BioScience Alliance: Graduate Students

I perform my research at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo under the guidance of Dr. Noah Dunham. My interests are broad, but I’m primarily focused on understanding factors that influence gut microbiome composition and the subsequent effects on host health and wellbeing.  My dissertation research explores how diet, host phylogeny, and environmental factors impact gut microbiota in zoo-housed colobines, a highly folivorous group of non-human primates.

Being a student in the BioScience Alliance offers unparalleled access to research opportunities while collaborating with experts from both Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. I am deeply grateful for the financial support provided by the Louise Harkness and David Sinton Ingalls Foundation BioScience Alliance Fellowship, which has been instrumental in enabling me to focus on my research. This partnership not only enhances my academic experience but also provides valuable networking opportunities and practical skills essential for a career in conservation and wildlife management. 

I conduct my research at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo under the guidance of Dr. Pam Dennis. I’m interested in applied zoo animal welfare and how we can better understand the physical, emotional, and social needs of animals living in human care. Specifically, I’m interested in the intersection of diet, behavior, and health in great apes, exploring how dietary factors may influence abnormal behaviors and contribute to cardiac disease through avenues such as obesity and diabetes.

Prior to starting my PhD, I worked as a Research Assistant at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, where I published a comprehensive literature review on chimpanzee welfare and built the ChimpCARE tool—an evidence-based tool to help guide the care and management of chimpanzees in U.S. zoos and sanctuaries. As a new student in the BioScience Alliance, I am excited for the opportunity to learn from the expertise of scientists at both Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This partnership helps prepare students with the education and training they need to succeed in the fields of animal welfare and wildlife conservation.

I perform my research at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo under the supervision of Dr. Diana C. Koester. My interests are focused on the factors influencing the welfare of reptiles in human care, particularly looking at the effects that different components of the electromagnetic spectrum may have upon health and behavior.

Prior to beginning my career as a graduate student, I worked as an intern at the San Francisco Zoo. It was there I was able to learn about the BioScience Alliance offered at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which had already facilitated the education and graduate of several well-established zoo-professionals across the United States. Now, as a student in the BioScience Alliance, I am one of a select few in the country with access to the types of resources provided by the collaboration of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with Case Western Reserve University. This unique partnership allows for a rich academic experience where I am able to do research and obtain work experience at the zoo, while simultaneously experiencing invaluable scientific opportunities and collaborative efforts through partnering institutions. My experience in the BioAlliance program has, and will continue to be, an exceptionally enriching and impactful experience as I develop my skills and prepare for a future career in zoo and wildlife science.