Caitlin J. Curry

I believe that through the genetic characterization of wild populations appropriate strategies can be developed to allow for the coexistence between humans and wildlife in the natural environment.

I have a diverse background centered around wildlife and conservation. I am a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, with a concentration in animal behavior and cognitive neuroscience and a minor in anthropology. I am also a certified dog trainer through the Animal Behavior College. During undergrad, I was an intern for Dr. Laurie Marker at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia and have been working with carnivores ever since. After graduating from UW, I was a volunteer researcher for the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research for five years before starting graduate school.

At Texas A&M University I studied conservation and population genetics in the Interdisciplinary Program of Genetics. My dissertation research focused on biodiversity of the African lion over time using ancient DNA from historical lions found in museum collections to explore how genetic diversity has changed in lions over the past century.