I’ve had a passion for nature and wildlife for as long as I can remember. I knew when I came to Rutgers in 2017 that I was going to major in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources. Along with my major in EENR, I completed the certificate in Environmental Geomatics and a minor in Statistics. Beyond academics, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a number of hands-on research projects. After my freshman year, I worked in Dr. Brooke Maslo’s lab as a field tech surveying bats in Hutcheson Memorial Forest. During my sophomore year I worked in Dr. Kim Russell’s lab preparing and pinning bee specimens. From the summer following my sophomore year to now, I have been working in Dr. Henry John-Alder’s lab studying Eastern fence lizards.
During my senior year, I had the opportunity to complete a George H. Cook Honors Thesis. Working in the Pine Barrens under Dr. John-Alder, I used a combination of ecological fieldwork, GIS analysis, and statistics to model habitat selection in Eastern fence lizards. This summer, I will continue to work under Dr. John-Alder as a field tech at the Rutgers Pinelands Field Station. Following this summer, I plan to look for a job in GIS and eventually hope to pursue a graduate degree in the field.
During my time at DEENR, I’ve had so many great professors, so many awesome experiences, and have met so many fantastic people. My time here has been every bit as fulfilling as I could’ve hoped, and I am forever grateful for it. I will carry with me all of the knowledge and experiences this program has given me as I continue on into the workforce and grad school. Thank you.
May 2021