EENR Senior Carlie Johanning Shares Research at Regional Wildlife and Fisheries Conferences

Presenting scientific research to professional audiences is an important milestone for many undergraduate students. For Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources (EENR) senior Carlie Johanning, opportunities to share her work at multiple professional conferences have become a highlight of her Rutgers experience.

Through research projects conducted with Rutgers faculty, Johanning has presented her findings at meetings of the Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society, the Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and the New Jersey Chapter of The Wildlife Society. These conferences brought together wildlife biologists, fisheries scientists, natural resource professionals, faculty members, and students from across the region to exchange research findings and discuss current challenges in conservation and resource management.

Johanning's conference presentations grew out of several experiential learning and undergraduate research opportunities. Working in the laboratory of Dr. Suzanne Sukhdeo, she investigated gastrointestinal parasites in European starlings collected from New Jersey airports. Her work involved field and laboratory techniques, including dissections, parasite identification, microscopy, and data analysis. She presented results from this project alongside fellow undergraduate researcher Andie Zou at professional wildlife conferences.

In addition, Johanning contributed to forestry and wildlife research projects with Rutgers faculty members Dr. Henry John-Alder and Dr. Jason Grabosky. These projects examined topics ranging from habitat characteristics and parasite ecology in Eastern fence lizards to forest management and regeneration in New Jersey woodlands.

Presenting at professional meetings enabled Johanning to share scientific findings with audiences beyond the classroom while gaining experience in professional networking and scientific communication. The conferences also provided opportunities to engage with researchers, natural resource managers, and students pursuing careers in wildlife biology, forestry, fisheries science, and environmental management.

Johanning's experiences demonstrate how undergraduate research can extend beyond data collection and analysis to include participation in the broader scientific community. Through conference presentations and professional engagement, she has developed valuable communication skills while contributing to ongoing research in ecology, wildlife biology, and natural resource management.

These experiences reflect the EENR program's commitment to providing students with meaningful opportunities to conduct research, share their findings, and prepare for careers in environmental and natural resource fields.