Mentor Profiles
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 Ryan Buron at rburon@ufl.edu.
For more information please contact Ryan Buron at rburon@ufl.edu.
