I am a PhD student at Utah State University, where I study the behavior, physiology, and ecology of lizards and snakes. The many fascinating aspects of snake natural history have led me to research this topic, which is quite narrow compared to my interest in snake ecology as a whole. Additionally, my work brings me into frequent contact with the serious need for snake conservation, which really requires holistic conservation of ecosystem structure and function, on which human society depends.
Experience
2011–present
PhD Student, Utah State University
2009–2011
MS Student, Eastern Illinois University
Publications
2014
Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the expression of defensive behaviors in Plains Hog-nosed Snakes (Colubridae: Heterodon), Ethology
2013
Habitat influences diet overlap in aquatic snake assemblages, Journal of Zoology
2011
Needles in haystacks: estimating detection probability and occupancy of rare and cryptic snakes, Biological Conservation