Graduate Student

Using a combination of noninvasive field sampling, 16S rRNA sequencing, and bioinformatics analyses, Rylee is quantifying the strength of multiple physiological, environmental, and evolutionary factors as drivers of gut microbiome diversity and community structure across a diverse herbivore assemblage in Etosha National Park, Namibia. Rylee's research is made possible through a collaborative initiative with scientists at the Etosha Ecological Institute and the University of Georgia. Prior to joining the WECOS Lab, Rylee served as a bear research technician with the National Park Service in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska and as a carnivore technician with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. She earned her BS in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the Quinney College of Natural Resources at Utah State University.  After completing her MS degree at NMU, Rylee will continue her graduate education as a PhD student studying the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on wildlife health and population dynamics. Rylee also has a passion for wildlife photography and has traveled around the continent photographing wild megafauna and landscapes. To immerse yourself in her outdoor adventures, visit Rylee on Instagram at @rylee_jay_photo.

Graduate Student

Justin is a MS student in Biology studying the physiological consequences of ecotourism on brown bears at Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska. As a collaborative initiative with the National Park Service, Justin’s findings will aid managers in understanding and mitigating the impacts of tourist-related disturbance on brown bear health. Prior to joining the WECOS Lab, Justin received a B.S. in Biology at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida where his senior research focused on identifying efficient conditions for rearing the maximum number of butterflies. Justin also  served as a sandpine restoration scientist managing a hectare of land with two other interns and maintained three beehives. He interned for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration focusing on science communications and hydrography, contributing to an initiative focused on mapping the bottom of Lake Huron. After completing his graduate program, Justin plans to work as a wildlife biologist at the federal level, contributing to science-informed strategies that will promote the conservation of diverse species. In his free time, Justin loves to skateboard, hike, and go camping. 

Graduate Student

Laura is a MS student in Biology leading the Yooper Wildlife Watch project, an education and research initiative that uses remote cameras to study wildlife in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In addition to collecting data to inform wildlife management, Laura's research aims to bring new ways of presenting wildlife ecology topics to biology students by utilizing camera trap imagery a teaching tool. Prior to joining The WECOS Lab, Laura received a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December 2020. Her undergraduate honors thesis used camera trap data from SnapShot USA - a nation-wide annual camera trapping initiative - to investigate spatial differences in mammal communities between Urbana, IL and other SnapShot USA sites. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Laura worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Hood, TX as a research biologist, where she conducted surveys on small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, oak sapling regeneration, and feral hogs. After completing her MS degree, Laura plans to work as a wildlife biologist or conservation outreach coordinator at the federal level, contributing to science-based ecosystem management strategies while also informing the public on critical environmental issues. In her free time, Laura enjoys hiking, camping, wildlife photography, and trying to teach herself how to knit.

Undergraduate Student

Julia is a former Freshman Fellow and a senior at NMU pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology. As a long-term WECOS Lab member, Julia is a dedicated technician on our Yooper Wildlife Watch project as well as a contributor to multiple collaborative initiatives including (1) a study to evaluate the effectiveness of remote cameras to track molt phenology in snowshoe hares and (2) a joint initiative among the WECOS Lab, NMU Vertebrate Zoology Museum, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game to examine relationships among American marten, their internal parasites, and their gut microbiomes across the vast Alaska landscape. Julia is currently learning how to apply bioinformatics analyses to examine variation in gut microbial taxonomic diversity and community structure relative to differences in waterfowl gut morphology across taxa. In her spare time, Julia enjoys hiking on trails in Marquette and spending time with friends. Upon graduation, Julia plans to pursue a master's degree and continue contributing to wildlife research. 

Undergraduate Student

Zack is a senior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Ecology in the Biology Department at NMU. As a long-term WECOS Lab member he has contributed to multiple initiatives including (a) an investigation into the relationship between digestive tract morphology and gut microbiomes in migratory waterfowl, (b) a collaborative effort among the WECOS Lab, NMU Vertebrate Zoology Museum, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game to examine relationships among American marten, their internal parasites, and their gut microbiomes across the vast Alaska landscape, and (c) an assessment of the drivers of gut microbiome diversity and community structure in brown bears across three national parks in Alaska. In his spare time, Zack enjoys hiking on trails in Marquette, reading, and propagating a variety of plants. Upon graduation, Zack hopes to pursue a career that will enable him to synergize his passion for fire ecology and wetland ecology in an effort to promote natural ecological processes and foster environmental stewardship.