About
I am excited to join contribute to the development of innovative technology
to aid in the search for Zug's monitor and to join the team in the field. As
someone who values the use of science in conservation, I believe that the use
of environmental DNA (eDNA) can be a powerful tool in species conservation.
With a Ph.D. in Ecology from Rutgers University and over 40 years of
experience in the field, I have a strong background in practical wildlife
research and conservation biology. As the founder and owner of Conservation
Science Research & Consulting, and a former research wildlife scientist
with the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Land Management, I have published
numerous peer-reviewed papers and technical reports. My areas of expertise
include desert tortoise conservation and ecology, common raven biology and
management, and terrestrial vertebrate ecology.
In my current role as Chief Science Officer at Hardshell Labs, Inc., I am
working on a variety of projects using emerging technologies to support
wildlife conservation and resource management. These include the use of
remote-fired hyperspectral lasers to haze predators and nuisance birds, aerial
drones for oiling bird eggs, and 3-D printing of tortoise shells for training
ravens to stop feeding on tortoises. We are also exploring the use of automated
ground-based rovers for surveying wildlife and habitats in challenging
environments and using artificial intelligence to deter avian pests from impacting
endangered species and other valuable resources.
Joined
December 2022
