Graduate Student Directory

Research Interests: My research interests include coastal ecology and wildlife conservation and management. At VT I will examine how beach renourishment projects may impact declining shorebird species during their migration route along the Atlantic coast. I will evaluate piping plover foraging habitat selection and use on Wallops Island where coastal erosion has led NASA’s Wallops flight facility to implement a series of coastal engineering projects. I also will use the surrounding undisturbed islands for comparison. This research will inform management decisions for future beach renourishment projects and will have implications for migratory shorebird species along the Atlantic coast facing similar anthropogenic disturbances. (Advisor: Karpanty)

Research Interests: (Advisor: Nyboer).

Research Interests: Being among the most endangered groups of animals in North America, freshwater mussels are a critical subject of investigation and restoration because of their important functions in water filtration and as bioindicators of environmental change. My research will focus on improving propagation of mussels by rearing them in a series of controlled enclosures (mesocosms), while controlling nutrient intake and flow conditions, and then recording mussel health and growth. I will compare mussel health in mesocosms to lab reared mussels using pond water. I will replicate methods from above experiments in a healthy, natural stream ecosystem to increase success of mussel propagation. (Advisor: Jones)

Research Interests: My PhD research at Virginia Tech will focus on the social and ecological aspects of provisioning fisheries in the Great Lakes. Provisioning fisheries, a subset of recreational angling, fulfill the social needs and dietary needs of poor and vulnerable people, many of whom are new migrants to North American cities surrounding the Great Lakes. This research is expected to improve fisheries management by quantifying provisioning fisheries catches and their potential impacts that are currently unrecognized, and to help local policymakers understand the importance of provisioning fisheries on the lives of vulnerable citizens whose numbers are expected to increase in the future (Advisor: Castello).

Research Interests: I am a Master’s student in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Originally from Nepal, I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Forestry studying the correlation between ecotourism and endangered red panda conservation. At the Dayer Human Dimensions lab, I am working on a research project that aims to empower small landowners in the emerging bird-friendly maple syrup market and explore the value of certification of eco-labeled products. This study will contribute to our understanding of how humans value wildlife conservation, providing insights into wildlife-friendly products and the connection between the public and their purchasing habits. (Advisor: Dayer)

Research Interests: (Advisor:Ford)

Research Interest: I am interested in climate change effects on Amazon fish catch. My research focuses on how climate changes affect hydrological aspects, fish traits and future potential changes over river-floodplain fisheries along the Amazon River (Advisor: Dr. Leandro Castello).

Research Interests: Joe is studying the effects of land use and conservation practices on stream fish communities, as well as the effects of livestock grazing on Bog Turtle wetland habitat. His MS research focused on long-term changes in the distribution of New River fishes. Before coming to Virginia Tech, Joe worked as a Habitat Biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, mapping the distribution of freshwater fishes across Alaska (Advisor: Angermeier).