I am a Research Biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. My research focuses on wildlife population ecology, community ecology, and restoration ecology of a diverse suite of wildlife species found in the mountains and forests of the northwestern United States.
I lead FRESC's Olympic Field Station, which is nestled within Olympic National Park in Washington. I engage in cooperator-driven research with National Park Service and Tribal partners on the Olympic peninsula and throughout western Washington, as well as larger initiatives. My work focuses the ecology of wildlife populations as related to climate change, habitat characteristics, disease, restoration practices, and other natural and anthropogenic effects. My work spans taxonomic groups and has recently included amphibians, bats, marmots, fishers, small mammals, and ungulates. In addition to taxonomic diversity, my projects range in scope from questions related to individual populations to those examining community interactions and landscape-level processes.
Professional Experience
2022-Present: USGS, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Research Biologist, Port Angeles, WA
2015-2022: USGS, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Wildlife Biologist, Port Angeles, WA
2014-2015: University of Montana, Post-doctoral Research Associate, Missoula, MT
2010-2011: University of Maryland, Post-doctoral Research Associate, College Park, MD
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Fish and Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT (2010)
B.A., Biology, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, OR (2002)
Affiliations and Memberships*
North America Section President, Society for Conservation Biology (2019-2021 President Elect, 2021-2023 President, 2023-2025 Past President)
Science and Products
Fisher Restoration on the Olympic Peninsula
Elwha River ScienceScape: Understanding Ecosystem Recovery Following Large-Scale Dam Removal
Bat Ecology in Western Washington's National Parks
From Water to Wildlife: Linking Water Timing and Availability to Meadows and Wildlife in a Changing Climate
Science and Products
- Publications
- Science
Fisher Restoration on the Olympic Peninsula
Researchers at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Olympic Field Station, have been involved in fisher restoration to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula since 2008, when fishers were reintroduced to the peninsula following decades of extirpation.Elwha River ScienceScape: Understanding Ecosystem Recovery Following Large-Scale Dam Removal
The Elwha River – located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington - is home to an iconic dam removal and ecosystem restoration project. The Elwha offers a unique setting to explore the ecosystem level effects of dam removal and river restoration because of its prominence, such as large sediment volume, several salmon populations, and pristine wilderness.Bat Ecology in Western Washington's National Parks
The expansion of the bat fungal disease White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) to the Pacific Northwest is centered in western Washington. However, not much is known about bat distribution and activity in and around Washington’s National Parks.From Water to Wildlife: Linking Water Timing and Availability to Meadows and Wildlife in a Changing Climate
Mountain meadows in the western United States provide key habitats for many plant and wildlife species, many of which rely exclusively on these areas. Mountain meadows are also treasured by the public and provide beautiful areas to view wildflowers and wildlife on public lands such as national parks. However, mountain ecosystems are expected to be disproportionately affected by climate change. The - News
- Multimedia
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government