Graduate Students

The distribution, abundance, and life history of the salmonid parasite Salmincola californiensis in Willamette Valley Reservoirs; fish health; toxicology and water quality

Ecology, space use, and habitat modeling of blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) in New Zealand's highly industrial South Taranaki Bight region

I will be studying the microclimates of bat hibernacula in New Mexico, how environmental factors relate to bat behavior, and using LiDAR to make 3D cave models. 

I am investigating physiological and behavioral stress responses to chemical cues in sharks, skates, and rays with Dr. Taylor Chapple's Big Fish Lab. 

As a Master’s student in the Big Fish Lab, Josh is investigating the physiology and behavior of sharks as they relate to predator-prey dynamics. As large predatory fish, sharks have few natural predators and therefore are...

Effects of trematode parasites on ecological food webs and community structure of streams in the Pacific Northwest

Using molecular and morphometric methods to describe the diversity of fishes around the world. I am currently working on freshwater sculpin fishes (Cottus spp.) of the Pacific Northwest

I am interested in multi-scale spatial and ecological relationships for aquatic species. I am researching habitat relationships for a pair of lamprey species found in south-central Oregon, using geospatial, modeled environmental data, and site level measurements. 

I study coastal wolves in Alaska and arboreal carnivores in Guatemala using non-invasive methods. 

My dissertation research is focused on ecology of wintering grassland birds, including area-sensitivity, habitat selection, and habitat segregation. My research includes an analysis of wintering habitat use by chestnut-collared longspurs, and Sprague’s pipits (a former Endangered Species Act...

I am a social scientist who uses ideas from social psychology and behavioral science to study and (hopefully) improve conservation program success for people and the planet. My dissertation focused on why people trust and distrust each other and the emotions people felt in the context of...

Developing a high-density flow-through system for rearing Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) larvae. 

I am researching Mule Deer Resource Selection looking specifically at the impact of annual grass encroachment on native mule deer forage composition, cover, biomass, and quality. 

My graduate research explores the impact of juniper removal on Greater sage-grouse and the surrounding vegetative and invertebrate communities. More generally, I am passionate about conservation and ornithology. I have prior research experience related to bird banding, robber fly ethology and...

My interests are Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), also known as Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and how these knowledge systems can used and incorporated in research and policy. 

My thesis project explores potential growth opportunities and mortality risks for juvenile salmonids rearing in seasonally disconnected habitats in the Skagit River.

My work involves invertebrate ecology and riparian management in Northeastern Oregon. Specifically, I am investigating (1) the response of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities to Low-tech Process Based Restoration (LTPBR) and (2) the response of non-bee...

My academic interest is in the possible reintroduction of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) to the Oregon coast. 

My research focuses on exploring belief systems of Latino/a/x communities in the Pacific Northwest and understanding how these relate to outdoor recreation habits and use of outdoor spaces.  

I am researching plastic pollution in Oregon gray whales and their prey, mysid shrimp, in the Brander Lab.

I am investigating juvenile Chinook salmon dispersal patterns based on spawner origin and riverscape conditions, and juvenile abundance at habitat restoration sites in northeast Oregon. I'm also interested in differences in distribution and dispersal patterns between wild and hatchery origin...

Investigating the ecological role of salmon sharks on the Oregon coast.

I study community ecology and life history patterns in seagrass and reef systems.

I’m broadly interested in applied ecological research and conservation, but have a particular interest in the population and movement ecology of marine mammals. Through my current and future research, I aim to use quantitative techniques to better understand the processes that drive animal...

I am focusing on the early life history of tropical marine fishes and their responses to environmental changes. My research aims to uncover how these early stages influence marine tropical ecology over time, providing insights into ecosystem resilience and sustainability.

I am conducting research on coastal steelhead and rainbow trout in the Ventura River of Southern California. The focus of my research is genetic population structure, landscape genetics, smoltification patterns, and migration of juvenile O. mykiss.

For my Masters thesis I am building a computer model that parameterizes groundfish detectability in fishery surveys during coastal hypoxia events. Findings from my thesis can be adapted to reduce uncertainty in stock assessments as it incorporates changing oxygen conditions in the Eastern...

My work involves field-based studies in invertebrate ecology in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. I am interested in studying the ecosystem effects of cattle, elk and deer grazing in rangelands riparian areas. I am particularly interested in the effects on native bee species and on...

• Marine mammal species recovery and conservation
• Data Analytics and Data Management
• R and RStudio
• Geospatial analysis through R, Python, and ArcGIS Pro

Using quantitative models to assess marine protected areas off the Oregon coast and inform conservation management and policy for black rockfish.

I am interested in examining the linkages between northern spotted owl demography, fire refugia, and forest resilience with respect to climate change

I am studying the biological and physical factors that are driving bowhead whales in the western Beaufort Sea.

I am investigating an alternative early life history pathway in Chinook salmon in the upper John Day basin. I am estimating abundance, mapping distribution, and determining the physiological status of these downstream rearing juveniles.

As part of Dr. Taylor Chapple's Big Fish Lab, I am researching the movement and foraging ecology of a top coastal predator - the Broadnose Sevengill Shark - within the Northern California Coastal Current to eventually...

Despite their often significant roles in local ecosystems though, large sharks have been conspicuously absent from management efforts in the Northern California Current System. Using techniques such as bio-logging, stable isotopes, and stomach content analysis, Jess’s research will provide...

 I'm interested in using birds as an environmental indicator to see how the economic value of birds reacts to the change of landscape composition across time. In particular, I'm using citizen science projects in my research (e.g., eBird, Breeding Bird Survey).

My research is focused on ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) vital rates, movements, and habitat use in southern Oregon. 

I study the foraging ecology of river otters along the coast of southern Oregon, with a focus on the predation of seabirds at near-shore nesting islands.

I am a marine conservation social scientist and ecologist interested in using interdisciplinary strategies to approach human-related problems within the marine and coastal realm. I’m currently a Fisheries Science Master’s student in the ...