc. |
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Diego Juarez-Sanchez - PhD - adjuarez@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Christina Romagosa Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Riverine predators, invasive species, trophic ecology, Guatemala, Pythons, Everglades. Previous Experience: Neotropical river otter, Jaguars, Margay, Mesoamerican river turtle, Fresh water fish. Countries/study abroad: Guatemala and the US Education: UF M.Sc. 2017 Univeridad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) Lic. 2008 Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for Jobs, Coursework; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Lab work; Image gathering from species Affiliated with: ONCA, USAC Past affiliations: ONCA a Guatemalan NGO. USAC Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, I still been a associate resercher for them. |
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Alexis Cardas - MS - acardas@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Abby Powell Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Studying the impact of translocation on a donor population of Florida scrub-jays in Ocala National Forest. Previous experience: red-cockaded woodpecker; white-headed woodpecker; gopher tortoise; Florida scrub-jay; Southeastern American kestrel; Florida native wildlife rehabilitation Countries/study abroad: UF in Belize Education: University of Florida - B.S. in Biology with minor in WEC Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Volunteering; Research; CV/Resume editing; Coursework; Internships Mentoring activities: Field work (typically in the field full-time from January to beginning of August); Identification; Data entry Affiliated with: Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society Past affiliations: Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge; U.S. Forest Service; Florida Audubon Society |
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Alex Potash - PhD - apotash@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Bob McCleery Area of emphasis: Ecology; Quantitative Analysis Work description: Understanding how predators affect ecosystem process by changing patterns prey behavior Previous experience: Squirrels, mountain lions, bobcats, caracal, jackal, livestock guardian dogs, grassland birds, turtles, small mammals Countries/study abroad: South Africa, Canada Education: University of Vermont, BS Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work; Museum specimen work Past affiliations: National Park Service |
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Alli Smith - MS - allison.smith@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Raoul Boughton Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Looking at nest site selection of a suburban population of burrowing owls in Southwest Florida. I also manage a citizen science project called Owl Watch, where residents monitor burrowing owl nests in their community. Volunteer activities: Field work (will need assistance in Spring/Summer 2019) Affiliated with: The Audubon Society |
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Alicia McGrew - PhD - alicia.mcgrew@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Ben Baiser Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: I currently work with a model food web found in the leaves of the carnivorous pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea. I'm broadly interested in using this model system to understand how metrics of community composition and structure vary across space and time. I make use of greenhouse experiments as well as field-based observations and experiments to explore the composition and structure of this food web. My current research is focused on how bottom-up and top-down forces interact to influence body size-abundance distributions of the S. purpurea food web. Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Coursework; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Lab work; Data entry; Identification Affiliated with: SNRE |
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Harrison Jones - PhD - harrisonhjones@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Scott Robinson; Todd Palmer Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Applied behavioral ecology, landscape ecology, avian conservation biology, foraging ecology, tropical ornithology, avian natural history, Andean and tropical montane ecosystems, mixed-species flocks, migratory birds, forest fragmentation. Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work; Data entry Affiliated with: UF Biology Department |
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Lorna McCallister - MS - lmccallister@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Bob McCleery Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Shrub encroachment and elephant presence/absence effects on pollinator communities in southern Africa Previous experience: white-tailed deer; mule deer; suni antelope; elephants; honey bees; wildlife necropsies (mammalian and avian); passerines; turkeys; Florida bonneted bats Countries/study abroad: Sri Lanka; Kenya; South Africa; eSwatini; UF in Kenya Education: UF WEC B.S., Entomology minor (2015) Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing Affiliated with: SNRE; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; UF Center for African Studies Past affiliations: FWC Wildlife Health (Gainesville); Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Save the Elephants (Elephants and Bees Project); Wild Tomorrow Fund; Biologists Without Borders; Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society |
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Mary Vasilevsky - MS - vasilevskymar94@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Sebastian Galindo Area of emphasis: Human Dimensions; Sustainable Development; Outreach/Communication; Environmental Peace-building; Monitoring and Evaluation Work description: I work with an environmental peace-building international NGO in the Middle East to contribute to their environmental education programs. Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing Mentoring activities: Communication; Outreach Affiliated with: SNRE; MDP (Master of Sustainable Development); LATAM (Center for Latin American Studies) |
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Diane Episcopio-Sturgeon - PhD - episcopiod1@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Pienaar Area of emphasis: Human Dimensions Work description: Studying the human dimensions of the non-native pet trade and invasive species. I am using qualitative and quantitative methods to study: 1) public understanding and knowledge of the invasion risk associated with the non-native pet trade; 2) traits of owners of non-native pets and their preferences for non-native pets; and 3) public stakeholder support for management of the non-native pet trade. Focus is on reptiles and amphibians. Previous experience: humans; invasive species; reptiles and amphibians; fox squirrels (tech position); elephants; African hoofstock (zoo internship); red-cockaded woodpeckers (volunteer position) Countries/study abroad: UF study abroad in Belize Education: B.S. in Biology (Natural Sciences focus) from UF; minor in WEC; M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from UF Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Coursework; Internships; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Data entry; Social science quantitative analysis; Survey design; Networking Past affiliations: Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge; Tampa Lowry Park Zoo (internship); Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (volunteer & MS funding); involved with a SESYNC working group |
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Jesse Borden - PhD - jborden@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Luke Flory Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: (1) how arboreal reptiles and amphibians are responding to edge effects in Kenya, (2) how invasive plants and drought alter habitat and foraging behavior in native mice and the subsequent impacts that has on native seed survival, and (3) how urbanization is driving rapid evolution in native and invasive species here in Alachua county. Mentoring advice: Research assistants; Internships; Graduate school; Coursework Mentoring activities: looking for an undergraduate student to take the lead as a research assistant on the rodent project in Gainesville--everything from data collection to writing the paper with me. This opportunity would likely involve getting course credit for the work, and the chance to get authorship on a paper. The research involves 4-6 intensive days of field work at dawn and dusk, 4-6 times throughout the 2019 calendar year. This would include placing baited seed trays out at experimental plots (sorting, stalking, and weighing them) each morning and night. Affiliated with: SNRE |
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Brian Jeffery - PhD - bjeffe01@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Robert Fletcher Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Examining the impacts of climate change on population dynamics. Specifically, I am looking at how snail kite demography are influenced by large scale climate phenomenons such as El Nino. Previous experience: alligators, crocodiles, Florida small mammals, sea turtles, invasive reptiles/amphibians, and snail kites Countries/study abroad: Belize Education: Florida International University - BS; University of Florida- MS Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work; Lab work; Data entry; GIS Affiliated with: Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Past affiliations: USGS; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; South Florida Water Management District; St. Johns River Water Management District |
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Mitch Walters - PhD - mjw246@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Scott Robinson Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: My research aims to look at the consequences of avian community change, due to urbanization, on vocal mimicry in the Northern Mockingbird. Vocal mimicry and song complexity are important indicators of male quality for many species, and a large portion of these repertoires involve copying the vocalizations of other bird species. If avian acoustic diversity declines, so could the complexity of mimicry species' songs, which could in turn affect the survival and evolutionary trajectory for these species. I plan to conduct my research throughout Florida and possibly the Bahamas. Previous experience: Rufous-tailed Jacamar; Hispaniolan woodpecker; black-capped vireo; splendid fairy-wren; as well as several endemic forest birds on the island of Kauai, HI. Countries/study abroad: Australia; China; Peru; Colombia; Dominican Republic Education: University of Florida-M.S. Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work; Data entry Past affiliations: Tropical Conservation and Development Program at UF |
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Renata Diaz - PhD - diaz.renata@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Morgan Ernest Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: The long-term population dynamics of desert rodents; I also do a lot of computational work on rapid transitions in ecological communities and macroecological patterns. Previous experience: rodents; savanna & tropical trees; African mammals Countries/study abroad: Kenya; Tanzania; South Africa; Guam; Northern Marianas Islands Education: Princeton University-BA in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Coursework; CV/Resume editing; Research; Post-grad field jobs Mentoring activities: Field work; Data entry; Identification Affiliated with: SNRE Past affiliations: Mpala Research Centre (Kenya) |
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Andrew Glass - MS - andrewglass@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Pienaar Area of emphasis: Human Dimensions Work description: Examining how wildlife managers and the media discuss wildlife related issues, particularly human-wildlife conflicts. In this project, that involves qualitatively coding newspaper articles on coyotes that have been published over the past ten years to see how newspapers talk about coyotes in Florida. Previous experience: humans Countries/study abroad: Kenya; Tanzania Education: Guilford College-BS in Biology Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Lab work; Data entry Affiliated with: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Past affiliations: Lincoln Park Zoo; The River Project NYC |
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Chris Gulick - PhD - cgulick@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Abby Powell Area of emphasis: Ecology; Quantitative Analysis Work description: Tracking satellite-tagged herons to determine movement and connectivity of wading bird communities within a network of nesting colonies. Previous experience: Lesser prairie-chickens; golden eagles; American kestrels; mottled ducks; mourning doves; Swainson's hawks; multiple grassland plant species Education: Texas Tech University - BS; Kansas State University- MS Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work; Data entry Affiliated with: USGS; Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Society for Range Management; The Wildlife Society Past affiliations: Kansas and Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition; US Fish and Wildlife Service; Natural Resource Conservation Service |
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David Mason - PhD - masond@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Marcus Lashley Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: seed dispersal, vegetation community assembly, fire ecology, mass mortality events Previous experience: Overstory plants, understory plants, aquatic plants, amphibians, Education: MS in biology at Mississippi State University; BA in environmental studies at Stockton University Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Internships; Volunteering; CV/Resume editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work; Lab Work; Data entry; Identification, GIS Affiliated with: NRI, TT Past affiliations: NSF research experience for undergraduates Maggie Jones - PhD - jones.m@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Bob McCleery; Dr. Rob Fletcher Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Interactions between elephants and other large herbivores and trees in African savannas; how antipredator behaviors mediate the effects of herbivores on the landscape Previous experience: feral horses, amphibians Countries/Study abroad: South Africa, eSwatini Education: M.S. Wildlife Ecology - Iowa State University; BS Biology, BA Creative Writing - Denison University Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Coursework; Volunteering, CV/Resume Editing; Research Mentoring activities: Database Management Affiliated with: SNRE |
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Laura Nicholson- MS - lnicholson@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Holly Over Area of emphasis: Ecology; Human Dimensions Work description: I am studying the Florida Bonneted Bat to understand how the foraging and roosting habits of this enigmatic and endangered species are affected by hydrologic restoration work in the Everglades. Previous experience: Bats, pika, raptors, songbirds, bees & general pollinating insects. Countries/Study abroad: Belize, Ecuador Education: Rice University, Bachelor of Science in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Internships; CV/Resume Editing; Research; Mentoring activities: Fieldwork; Data Entry Affiliated with: FWC (Army Corps of Engineers) Past Affiliations: Bee Squad (part of the UMN Bee Lab) ; NPS at Lassen Volcanic National Park (Geoscientists-in-the-parks program) |
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Daniel Catizone- MS - dcatizone@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Christina Romagosa Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: My current research involves mark recapture and habitat occupancy of Diamondback terrapins in the Florida Panhandle. Through my work at USGS, I am also involved in a variety of research projects involving sea turtles. Previous experience: Eastern painted turtles, spotted turtles, and snapping turtles. Previous work with zoological facilities. Education: University of Rhode Island - BS Wildlife Conservation Biology Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Internships; Volunteering, C.V./Resume Editing; Research Mentoring activities: Fieldwork; Labwork; Data Entry; Identification Affiliated with: SNRE; USGS; USFWS; FWC; Florida State Parks; Non-profits; DOD |
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Adrienne Dykstra- PhD - adrienne.dykstra@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Marcus Lashley Area of emphasis: Ecology; Quantitative Analysis Work description: My current research has 3 major parts: The first is using camera traps to measure density and abundance of feral hogs in the Mississippi Delta region before and after aerial gunning. Second, I'm working on validating a new abundance estimator using simulated data for use with open, unmarked populations. And lastly, I'm looking at spatiotemporal behavior changes in feral hogs during times of increased hunting/trapping/aerial gunning and the effects on native species behavior. Previous experience: Bats, ducks, lizards, snakes and small mammals. Education: University of Nevada, BS in Wildlife Ecology; University of Tennessee, MS in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; Internships; Volunteering, CV/Resume Editing; Research Mentoring activities: Data Entry; GIS; R analyses such as overlap Past affiliations: Veterans Administration |
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Ryan Buron- MS - rburon@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Mark Hostetler and Dr. Mike Moulton Area of emphasis: Ecology; Human Dimensions Work description: Examining the impact that urbanization has made on stopover habitat selection of migratory birds. Specifically, I am comparing migratory bird use of urban forest fragments to adjacent residential areas. Countries/Study abroad: Ecuador, Spain Previous experience: Migratory passerines, raptors- specifically Bald and Golden Eagles, grassland birds Education: Saint John's University (MN)- BA in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Volunteering; CV/Resume Editing; Research Mentoring activities: Field work Past affiliations: The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota, The Audubon Society, Western EcoSystem Technologies (environmental and statistical consulting firm) |
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Jack Hartfelder- PhD - jhartfelder@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Bob McCleery Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: My research is centered around hippopotamus distributions and their interactions with other savanna wildlife in Kruger National Park, South Africa. I am also interested in the effects of manipulating water levels in the park and its management implications for hippos. Countries/Study abroad: Thailand, Belize, Eswatini, South Africa Previous experience: Avian communities in Southern Africa. General experience with small mammals; bats; American woodcocks; wildland firefighting; silviculture treatment; habitat evaluation/management Education: University of Tennessee - BS Wildlife and Fisheries Science Mentoring advice: Graduate school; Applying for jobs; Coursework; Internships; CV/Resume Editing Affiliated with: SNRE, The Wildlife Society |
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Arjun Srivathsa- PhD - asrivathsa@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Madan Oli Area of emphasis: Ecology, Quantitative Analysis, Science Communication Work description: Carnivores, tropics, human-carnivore interactions, conservation, population models, management and policy Countries/Study abroad: India Previous experience: tiger, leopard, wild dog, leopard cat, sloth bear, gharial, tropical birds Education: MS in Wildlife Biology and Conservation (NCBS, India) Mentoring advice: CV/Resume Editing; Research; Science Communication Mentoring Activities: Making posters/PPT presentations Past Affiliations: Wildlife Conservation Society - India Affiliated with: SNRE |
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Brandon Parker- MS - brandonparker@ufl.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samantha Wisely Area of emphasis: Ecology Work description: Looking at Torque teno sus virus in wild hogs and the connection between host and viral genetic identity. Also looking at the diversity of viruses within a host and between hosts. Previous experience: wild hog, sea turtles, florida grasshoppper sparrow, white-tailed deer, capybara, nutria, and cattle Education: BS in Animal Sciences from UF Mentoring advice: Grad school; Volunteering; CV/Resume Editing; Research Mentoring Activities: Lab Work; data Entry; Molecular Ecology Past Affiliations: USDA, FWC |
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WGSA is currently taking applications for Mentors! If you are interested in mentoring an undergraduate student, please fill out the form.
For more information please contact Lorna McCallister (lmccallister@ufl.edu) and/or Maggie Jones (jones.m@ufl.edu).
For more information please contact Lorna McCallister (lmccallister@ufl.edu) and/or Maggie Jones (jones.m@ufl.edu).
