Principal Investigators

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Lance McNew, Ph.D.

Education:
Ph.D., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Kansas State University; 2010
M.S., Zoology, emphasis in Wildlife Ecology. Southern Illinois University; 2003
B.S., Zoology, Eastern Illinois University; 2001

Curriculum Vitae
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Professional Experience:
Associate Professor, Department of Animal & Range Sciences, MSU; 2020-present
Assistant Professor, Department of Animal & Range Sciences, MSU; 2014-2020
Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center; 2012-14
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Division of Biology, Kansas State University; 2010-12
Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.), Division of Biology, Kansas State University; 2006-10
Deer Research Biologist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources; 2003-05
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Jared Beaver, Ph.D.

​Education:
Ph.D., Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University; 2017
M.S., Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, University of Tennessee; 2011
B.S., Biology, Wake Forest University; 2008

Professional Experience:
Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, Department of 
    Animal and Range Sciences, MSU; 2020-present
Leopold Fellow and Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of
    Biology, Wake Forest University; 2018-2020
Distance Education Coordinator and Research Assistant, Texas A&M
​    Natural Resources Institute, Texas A&M University; 2014-2017
County Extension Agent and Water and Natural Resources Program
   Coordinator, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Bexar County; 2013-2014.
Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.), Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences,             Texas A&M University; 2011-2017.
Research Assistant, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University          – Kingsville; 2011
Grad Research Assistant (M.S.), Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries;                         University of Tennessee; 2009-2011

Postdoctoral Associates

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For inquiries visit our Contact page or contact WHEL Principal Investigator Lance McNew, Ph.D. 

Graduate Students

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Taylor Bayne (M.S.)

Project Title: Testing New Technology For Wildlife-Livestock Conflict Mitigation: An Evaluation of AI Enabled Camera Traps

Education:
B.A., Psychology, Ave Maria University, 2017

Professional Experience:
Graduate Research Assistant (M.S.), Department of Animal and Range Sciences, MSU; 2021-present
Ranch Technician, Snowcrest Ranch, Turner Enterprises, Inc., Montana; 2020
Seasonal Bison Worker, Snowcrest Ranch, Turner Enterprises, Inc., Montana; 2018 &2019

Laura Dykstra (Ph.D.)

​Project Title:  Ecology of Reintroduced Sharp-tailed Grouse in Western Montana

​Education:
B.S., Biology, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI;  2020.
M.S., Natural Resources, University of Connecticut; 2023.

Professional Experience
Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.), Department of Animal and Range Sciences, MSU; 2023-present
Graduate Research Assistant (M.S.), University of Connecticut; 2021-2023
Raptor Research Technician, Boise State University; 2021
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Elizabeth Leipold (Ph.D.)

​Project Title:  Estimating the Occurrence, Distribution, and Abundance of Dusky Grouse.

​Education:
B.S., Biology,  Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland; 2011.
M.S., Fisheries and Wildlife Ecology, New Mexico State University; 2018.

​​Professional Experience:
​​Fisheries Technician: May 2018-June 2018
Bell’s Vireo and Willow Flycatcher Nesting Ecology Technician: May 2015-August 2015
Lesser Prairie Technician for Kansas State University: September 2014-May 2015; September 2013-December 2013; February 2013-May 2013
Vegetation Survey Technician: October 2013
Shrubland Nesting Ecology Technician: May 2013-August 2013
Elk Habitat Assessment Field Technician: May 2012-September 2012
Lesser Prairie Chicken Trapping Technician: March 2012-May 2012
Stream Monitoring Intern: May 2009-August 2009; May 2011-August 2011
General Teachers Aide within Lab Classes: August 2009-December 2009; August 2007-May 2009

Click here for detailed work. 

Hunter Stier (M.S.) 
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​Project Title:
Utility and validation of ESD soil sampling within sage-grouse habitats in Northcentral Montana

Education:
B.S., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 2013

Professional Experience:
Graduate Research Assistant (M.S.), Department of Animal and Range Sciences, MSU; 2020-present
Wildlife Research Assistant, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, MSU; 2019 & 2020
Wildlife Technician, Yellowstone Wolf and Cougar Project, 2019 & 2020
Wildlife Assistant, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, 2018
Wildlife and Habitat Consultant, Independent Contractor, 2013-18

​Aubrey Sullivan (M.S.) 

Project Title:
Evaluation of automated radio-telemetry for monitoring space use of ground-dwelling birds
 
Education:
B.S., Biological Sciences, Montana State University, 2014

Professional Experience:
Graduate Research Assistant (M.S.), Department of Animal and Range Sciences, MSU; 2022-present
Sharp-tailed Grouse Technician, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana; 2022
Chronic Wasting Disease Regional Coordinator, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana; 2021
Biological Science Technician, U.S. Forest Service, Montana; 2019, 2020, & 2021
Rare Carnivore Technician, Swan Valley Connections, Montana; 2021
Chronic Wasting Disease Technician, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana; 2019
Naturalist Field Instructor, Montana Natural History Center, Montana; 2018
Weddell Seal Research Assistant, Montana State University, Antarctica; 2017
Lewis’ Woodpecker Crew Lead, MPG Ranch, Montana; 2016
Bighorn Sheep Technician, Montana State University, Montana; 2015
Hoary Marmot Research Assistant, Montana State University, Montana; 2015
White-Headed Woodpecker Technician, Montana State University, Idaho; 2014

Undergraduate Students 

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Ray Beaver
Ray has chosen MSU to pursue a degree that will allow him to both get involved in research and engage in a field which will create to be outdoors. In Ray's spare time he enjoys hunting and fishing. 

Education:
B.S, natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology (in progress)

Professional Experience: 
Intern at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue 2021

Lab Alumni

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• Trapper Haynam (Ph.D. 2023). Movement ecology of female sage-grouse informs space use, resource selection, and demography in southern Valley County, Montana. Trapper is research ecologist with U.S. Geological Survey in Bozeman, Montana.
• Morgan Monroe (B.S. 2023). Diversity, composition, and activity patterns of the mammalian community in a Northern Rocky Mountain foothills rangeland ecosystem. Morgan is working as a seasonal wildlife technician.
• Olivia Gervacio Jakabosky (B.S. 2023). Olivia wrote her undergraduate honors thesis on the impact of power lines and transformers on howler monkeys in Paraguay. In 2023 she was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship to complete an M.S. in Conservation and Biodiversity at the University of Exeter in Cornwall, UK.
• Amber Swicegood (M.S. 2022). Fatal attraction for an imperiled songbird: is cropland in the northern Great Plains an ecological trap for breeding thick-billed longspurs? Amber is pursuing Ph.D. opportunities while working to publish scientific papers from her M.S.
• Morgan Solomon (M.S. 2022). Evaluating habitat suitability for lesser prairie-chicken conservation in the mixed-grass prairie ecoregion.  Morgan is Sage-grouse Conservation Coordinator with the Powder River Watershed Council in eastern Oregon.
• Lara Macon (B.S. 2020). Habitat selection by sharp-tailed grouse broods in relation to rangeland indicators.  Lara is a Rangeland Ecologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
• Megan Milligan (Ph.D. 2019). Effects of livestock grazing management on the ecology of sharp-tailed grouse in mixed-grass prairie habitats. Megan is a Research Scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Reno, NV. 
• John Pulliam (M.S. 2019). Associations of broad scale vegetation characteristics and abundances, nest densities, and nest survival of mixed-grass songbirds in northern Montana. John is a Wildlife Biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Elisabeth Krieger (B.S. 2019). Evaluating the effects of grazing management on insect biomass in the northern mixed-grass prairie. Elisabeth is currently a graduate student in the Ecology Department at MSU.
• Sam Wyffels (Ph.D. 2018). Effects of protein supplementation and dormant season grazing on cattle behavior, rangeland condition, and animal performance in northern mixed-grass prairie.  Sam is Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Specialist with Montana State University.
• Jarrett Payne (M.S. 2018). Can targeted cattle grazing increase abundance of forbs or arthropods in sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat?  Jarrett is Habitat Ecologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in Dillon, MT.
• Torrey Ritter (M.S. 2018). Ecosystem Pioneers: beaver dispersal and settlement site selection in the context of habitat restoration. Torrey is currently a Non-game Wildlife Biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in Missoula, MT.
• Brittani Johnson (M.S. 2018). Permeability of three-strand electric fences by black bears and grizzly bears. Brittani is a Regional Wildlife Biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in Salmon, ID.
• Skyler Vold (M.S. 2018). Effects of livestock grazing management on the ecology of grassland birds and their predators in a northern mixed-grass prairie ecosystem. Skyler works as the Sage-grouse Conservation Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Hines, OR.
• Smith L. Wells (M.S. 2017). Livestock depredation by grizzly bears on forest service grazing allotments in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Smith is the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program Coordinator for Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks in Helena, MT.