Hi! My name is Jill Fedarick. I am a malacologist by heart, that is, a person who studies freshwater mussels. My life's goal is to conduct applied ecological research to improve the management and conservation of these species. (Not an easy task - 70% of freshwater mussel species are imperiled!). My research portfolio reflects different ways I've tackled mussel conservation. I've dabbled in ecosystem services, species distribution modeling, benthic habitat mapping, functional trait analysis, natural history, and public art. The through line of my work is a passion for collaboration with folks from all different walks of life, in an effort to conserve and document freshwater mussel ecology.

I received my M.S. in Marine Biology from Northeastern University, MA, USA in 2022, my Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Maine, USA in 2026, and am beginning a new role as a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Atkinson Lab at the University of Alabama, USA. 

Contact

jillian.fedarick@maine.edu