Derek McFarland Jr (he/him) is a 3rd yr Ph.D. student in University of Illinois’ Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology program who will be studying the impact of human-mediated landscape change on human tick-borne disease risk across the St. Louis, MO metropolitan area and over time. He was one of two recipients of a 2023 FI Research Grant.

María José (Majo) Navarrete Méndez (she/her) is an Ecuadorian biologist and PhD student at UC Berkeley who’s research is focused on the origin and evolution of chemical defenses in one of the most endangered groups of vertebrates, the Harlequin toads (Atelopus, Bufonidae). She was one of two recipients of a 2023 FI Research Grant.

Sofia Correa (she/her) is an undergraduate student in Wingate University’s Environmental Biology Program and has strived to further her education, focusing on the conservation of the environment. She is very interested in understanding the intricate workings of our planet’s ecosystems and how different factors come together to function as one, while learning the different areas of wildlife research she can take part in. She was the recipient of FI’s 2023 joint fellowship from Field Inclusive and Cape Fear Bird Observatory where she helped with Painted Bunting (PABU) banding on public and private properties as well as help establish a point count and banding study on six sites from Wilmington to Sunset Beach. 

Taylor Saucier (she/her) is a Freshwater Fisheries Biologist and a Master’s student at the University of Arizona. Her research is focused on developing techniques to rear and spawn a native Arizona/New Mexico fish species, the Sonora Sucker, in captivity. Her past experiences working in fisheries conservation/management and aquaculture have inspired a passion for conservation aquaculture. 

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Aly Putnam (she/her) is a PhD candidate in the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology program at UMass Amherst where she studies how components of climate change, such as increased temperature, are impacting marine organisms and causing changes in biodiversity through the loss of native species and the addition of invasive species. Aly is a first generation college student, a mom to two kids, and is disabled/chronically ill with Crohn’s disease and central nervous system demyelinating disease. She is passionate about the natural environment, advocating for inclusion and accessibility in STEM and higher education, and in fostering the next generation of scientists through research and teaching.

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Grace Casselberry (she/her) is a fisheries biologist and postdoctoral research associate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), where she studies the spatial ecology of multiple shark species, shark interactions in recreational fisheries, and the effects of catch-and-release angling on striped bass. Broadly, Grace is interested in the intersection of marine animal movement, particularly migratory fish species, with fisheries management. Grace can be found curled up with a good book and a cup tea or outside exploring with Remy, her Irish setter puppy.

Abby Thiemkey (she/her) graduated from Michigan State University in 2019 with a BS in Zoology and a BS in Fisheries and Wildlife. Throughout her time as an undergraduate and postbaccalaureate she participated in research throughout Michigan as well as in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. She has worked with spotted hyenas, black bears, wolves, white-tailed deer, feral pigs, bobcats, and urban wildlife. She also spent time working as a wildlife specialist in California focusing on wildlife damage mitigation and techniques with USDA Wildlife Services. Abby is broadly interested in the ecology, behavior, and management of carnivores, with special interests in human-wildlife interactions, population ecology, foraging ecology, and predator-prey relationships. Abby’s research focuses on coyote ecology and livestock management throughout the state of Ohio. Her work uses stable isotope analysis to examine diet composition of coyotes across different regions of Ohio. She is also investigating population demography of coyotes throughout the state. Her career goal is to conduct sound science that contributes to impactful management and conservation decisions for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Katie O’Donnell (she/her) is a decision analyst at Compass Resource Management in Vancouver, BC, where she helps groups structure their decisions and find collaborative solutions to complex natural resource management problems. She is an active member of The Wildlife Society, and is a co-founder of the Out in the Field initiative, which promotes visibility and community building for LGBTQ+ wildlifers in TWS. 

Colleen Olfenbuttel (she/her) has worked in the wildlife profession for over 25 years and has co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications. She has been the Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission since 2007 and is responsible for managing and conserving black bears and 17 furbearer species. Colleen is a co-founder of The Wildlife Society’s Out in The Field Initiative, past president for the North Carolina Chapter of The Wildlife Society, chair of TWS Wildlife Damage Management Working Group, and a Certified Wildlife Biologist®. She also is a Councillor for the International Bear Association.

Deja Perkins (she/her) is a PhD student in geospatial analytics at North Carolina State University’s Center for Geospatial Analytics (2021-2025), and the CEO of Naturally Wild, LLC. She uses geospatial tools to investigate data gaps in large scale participatory science projects. She is an environmental, social and data justice advocate, primarily campaigning for equitable nature access in urban spaces. In her research she primarily works with large scale, institution driven projects (e.g., eBird, CoCoRHaS, iNaturalist City Nature Challenge) that focus on volunteer generated environmental monitoring. Environmental monitoring can cover biodiversity, air quality, water quality, landscape change, climate change, plastic pollution and more. She is also a member of the IDEAL Participatory Science Working Group helping plan a framework for more inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible large-scale participatory science.

Lauren D. Pharr (she/her) is an avian ecologist and Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University (NCSU) pursuing her degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Her current research focuses on studying the effects of climate change on nestling success in the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Aside from her research, she is an engaged science communicator and serves as a contributing editor for North Carolina Sea Grant, and is also a member on the Editorial Advisory Board for The Wildlife Society. Lauren is also an advocate for Black and historically excluded minorities in STEM; she serves on multiple committees including NCSU’s Forestry and Environmental Resources’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and The Longleaf Alliance’s Longleaf for All committee, and she is the CFO and co-founder of Field Inclusive.

Wake Audubon Society

Wake Audubon (WA) is a chapter of Audubon NC and of the National Audubon Society located in Wake County, North Carolina (Raleigh and surrounding towns). Made up of a diverse group of people with a variety of interests and specialties; we’re not just birdwatchers, WA members share a common interest in wildlife, nature, nature photography, and environmental conservation.