One major theme of my research is understanding how behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary factors influence the structure of animal communication signals. My previous research has focused on investigating natural flexibility in bat echolocation and examining how bats adjust their call structure in response to the characteristics of their signaling environment.  I am also interested in studying several aspects of mammalian social systems, including assessment of social structure, the behavioral function of social calls, as well as personality and behavioral syndromes.  Finally, my students and I conduct studies focusing on ecological questions that are relevant to local/regional conservation concerns, such as assessing the distribution and habitat use of the poorly-studied bats of North Dakota. 

Overall, I am a major proponent of conducting experimental research in a field setting, as such studies provide robust information about the behavior of animals in their natural environment.  My students and I have conducted research at a variety of locations, including North Dakota, Texas, Costa Rica, and Madagascar, among others.