Biology and Wildlife Graduate Students
Ben Abbott (Ph.D.)
907.474.6777
Research Interests: Causes and effects of thermokarst formation on the North Slope. Conveying the significance of the science to the general public through writing, song, and outreach.
Brian Allman (M.S.)
Research Interests: I'm interested in studying the relationship between insect and mammalian herbivores and their shared forage species.
Jessica Armstrong (M.S.)
214 WRRB
907.474.1175
Research Interests: Physiological and genetic differences in cold tolerance among populations of Arabidopsis lyrata subspecies kamchatica.
Affiliations: B&W, EPSCoR, Greenhouse, IAB
Jayme Ballantyne (Ph.D.)
907.474.1969
Research Interests: Public Health related viral infection in Alaska
Andrew Balser (Ph.D.)
907.474-6777
Research Interests: Landscape properties and ecosystem processes at local to regional scales; permafrost/vegetation co-development; remote sensing and spatial analysis (GIS).
Dissertation: 'Permafrost Thermodegradational Features in the Foothills of Northern Alaska: Initiation, Distribution and Ecological Associations.'
Andrew (Andy) Baltensperger (Ph.D.)
http://sites.google.com/a/alaska.edu/andy-baltensperger/
419 IRV 1
907.474.7959
Research Interests: Biodiversity and species distribution modeling, Alaska GAP, Stable isotope mapping of small mammals and their communities
Casey Bickford (M.S.)
907.474.6279
Research Interests: Taxonomy and population genetics of Aegialites beetles.
Megan Boldenow (Ph.D.)
907.456.0227
Research Interests: Breeding ecology and conservation of arctic-breeding shorebirds
Bridget (Bee) Borg (M.S.)
118 AHRB
907.474.1844
Research Interests: Wolf ecology, transboundary management and conservation
Casey Brown (Ph.D.)
907.474.7603
Research Interests: Ungulate foraging ecology, human dimensions of wildlife, plant-animal interactions
Anna Bryan (M.S.)
Robert Burgess (Ph.D.)
124 AHRB
Research Interests: Climate Change, Biofuels, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Lignocellulose degredation
Kyle Campbell (M.S.)
244 WRRB
907.474.1195
Research Interests: Ornithology, evolution, phylogenetics and biogeography of the birds of the Philippines
Matthew (Mac) Campbell (Ph.D.)
907.474.1949
Research Interests: Systematics, phylogenetics, and population genetics of fishes. Computational biology.
Cameron Carroll (M.S.)
102 IRV 1
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Moose population dynamics in response to climatic changes
Katie Christie (Ph.D.)
katiechristieresearch.wordpress.com/
418 IRV 1
Research Interests: Interactions between ptarmigan populations and arctic shrub communities, shrub expansion, climate change, avian population dynamics.
Roy Churchwell (Ph.D.)
907.474.6052
Research Interests: Ornithology, feeding ecology, migration, landscape ecology, landscape management
Kevin Colson (M.S.)
417 IRV 1
907.474.7183
Research Interests: Population structure, behaviour, conservation genetics, large game management.
Bonita Dainowski (Ph.D.)
102 IRV 1
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Assessing health trends in marine and terrestrial mammals of Alaska, Toxicology, Stable Isotopes
Russell (Russ) Dennis (M.S.)
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Plant-animal interactions, community ecology
Affiliations: B&W, BNZ-LTER, Greenhouse, IAB
Adam DuBour (M.S.)
307 IRV 1
907.474.6602
Research Interests: Boreal forest waterbird ecology.
Melody Durrett (Ph.D.)
102 IRV 1
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Seabird-derived nutrients, stable isotopes in ecosystem ecology, invasive species on islands
Kathryn Everson (Ph.D.)
907.474.1175
Research Interests: Tenrecidae; Phylogeography
Dashiell Feierabend (M.S.)
408 IRV 1
907.474.7162
Research Interests: Snowshoe hare ecology; predator-prey interactions; animal movement
Rebecca Finger (M.S.)
Research Interests: Nitrogen usage, uptake, and availability along a thermokarst succession.
Dana Fjare (M.S.)
907.474.6777
Research Interests: Carbon and nitrogen cycling in boreal streams
Brandi Fleshman (M.S.)
Entomology Lab Museum
907.474.6279
Research Interests: Faunistics, systematics, ecology and behavior of spiders.
Jeffrey Frederick (M.S.)
Research Interests: Thermoregulatory constraints on mountain goat foraging behavior, drivers of faunal movement, amphibian ecology.
Graham Frye (Ph.D.)
417 IRV 1
907.474.7183
Research Interests: Population dynamics of ptarmigan; population ecology; community ecology; resource selection; avian ecology
Christoff (Buck) Furin (Ph.D.)
907.786.4776
Research Interests: Threespine stickleback, speciation, rapid evolution, perchlorate, ecotoxicology
Monte Garroutte (M.S.)
041 Museum
907.474.1854
Research Interests: Eritrichium (alpine forget-me-not), Aleutian island ecosystems, Seabird islands, Plant biogeography and plant systematics.
Sophie Gilbert (Ph.D.)
417 IRV 1
907.474.7183
Research Interests: Doe and fawn habitat use in Sitka black-tailed deer, and fawn mortality effects of habitat choices. More broadly, population ecology, predator-prey relationships and habitat selection.
Cristina (Nina) Hansen (Ph.D.)
2W06 AHRB
Research Interests: Host pathogen interactions
John Harley (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: Toxicogenomics of mercury accumulation in pisciverous mammals, focusing on gene-environment interactions in marine mammals and humans
Joanne Healy (Ph.D.)
Keiko Herrick (Ph.D.)
118 AHRB
907.474.1844
Research Interests: Predictive modelling of avian influenza
Johanna Herron (Ph.D.)
225 AHRB
907.474.6017
Research Interests: Epigenetics, diabetes, and obesity
Rebecca (Becky) Hewitt (Ph.D.)
132 AHRB
907.474.2652
Research Interests: Ecological interactions between wildfire and treeline.
Affiliations: B&W, BNZ-LTER, Greenhouse, IAB, TFS
Sarah Hopkins (Ph.D.)
214 WRRB
907.474.1175
Research Interests: Orchid/fungi symbiosis
Kimberly (Kim) Iceman (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: Hibernation, Neuroscience
Stephany Jeffers (M.S.)
sites.google.com/a/alaska.edu/stephany-jeffers/
Research Interests: Systematics and distribution of the Spring Beauty Genus, Claytonia, in Alaska.
Kim Jochum (Ph.D.)
907.786.7749
Research Interests: My interests include wildlife ecology, behavior biology, human dimensions and polar research in general. Currently I focus on linking ecological with social sciences to improve brown bear management and conservation strategies in the North.
Nicholas (Nick) Kerhoulas (Ph.D.)
244 WRRB
907.474.1195
Research Interests: Phylogenetics, systematics, taxonomy, and conservation genetics.
Corrine Knapp (Ph.D.)
907.474.7568
Research Interests: I am interested in understanding how humans are adapting and transforming current systems of food production, water supply and conservation to meet their needs and the needs of future generations. These local innovations are key for understanding how large-scale transformations to a more sustainable society may be possible. While my projects often focus on specific places and issues, I believe these small-scale innovations contribute to our broader understanding of potential solutions. I am currently working in the communities surrounding Denali National Park (AK) and in the Gunnison Basin (CO).
Katie Kokx (M.S.)
2W06 AHRB
231.301.1960
Research Interests: Prevalence of Rabies, Distemper, Adenovirus, and Parvovirus in North Slope Arctic Fox from the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPR-A)
Ryan Kovach (Ph.D.)
505.231.6692
Research Interests: Population ecology and population genetics
Don Larson (M.S.)
270 AHRB
907.474.6067
Research Interests: Amphibian Parasitology, Wood Frog Freeze Tolerance, and Parasite Overwintering Strategies
Mary-Cathrine Leewis (Ph.D.)
242 AHRB
907.474.7352
Research Interests: Bioremediation, microbial degradation of PCBs
Tyler Lewis (Ph.D.)
alaska.usgs.gov/staff/staffbio.php?employeeid=306
307 IRV 1
907.474.6602
Research Interests: Avian behavioral ecology, response of avian populations to environmental change, boreal forest wetland ecology, avian conservation
Robert Lichvar (Ph.D.)
309 Bunnell
603.738.2181
Research Interests: Taxonomy of western US Brassicaceae
Affiliations: B&W, Core Lab, Greenhouse, IAB, UAM
Janne Maier (M.S.)
Jon Martin (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: Systematics, migration, distribution, and disease in the order Chiroptera of SE AK
Jason McFarland (M.S.)
Research Interests: Ecological Food Webs, Terrestrial and Aquatic Linkages, Fisheries
Kelly McFarlin (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: *Terrestrial and Marine Petroleum Bioremediation *Measuring rates of petroleum bioremediation with and with out dispersants in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas *Identification of microbial communities
Affiliations: B&W, Greenhouse, IAB, INBRE
Jordan Metzgar (Ph.D.)
sites.google.com/a/alaska.edu/jordan-metzgar/
907.474.7109
Research Interests: Systematics and post-glacial migration patterns of the fern genus Cryptogramma.
Bryan Mosher (M.S.)
247 AHRB
907.474.1127
Research Interests: Neurobiology
Timothy Mullet (Ph.D.)
http://real.msu.edu/projects/one_proj.php?proj=knwx
419 IRV 1
907.474.7959
Research Interests: Human disturbance to wildlife, soundscape ecology, GIS predictive modeling, Mexican spotted owl ecology
Sarah H. Nash (Ph.D.)
215 AHRB
907.474.7856
Research Interests: I am interested in stable isotope methodology and its applications. I am particularly interested in nutrition and metabolism and how these affect isotopic signatures.
Jason Neuswanger (Ph.D.)
138B IRV 2
907.474.2486
Research Interests: Modeling habitat usage of juvenile Chinook salmon.
Courtney Nichols (M.S.)
Research Interests: Neuronal aging via the insulin-signaling pathway using the model system, C. elegans
Dana Nossov (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: Ecological interactions of fire, permafrost, and vegetation in boreal landscapes
Jennifer Nu (M.S.)
907.474.6777
Research Interests: Developing an indigenous framework for evaluating the impact of health research
Ann Olsson (Ph.D.)
907.474.6777
Research Interests: Permafrost soil science
Kelly Overduijn (M.S.)
907.474.7735
Research Interests: Breeding ecology of American and Pacific Golden-plovers
Vijay Patil (Ph.D.)
102 IRV 2
907.978.9698
Research Interests: Understanding the effects of climate change in northern ecosystems using a combination of modeling and field-based methods
Renee Rember (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: infectious disease, zoonosis, epidemiology and public health
Melanie Richter (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: Hibernation physiology with a focus on endocrinology
Amanda Rinehart (Ph.D.)
907.474.1534
Research Interests: Carbon and nitrogen cycling; the influence of permafrost and thermokarst development on stream chemistry.
Daniel Rizzolo (Ph.D.)
alaska.usgs.gov/staff/staffbio.php?employeeid=181
907.474.6602
Research Interests: Avian ecology, energetics, and demography.
Garrett Savory (M.S.)
102 IRV 1
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Effect of Development on Red and Arctic Fox Diet and Arctic Fox Survival on the North Slope, Alaska
Matthew (Matt) Sexson (Ph.D.)
alaska.usgs.gov/science/biology/seaducks/spei/index.php
USGS Alaska Science Center, No Campus Office
907.786.7177
Research Interests: Sea duck ecology and conservation
Kelly Sivy (M.S.)
417 IRV 1
Research Interests: Carnivore management and conservation, mesopredator release, community ecology.
Justin Smith (M.S.)
Research Interests: Estimating vibrissae (whisker) growth in phosids (seals) using techniques in morphology and stable isotopes.
Matthew Smith (M.S.)
234 WRRB
907.474.1191
Research Interests: Prevalence, transmission, and genetic diversity of avian blood parasites
Katie Spellman (Ph.D.)
sites.google.com/a/alaska.edu/katie-spellman/
405 IRV 1
907.474.7161
Research Interests: Visit our research and outreach website on the interactions between invasive plants, pollinators and Alaskan berries: https://sites.google.com/a/alaska.edu/melibee-project/
Affiliations: B&W, BNZ-LTER, Greenhouse, IAB, RAP
Jessica (Jess) St. Laurent (M.S.)
247 AHRB
907.474.1127
Research Interests: Neurobiology
Jill Stockbridge (M.S.)
Entomology Lab, Museum
907.474.6279
Research Interests: I am currently studying the affects that logging methods have on the beetles and spiders on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska.
Laura Teigen (M.S.)
Research Interests: Reactive oxygen species, mitochondria, threespine stickleback, metabolism, antioxidants
Daniel (Dan) Thompson (M.S.)
102 IRV 1
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Caribou Nutrition
Lindsay VanSomeren (M.S.)
102 IRV 1
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Caribou ecology
Delia Vargas Kretsinger (M.S.)
907.474.6051
Research Interests: Interior AK floodplain shrub communities; plant-herbivore interactions
Amanda Walch (Ph.D.)
Research Interests: Interests in public health nutrition with a focus on food security and diet quality.
Leia Ward (M.S.)
247 AHRB
907.474.1127
Research Interests: Neurobiology
James Willacker, Jr (Ph.D.)
907.786.4776
Research Interests: I am interested in the application of trophic ecology to questions of evolutionary and contaminant ecology. My dissertation focuses on the ecological, physiological, and landscape scale processes that govern mercury bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs.
Jack Withrow (M.S.)
510.220.2817
Research Interests: Ornithology, population genetics and evolution
Suzanne Worker (M.S.)
408 IRV 1
907-474-7162
Research Interests: Snowshoe hare ecology.
Betsy Young (M.S.)
907.242.9707
Research Interests: Contributing landscape and human variables in moose and vehicle collisions
Rebecca Young (Ph.D.)
102 IRV 1
907.474.7006
Research Interests: Aging in long-lived seabirds
