Education:
BS Geography – Appalachian State University, 1999
Concentration: Geographic Information Systems
MS Geography - Virginia Tech, 2004
Thesis Title: Estimating Mercury Risk to the Common Loon in the Rangeley Lakes Region of Western Maine: A Regression Based GIS Model
Advisor: Dr. Bill Carstensen
PhD. Student - Geospatial and Environmental Analysis – Virginia Tech, (expected 2009)
Advisors: Dr. Bill Carstensen (Geography) and Dr. Bill Hopkins (Fisheries and Wildlife Science)
Research Project Title and Description:
Dissertation Title: Evaluation, assessment, and determination of risk to high trophic level piscivores in the Mid-Atlantic: A spatial, biological, and comparative case study of mercury in Virginia and New England bald eagle populations.
I am examining current levels of mercury and methyl-mercury in Virginia and Maine bald eagle populations. I am particularly interested in elucidating the physical characteristics that contribute to elevated levels in this species and how those mercury levels vary spatially.
Career and Academic Interests:
I am interested in both teaching and conducting research at the University level. It is my intention to work with both graduate and undergraduate students. I am particularly interested in wildlife toxicology, geographic information systems, quantitative methods, and advanced spatial and numerical analysis as it relates to environmental phenomena.
Research and Teaching Activities:
I am currently conducting my research under the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) fellowship program.
Advisors:
Dr. Bill Carstensen (Dept. of Geography)
Dr. Bill Hopkins ( Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences)
