Join us as Sebastian tells us how he went from a child playing with with anoles to a professional wildlife photographer and biologist photographing Universidad de los Andean bears! Sebastian started off studying biology at Universidad de los Andes hoping to become a medical researcher before he found his passion for wildlife. Sebastian went on to work for Tropical Herping in Ecuador where he mastered his photography skills along with some help from youtube! Sebastian has also taken some award winning wildlife photographs, like his picture of a Toucan eating a bat!
Join us as Fabian shares his journey through the field of evolutionary biology! Fabian first became interested in science through physics before finding a love for biology. Fabian perused a Biology Degree at Universidad del Tolima in Colombia where he first found a passion for research through spiders! He then went on to pursue a Masters degree in Biology at Universidad de los Andes where he further advanced his understanding of the evolution of color in invertebrates. Currently Fabian is finishing up a Doctoral degree in Biology at the University of Melbourne. Fabian shares with us the trials and tribulations of doing field work in remote areas while being reliant on public transport, plus the benefits of studying arachnids!
Want to know more!? Check out the link below! https://fcsalgado.github.io/
Nick Friedeman is a Phd. Student at the University of Georgia studying wildlife disease in muskrats in the south eastern United States. Nick started off with a early interest in wildlife growing up in Kansas, before venturing into the world of disease through high school biology. Nick attended the university of Nebraska to pursue duel degrees in Conservation Biology and Micro Biology. Nick got his start in research with foxes in Nebraska before moving to Fort Wayne Indiana to pursue a Masters of Biology degree studying the environmental aspects of snake fungal disease (Ophidiomycosis) in eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) habitat. Join us to hear Nicks whole story!
Hunter Smith is a Masters student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Join us as Hunter tells us how he first became interested wildlife and ecology through the Envirothon program in high school. Hunter shares how studying political science, policy and environmental law in undergrad led to a deeper interest in wildlife and environmental science. We discuss Hunter's early days working as a herpetology technician and how that eventually led to a masters position studying detection dogs for finding turtles!
Graham Montague is a Phd. Student at the University of Vermont studying Atlantic Salmon in Lake Champlain! Graham shares his journey with us from his early days in Ohio growing up along the Cuyahoga Valley National Park looking for snakes to perusing biology at Baldwin Wallace University. Graham went on to get a masters degree from Oklahoma State University. Graham has worked a plethora of fisheries and field technician positions all over the U.S. gaining a wealth of experience. He teaches us all about the technical side of electrofishing, fish tracking, and fisheries management!
Check out Graham on YouTube: @grahammontague
Checkout the links below to learn more about the research from this episode!
Flathead Catfish sampling: https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/nafm.10819
Blue Catfish surfacing thresholds: https://afspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/nafm.10882
Join us for our 20th Episode! We talk with Park Ranger Kim Davis about how she went from working in radio to saving wildlife and managing habitat! Kim shares her experience perusing a career in radio right out of high school before later going back to school to study animal science and conservation at La Trobe University! Hear all about the may roles and duties Kim carries out as a Park Ranger at the Darebin Creek Management Committee!
Austin Muller is an associate ecologist with the Georgia Department of Transportation! Join us to hear all about how Austin first discovered wildlife through Zoo Books setting him on a career in conservation. We hear about his time working on camera trapping during Undergrad at North Carolina State before perusing a masters degree at the University of Central Missouri. We discuss the use of eDNA (Environmental DNA) to inform species management and recovery and so much more!
David De Angelis is a naturalist, educator and biological consultant! David tells us his story, from fueling his own wildlife obsession with books and back yard camp outs looking for possums to finding his way as a biological consultant. David took his passion and excitement for biodiversity and conservation and turned it into a career! Unlike others David found his first land management position in high school, before pursuing a biology degree at La Trobe University.
Mic Rohde is a Ph.D student at Iowa State University studying occupancy of species of greatest conservation need in Iowa. Mic shares with us how he went from a small University in Nebraska to presenting research in Tokyo and Paris! We hear how engaging professors sparked Mic’s interest in political science and ecology research. Mic uses his political science and artistic inspiration to help us break format and get into some conservation philosophy.
Morgan Winstead is a Fisheries Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission! Join us as Morgan shares her experience as she journeyed through Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation! Morgan tells us how she got inspired through agriculture science in high school, and discovered the wildlife science. We talk about navigating the field of fisheries and some of the different skills and techniques used to understand fish populations. We also discuss Morgans journey into graduate school and how she has navigated the professional world as scientist!
Dr. Andrew Hoffman is an Associate Professor of Biology at St. John Fisher University in New York. We learn how Andrews early passion for conserving reptiles and amphibians drove him to meet other enthusiast and collect records from counties across Indiana leading to a collaboration with the Indiana Herp Atlas. Andrew shares with us how his undergraduate experience at Hanover College and his relationship with his first advisor launched him into Academia. We hear the highs and lows of higher education from getting a master’s degree to walking away from a toxic doctoral position before eventually returning to work with Rattlesnakes! Join us and learn all about Timber Rattlesnakes conservation, outreach, and transitioning from student to professor!
Kelly Williams-Kelly is a passionate mammalogist, and conservationist working on completing her Doctoral Degree at La Trobe University! Kelly shares with us her unconventional journey starting out earning a theater and communications degree before finding her way into wildlife research! Kelly shares her passion for Australian mammals of all shapes and kinds especially Rats!
Mark Jordan is a professor and the Chair of the Biology Department at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Mark shares his journey from his time growing up in Iowa to his time living and working on the Galápagos Islands! We hear how Mark found his first opportunities at the National Museum of Natural History which eventually led to a master’s position studying land iguanas in the Galápagos Islands. We also discuss the transition from being a student to being a instructor and mentor taking on his own students.
To learn more about Dr. Jordan's lab and research opportunities check the link below!
https://users.pfw.edu/jordanma/
Kirsty Venter is a wildlife/marine biologist from South Africa, who has worked with a variety of taxonomic groups from insects to blue whales! Kirsty tells us about growing up as the daughter of a regional scientist of a game reserve in South Africa and how that influenced her passions as she began university. We learn how Kirsty started off working as an entomologist before switching to largest animal in the world the Blue Whale! We also hear about Kirsty's early days as a instructor and how she got into teaching international students and ecotourists!
Alli Dickey is a passionate science communicator and writer, currently serving as the social media specialist for Woodwell Climate Research Center. Alli shares her experience discovering wildlife research and later uncovering her passion for science journalism. She tells us about her internship working as an editor for National Geographic Kids and how that opened the door for her to do freelance work for them. We discuss the difficulties and benefits of working in wildlife and conservation while also balancing relationships. In addition Alli tells us about how her experience studying abroad led to a love of marine wildlife and later a job with the Texas Sea Grant!
To read some of Alli's work check out the links below!
https://allid1818.wixsite.com/allidickey
If you want to get in touch with Alli, find her on LinkdIn @allidickey
Laura Guderyahn is a Phd. Candidate at Portland State University studying conservation and management of Western Pond Turtles and Western Painted Turtles, while also working as an Ecologist for Portland Parks and Recreation. Laura tells us about how she found her way into wildlife and the path she took to get there. We discuss the difficulties of academia including the importance of mental health and a good relationship with your advisor. Laura also shares her experience working to engage and inspire young people and the importance of making space for people from under represented groups in wildlife and science.
Rebekah Wofford is a certified environmental educator working to bridge the communication gap between wildlife researchers and the general public by delivering free programs to people of all ages! Rebekah tells us how she first became interested in wildlife and later education, and eventually birds and reptiles. We discuss issues with equity, access to environmental and wildlife jobs, and how we can be better advocates for change. Rebekah also discusses her time at the Greensboro Science Center, as NC State Herpetology Club President, and engaging the public in citizen science.
Photo Credit: Sara Marschhauser To learn more about Daniel Viva Barreto or to help support his work to find the lost frogs of Colombia click here: https://experiment.com/projects/can-edna-track-lost-harlequin-toads-in-the-colombian-andes-and-assist-conservation-efforts?s=discover
Danielle Wallace is a Phd. Candidate at the University of Melbourne, working on understanding how tree frogs have responded to the deadly amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Bd for short. Danielle tells us about her first fateful encounter with a frog, and how it propelled her on a lifelong obsession. In addition we get a glimpse behind the curtain of For Frogs Sake a documentary chronicling Danielle's discovery of a population of rare Australian frogs!
Find Danielle @that_frog_gorl on Twitter/X or dani_k_wallace on Instagram!
For Frogs Sake: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/for-frogs-sake
To learn more about Daniel Viva Barreto or to help support his work to find the lost frogs of Colombia click here: https://experiment.com/projects/can-edna-track-lost-harlequin-toads-in-the-colombian-andes-and-assist-conservation-efforts?s=discover
Eric Teitsworth is a Phd. Candidate at NC State University, working on the federally threatened Neuse River Waterdog. Eric discusses how volunteering as an undergraduate at Penn State University led to some amazing opportunities! Eric tells us how he found his way into academia and gives insight into the ups and downs of securing funding and conducting field research. Learn how mentorship helped form Eric into the scientist he is today, and inspired him to pay forward his experience.
Information Pamphlet: USFWS informational pamphlet PBS Documentary: NC PBS Video
Eric's Website: https://ericteitsworth.wordpress.com/
Instagram and TikTok handle is @ncsuwaterdogs
Spotted Salamander Paper: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.4345
Garter Snake Paper: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2021.2187
Edward Landi is an avian ecologist for the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and resident “Bird Guy”. Join us to hear how Edward went from being a young hobby “herper” and “birder” to becoming a full fledged (pun intended) avian ecologist! Here about Edwards time studying Cassin Sparrows at Colorado State University in Pueblo, his early days volunteering, humidity, and so much more!