Who We Are
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
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
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
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 & Extension Wildlife Specialist, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, MSU; 2020-present
- Leopold Fellow, 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 STUDENTS
For inquiries,contact WHEL Principal Investigator Lance McNew, Ph.D.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
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
Aubrey Sullivan
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
Ray Beaver
Ray assists with a variety of research in the lab and is leading an independent study
assessing mammalian biodiversity at MSU's Red Bluff Research Ranch.
Education:
- B.S, Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology, Montana State University, (2024)
Professional Experience:
- Wildlife Research Technician, Wildlife Habitat Ecology Lab, Montana State University; 2021-present
- Seasonal Waterfowl Technician, Ducks Unlimited; 2023
- Intern at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue; 2021
Lab Alumni
- Elizabeth Leipold (Ph.D. 2023). Developing a monitoring program for Dusky Grouse in Montana. Liz is working as a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Bozeman, Montana.
- 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 a 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 a Wildlife Biologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Polson, Montana.
- Morgan Solomon (M.S. 2022). Evaluating habitat suitability for lesser prairie-chicken conservation in the mixed-grass prairie ecoregion. Morgan is a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Forest Service 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.