North Carolina State University
Joel Mota
PhD Student/Provost Fellow/Goodnight Fellow
Joel grew up as an immigrant in the sprawling suburbs of Northern Virginia. He was born in
Portugal, where his passion for herpetology was sparked during childhood summers visiting family in
Portugal where he would dart amongst sandy pinewoods capturing little lizards. Joel graduated with a B.
Sc. in Biology, with a minor in chemistry from George Mason University. At George Mason, Joel
conducted electrophysiological research to better understand the relationship between potassium and
sodium in the hippocampus and cortex during seizure like events in mammalian brains. With his
bachelors in hand, Joel focused on acquiring wildlife and ecological research experience and hopped
from one internship/technician position to another, taking him throughout the southern Mid-Atlantic
and Southeastern United States. During this period of technician work, Joel traveled to Myanmar to
directly assist on Asian elephant research being conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology
Institute and worked on projects that directly affected conservation decisions in Malaysia and Chad. Joel
took the next step and completed a Master of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources at West
Virginia University. His thesis focused on developing tools to assist with the conservation of spotted
turtles in West Virginia. Joel now begins his doctorate career as a Provost and Goodnight Fellow, focusing on how timber management practices affect herpetological communities. In his spare time Joel enjoys cooking, baking, cycling, and nurturing a nascent gardening hobby. Joel looks forward to all the
wildlife he can encounter in North Carolina and having access to the ocean where he plans to do more swimming and snorkeling.
PhD Student/Provost Fellow/Goodnight Fellow
Joel grew up as an immigrant in the sprawling suburbs of Northern Virginia. He was born in
Portugal, where his passion for herpetology was sparked during childhood summers visiting family in
Portugal where he would dart amongst sandy pinewoods capturing little lizards. Joel graduated with a B.
Sc. in Biology, with a minor in chemistry from George Mason University. At George Mason, Joel
conducted electrophysiological research to better understand the relationship between potassium and
sodium in the hippocampus and cortex during seizure like events in mammalian brains. With his
bachelors in hand, Joel focused on acquiring wildlife and ecological research experience and hopped
from one internship/technician position to another, taking him throughout the southern Mid-Atlantic
and Southeastern United States. During this period of technician work, Joel traveled to Myanmar to
directly assist on Asian elephant research being conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology
Institute and worked on projects that directly affected conservation decisions in Malaysia and Chad. Joel
took the next step and completed a Master of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources at West
Virginia University. His thesis focused on developing tools to assist with the conservation of spotted
turtles in West Virginia. Joel now begins his doctorate career as a Provost and Goodnight Fellow, focusing on how timber management practices affect herpetological communities. In his spare time Joel enjoys cooking, baking, cycling, and nurturing a nascent gardening hobby. Joel looks forward to all the
wildlife he can encounter in North Carolina and having access to the ocean where he plans to do more swimming and snorkeling.
Ana Sapp
Master's Student/Ecology Wildlife Foundation Fellow
Ana completed her undergraduate degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology along with a minor in Art and Design, at North Carolina State University in the fall 2022. She begins her graduate studies as an Ecology Wildlife Foundation Fellow, focusing on the impacts of oil/gas industry and urbanization on freshwater turtles in southeast New Mexico and North Carolina Piedmont. During her undergraduate years, Ana traveled to South America and the Caribbean to participate in research programs concentrating on tropical and subtropical wildlife. Ana’s passion is herpetology, and she held leadership positions in both the Leopold Wildlife Club and the Herpetology Club. In addition to Ana’s academic endeavors, she is also a conservation photographer and artist, participating in programs through the North American Nature Photography Association and the International League of Conservation Photographers, which raise public awareness of wildlife conservation challenges. After travels to Ecuador with Tropical Herping, Ana was a student presenter at the Carnegie Institute of Science’s International League of Conservation Photographers' Wildspeak. Finally, Ana is a musician. She plays a number of instruments and was a member of N.C. State’s Southeast Asian acapella ensemble, Jawaani.
Master's Student/Ecology Wildlife Foundation Fellow
Ana completed her undergraduate degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology along with a minor in Art and Design, at North Carolina State University in the fall 2022. She begins her graduate studies as an Ecology Wildlife Foundation Fellow, focusing on the impacts of oil/gas industry and urbanization on freshwater turtles in southeast New Mexico and North Carolina Piedmont. During her undergraduate years, Ana traveled to South America and the Caribbean to participate in research programs concentrating on tropical and subtropical wildlife. Ana’s passion is herpetology, and she held leadership positions in both the Leopold Wildlife Club and the Herpetology Club. In addition to Ana’s academic endeavors, she is also a conservation photographer and artist, participating in programs through the North American Nature Photography Association and the International League of Conservation Photographers, which raise public awareness of wildlife conservation challenges. After travels to Ecuador with Tropical Herping, Ana was a student presenter at the Carnegie Institute of Science’s International League of Conservation Photographers' Wildspeak. Finally, Ana is a musician. She plays a number of instruments and was a member of N.C. State’s Southeast Asian acapella ensemble, Jawaani.
Emma Wilson
Graduate Student
Emma completed her BS in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Plant Biology with a minor in Applied Ecology. Emma joined the lab in fall 2022 as an undergraduate student and has started her master's program in the spring 2024. As an undergraduate, she worked on the assessment of freshwater turtle physical abnormalities and melanism along the Pecos River, New Mexico. As a master's student, she is pursuing research on interspecific competition in freshwater turtle communities. She is generally interested in fire ecology, habitat selection, reproductive ecology, plant-animal interactions, and how environmental factors influence species persistence. She is especially excited when these topics can be applied to improve conservation and management efforts in North Carolina. Following graduate school, Emma hopes to work as a conservation biologist in a government agency. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading classic literature, and spending time with her ball python Opal!
Graduate Student
Emma completed her BS in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Plant Biology with a minor in Applied Ecology. Emma joined the lab in fall 2022 as an undergraduate student and has started her master's program in the spring 2024. As an undergraduate, she worked on the assessment of freshwater turtle physical abnormalities and melanism along the Pecos River, New Mexico. As a master's student, she is pursuing research on interspecific competition in freshwater turtle communities. She is generally interested in fire ecology, habitat selection, reproductive ecology, plant-animal interactions, and how environmental factors influence species persistence. She is especially excited when these topics can be applied to improve conservation and management efforts in North Carolina. Following graduate school, Emma hopes to work as a conservation biologist in a government agency. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading classic literature, and spending time with her ball python Opal!
Fenton McKown
Undergraduate Student
Fenton grew up on the beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where he was raised as an avid recreational field herpetologist. Before starting at NCSU, where he is currently a sophomore pursuing a degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Fenton completed seasonal internships with the Coastal Studies Institute, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and NOAA. He assisted in collecting and analyzing phytoplankton samples to preemptively detect toxic marine algal blooms and helped carry out comprehensive fish surveys in the Roanoke Sound in order to better understand how global warming is affecting their populations. Additionally, Fenton has been a volunteer with the North Carolina Calling Amphibian Survey Program since 2022, where he conducts auditory Anuran surveys throughout North Carolina. Although he is primarily interested in herpetology, Fenton is also very passionate about both fire and cave ecology. In his free time, he enjoys recreational field herping, tricking, backpacking, and spelunking. In our lab, Fenton is involved in a wide range of projects, from leading radio-telemetry studies of terrestrial and freshwater turtles, to assisting with freshwater turtle surveys and collecting turtle leeches.
Undergraduate Student
Fenton grew up on the beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where he was raised as an avid recreational field herpetologist. Before starting at NCSU, where he is currently a sophomore pursuing a degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Fenton completed seasonal internships with the Coastal Studies Institute, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and NOAA. He assisted in collecting and analyzing phytoplankton samples to preemptively detect toxic marine algal blooms and helped carry out comprehensive fish surveys in the Roanoke Sound in order to better understand how global warming is affecting their populations. Additionally, Fenton has been a volunteer with the North Carolina Calling Amphibian Survey Program since 2022, where he conducts auditory Anuran surveys throughout North Carolina. Although he is primarily interested in herpetology, Fenton is also very passionate about both fire and cave ecology. In his free time, he enjoys recreational field herping, tricking, backpacking, and spelunking. In our lab, Fenton is involved in a wide range of projects, from leading radio-telemetry studies of terrestrial and freshwater turtles, to assisting with freshwater turtle surveys and collecting turtle leeches.
Nathan Vaughan
Undergraduate Student
Nathan is a senior at NC State University majoring in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation
Biology. Nathan joined the lab in the fall of 2023 and submitted a publication on reticulate
melanism in Rio Grande cooters during that time. Now, he is largely focused on organizing the
extensive collection of leeches in the lab that have been collected from various work on
freshwater turtles and hopes to pursue several research questions using that database. Before
joining the lab, Nathan worked as a field technician with the University of Wyoming Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit surveying for boreal toads in their high elevation wetlands. Prior
to that, he worked on a project that used museum specimens to quantify morphological
differences in the fish family Catostomidae with the North Carolina Museum of Natural
Sciences. During his free time, Nathan is an avid field herpetologist and is actively involved in
several professional organizations, including NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile
Conservation and the North Carolina Herpetological Society. He also enjoys tabletop role
playing games and playing heavy metal on his electric guitar. After graduation, Nathan plans to
gain more experience in the field through technician jobs before pursuing a master’s degree.
Undergraduate Student
Nathan is a senior at NC State University majoring in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation
Biology. Nathan joined the lab in the fall of 2023 and submitted a publication on reticulate
melanism in Rio Grande cooters during that time. Now, he is largely focused on organizing the
extensive collection of leeches in the lab that have been collected from various work on
freshwater turtles and hopes to pursue several research questions using that database. Before
joining the lab, Nathan worked as a field technician with the University of Wyoming Cooperative
Fish and Wildlife Research Unit surveying for boreal toads in their high elevation wetlands. Prior
to that, he worked on a project that used museum specimens to quantify morphological
differences in the fish family Catostomidae with the North Carolina Museum of Natural
Sciences. During his free time, Nathan is an avid field herpetologist and is actively involved in
several professional organizations, including NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile
Conservation and the North Carolina Herpetological Society. He also enjoys tabletop role
playing games and playing heavy metal on his electric guitar. After graduation, Nathan plans to
gain more experience in the field through technician jobs before pursuing a master’s degree.
More coming soon! Lilly and I are working hard to recruit new students to join our wolfpack!
FORMER STUDENTS
North Carolina State University
Rachel Weaver
Undergraduate Student
Rachel graduated from NC State University in May 2023 double majoring in Environmental Sciences and Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, with a minor and concentration in Forest Management. Rachel was part of the lab in the fall 2022 & spring 2023 and worked on ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) radio-telemetry dataset to better understand species natural history, home range, and movement patterns. Rachel aspires to pursue a career focused on wildlife conservation and environmental management for a government agency. She is currently pursuing a master's degree at Duke University.
Undergraduate Student
Rachel graduated from NC State University in May 2023 double majoring in Environmental Sciences and Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, with a minor and concentration in Forest Management. Rachel was part of the lab in the fall 2022 & spring 2023 and worked on ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) radio-telemetry dataset to better understand species natural history, home range, and movement patterns. Rachel aspires to pursue a career focused on wildlife conservation and environmental management for a government agency. She is currently pursuing a master's degree at Duke University.
Eastern New Mexico University
Jaecy Banther-McConnell (Graduate Student)
Jaecy graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Biology in May 2020. She found her passion for zoonotic diseases after taking parasitology and wildlife conservation courses. She started her graduate work in May 2020, studying Hantavirus prevalence in small mammals of Eastern New Mexico funded through NM-INBRE. She graduated in December 2022.
Jaecy graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Biology in May 2020. She found her passion for zoonotic diseases after taking parasitology and wildlife conservation courses. She started her graduate work in May 2020, studying Hantavirus prevalence in small mammals of Eastern New Mexico funded through NM-INBRE. She graduated in December 2022.
Laramie Mahan (Graduate Student)
Laramie graduated from ENMU, with a Bachelors degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences in May 2020 and started her Master's in the fall 2020. Laramie has been a part of my lab since spring 2019 being involved in various projects from box turtle radio telemetry, freshwater turtle mark recapture studies, to small mammal surveys. As a Master's student, she worked on surveys of Pseudemys gorzugi on the Pecos River funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Fund. She has won numerous awards and grants while at ENMU. Laramie graduated with her Master's in May 2022.
Laramie graduated from ENMU, with a Bachelors degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences in May 2020 and started her Master's in the fall 2020. Laramie has been a part of my lab since spring 2019 being involved in various projects from box turtle radio telemetry, freshwater turtle mark recapture studies, to small mammal surveys. As a Master's student, she worked on surveys of Pseudemys gorzugi on the Pecos River funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Fund. She has won numerous awards and grants while at ENMU. Laramie graduated with her Master's in May 2022.
Thanchira Suriyamongkol (Graduate Student)
Thanchira (MJ) is from Bangkok, Thailand. She graduated from ENMU with her Master's in Biology in May 2019. At ENMU, she studied reproductive ecology of Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi), but she was also involved in numerous other projects such as chytrid fungus in east New Mexico, box turtle surveys, and soft tick surveys. Post graduation, she continued to work in my lab as a research associate, lab supervisor, and senior wildlife monitoring technician, involved in Hantavirus surveillance in eastern New Mexico and freshwater turtle ecology projects. MJ started her PhD at the Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in the Spring 2022. She still collaborates and publishes papers with our research group.
Thanchira (MJ) is from Bangkok, Thailand. She graduated from ENMU with her Master's in Biology in May 2019. At ENMU, she studied reproductive ecology of Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi), but she was also involved in numerous other projects such as chytrid fungus in east New Mexico, box turtle surveys, and soft tick surveys. Post graduation, she continued to work in my lab as a research associate, lab supervisor, and senior wildlife monitoring technician, involved in Hantavirus surveillance in eastern New Mexico and freshwater turtle ecology projects. MJ started her PhD at the Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in the Spring 2022. She still collaborates and publishes papers with our research group.
Vinicius Ortega-Berno (Graduate Student)
Vinicius earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Federal University of Parana (UFPR) in January 2018. He interned at the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, working on Colubrid snake Spilotes sulphureus found in Amazon and Atlantic Forest biome. At ENMU, Vinicius was studying niche overlap, diet, and trophic levels of Pseudemys gorzugi and Trachemys scripta in the Pecos River tributaries. He graduated in May 2020.
Vinicius earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Federal University of Parana (UFPR) in January 2018. He interned at the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, working on Colubrid snake Spilotes sulphureus found in Amazon and Atlantic Forest biome. At ENMU, Vinicius was studying niche overlap, diet, and trophic levels of Pseudemys gorzugi and Trachemys scripta in the Pecos River tributaries. He graduated in May 2020.
Andrew Letter (Graduate Student)
Andrew graduated Summer 2016 with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Florida. His research background includes conducting an undergraduate study improving camera trap methodology on study species, Lynx rufus (Bobcat) and assisting in projects ranging from disease ecology in herpetofauna to shoreline and oyster reef monitoring in a coastal and estuarine ecology lab. At ENMU, Andrew was studying dietary habits of the Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi). He graduated with Master's in Biology in May 2018. He currently works for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission within the alligator management program.
Andrew graduated Summer 2016 with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Central Florida. His research background includes conducting an undergraduate study improving camera trap methodology on study species, Lynx rufus (Bobcat) and assisting in projects ranging from disease ecology in herpetofauna to shoreline and oyster reef monitoring in a coastal and estuarine ecology lab. At ENMU, Andrew was studying dietary habits of the Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi). He graduated with Master's in Biology in May 2018. He currently works for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission within the alligator management program.
Jessica Curtis (Graduate Student)
Jessica earned a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Eastern New Mexico University in Spring 2016, where she helped lead the Wildlife Club and found her passion for biology. As a Master's student in my lab, she researched the presence of Hantavirus in local small mammal populations. She graduated in December 2017.
Jessica earned a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Eastern New Mexico University in Spring 2016, where she helped lead the Wildlife Club and found her passion for biology. As a Master's student in my lab, she researched the presence of Hantavirus in local small mammal populations. She graduated in December 2017.
Sierra Shoemaker
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team Captain
Sierra is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences with a minor in Anthropology. She started working in my lab in the summer of 2021, conducting Pseudemys gorzugi surveys on the Black and Pecos River. She is also a part of box turtle radio telemetry project. Over the past year, she has assisted in several P. gorzugi related projects and served as a data information officer in Mali Lab. Recently, she was awarded best student poser at NM/AZ Chapters of Wildlife Society Joint Annual Meeting and ENMU Student Research and Creativity Conference. After graduating she plans to pursue a career in wildlife conservation and management within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team Captain
Sierra is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences with a minor in Anthropology. She started working in my lab in the summer of 2021, conducting Pseudemys gorzugi surveys on the Black and Pecos River. She is also a part of box turtle radio telemetry project. Over the past year, she has assisted in several P. gorzugi related projects and served as a data information officer in Mali Lab. Recently, she was awarded best student poser at NM/AZ Chapters of Wildlife Society Joint Annual Meeting and ENMU Student Research and Creativity Conference. After graduating she plans to pursue a career in wildlife conservation and management within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Ashlyn Reynolds
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Ashlyn is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She started working in my lab in the spring of 2022, helping assess wildlife use of riparian habitats on the Black River by analyzing numerous game camera images. She joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates. She hopes to pursue Master's degree in Wildlife Biology.
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Ashlyn is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She started working in my lab in the spring of 2022, helping assess wildlife use of riparian habitats on the Black River by analyzing numerous game camera images. She joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates. She hopes to pursue Master's degree in Wildlife Biology.
Joshua Gonzalez
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Josh is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She started working in my lab in the fall of 2021, when he volunteered his time to help with the box turtle radio telemetry project. In the spring of 2022 he helped assess wildlife use of riparian habitats on the Black River by analyzing numerous game camera images. She joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates.
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Josh is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She started working in my lab in the fall of 2021, when he volunteered his time to help with the box turtle radio telemetry project. In the spring of 2022 he helped assess wildlife use of riparian habitats on the Black River by analyzing numerous game camera images. She joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates.
Chase Latimore
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Chase is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She started working in my lab in the summer 2022. He joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates. He also assists with the box turtle radio telemetry project and monitors box turtle movement after high severity wildfire in Roosevelt County, New Mexico.
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Chase is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She started working in my lab in the summer 2022. He joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates. He also assists with the box turtle radio telemetry project and monitors box turtle movement after high severity wildfire in Roosevelt County, New Mexico.
Zane Seidel
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Zane is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. At ENMU, he has worked in Gennaro Natural History Live Exhibit taking care of numerous invertebrate, fish, amphibian, and reptile species. He started working in my lab in the summer 2022. He joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates.
Undergraduate Student
2022 Turtle Trapping Team
Zane is an undergraduate student at ENMU pursuing his Bachelors of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. At ENMU, he has worked in Gennaro Natural History Live Exhibit taking care of numerous invertebrate, fish, amphibian, and reptile species. He started working in my lab in the summer 2022. He joined 2022 turtle trapping team and with other students assists in gathering data that will enable Pseudemys gorzugi survivorship and growth rate estimates.
Li Zheng
Undergraduate Student
Li has been a student at ENMU since Fall 2020 majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Li has been an integral part of my lab from Spring 2021 to Fall 2022, assisting in care for animals in the Gennaro Natural History Live Exhibit. He also helps with box turtle radio telemetry project and small mammal specimen curation. His dream is to study fish and wildlife in the Amazon forest.
Undergraduate Student
Li has been a student at ENMU since Fall 2020 majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. Li has been an integral part of my lab from Spring 2021 to Fall 2022, assisting in care for animals in the Gennaro Natural History Live Exhibit. He also helps with box turtle radio telemetry project and small mammal specimen curation. His dream is to study fish and wildlife in the Amazon forest.
Jason Bailey (JR)
Undergraduate Student
JR is an undergraduate student working on his Bachelors in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. He has been working in my lab from Spring 2020 until Summer 2021, assisting in small mammal projects, freshwater turtle mark recapture studies, and freshwater turtle nest surveys. He is also an active member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and has served as a treasurer of Eastern New Mexico University Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society, and is highly involved in campus life activities.
Undergraduate Student
JR is an undergraduate student working on his Bachelors in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. He has been working in my lab from Spring 2020 until Summer 2021, assisting in small mammal projects, freshwater turtle mark recapture studies, and freshwater turtle nest surveys. He is also an active member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and has served as a treasurer of Eastern New Mexico University Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society, and is highly involved in campus life activities.
Isaiah Moores
Isaiah is from Penasco, New Mexico. Isaiah has been a part of my lab from Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 and was involved in rodent surveys and hantavirus surveillance in eastern New Mexico.
Isaiah is from Penasco, New Mexico. Isaiah has been a part of my lab from Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 and was involved in rodent surveys and hantavirus surveillance in eastern New Mexico.
Alissa Kreikemeier
Alissa received her Bachelor degree from ENMU in May 2019, with a major in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. At ENMU, she conducted research on box turtles (Terrapene ornata) funded by ENMU STEM program. She also assisted in Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi) surveys on the Black River, NM. She is most interested in wildlife conservation and aspires to work within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Alissa received her Bachelor degree from ENMU in May 2019, with a major in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. At ENMU, she conducted research on box turtles (Terrapene ornata) funded by ENMU STEM program. She also assisted in Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi) surveys on the Black River, NM. She is most interested in wildlife conservation and aspires to work within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Kaniya Sandoval
Kaniya is an undergraduate student at ENMU majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She is a part of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Navajo Nation. Kaniya's dream is to further her education by attending graduate school and eventually become a Game & Fish warden for the state of Alaska. At ENMU, she is a recipient of STEM scholarship which funds her undergraduate research. In the fall 2017 and spring 2018 she studied soft ticks (Ornithodoros turicata) among prairie dog burrows. She graduated in Spring 2021.
Kaniya is an undergraduate student at ENMU majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She is a part of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and Navajo Nation. Kaniya's dream is to further her education by attending graduate school and eventually become a Game & Fish warden for the state of Alaska. At ENMU, she is a recipient of STEM scholarship which funds her undergraduate research. In the fall 2017 and spring 2018 she studied soft ticks (Ornithodoros turicata) among prairie dog burrows. She graduated in Spring 2021.