Dr. Jonathon Valente
jjv0016@auburn.edu
I am a research ecologist and statistician who uses advanced quantitative tools to answer questions at the intersection of fundamental ecology and applied conservation. My research aims to understand the factors impacting the distributions and population dynamics for individual species and whole communities, then use that information to identify populations of conservation concern and ultimately develop effective conservation and management actions. I am the Assistant Unit Leader of the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, which means I am a federal scientist stationed at Auburn University. I also have a faculty appointment in the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and the Environment at Auburn, through which I teach and advise graduate students.
Justin Hall (Research Associate & MS Student)
jfh0044@auburn.edu
I am a master’s student in Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University and a Research Associate for the Inventory and Conservation Planning (ICP) Project. I earned my B.S. in Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech in 2016 and bring over a decade of field and research experience to the lab. My work has spanned a wide range of taxa including bats, birds, and small mammals. Before coming to Auburn, I held several roles including Field Ecologist with the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), Chronic Wasting Disease Technician with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR), and Wildlife Research Technician with Virginia Tech’s USGS Cooperative Extension Unit. My thesis focuses on evaluating 15-year shifts in bat occupancy across Alabama’s Wildlife Management Areas and comparing the efficacy of temporally intensive versus spatially extensive survey designs for long-term species monitoring. I have strong field experience in various wildlife monitoring techniques and in managing large-scale ecological datasets. My research interests include soundscape ecology, optimizing ecological survey design, and using ecological data to better inform conservation and management strategies through evidence-based decision-making. Outside of research, I enjoy staying active—whether that’s playing sports, birding, or exploring natural areas throughout the Southeast.
Sinka Khadijah Abubakar (PhD Student)
sza0209@auburn.edu
I am a Graduate Research Assistant and a PhD student in Earth System Science. I recently earned my Master’s degree in Natural Resources from Auburn University, where I developed skills in applying geospatial technologies to environmental research and natural resource management. During my masters program, I focused on building a management-relevant land cover model for Wildlife Management Areas managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), which led to the development of LANDCURATE – a user-friendly web application designed to help land managers create, visualize, and utilize land cover information for better decision-making. Broadly, my research interests lie in remote sensing applications for environmental monitoring and conservation. My current PhD research focuses on the Alabama beach mouse, an endangered species. Specifically, I am working on building a habitat suitability model to better understand its habitat requirements and support conservation and management strategies. I love applied research and I aspire to contribute meaningfully to regional and global efforts in Earth observation, particularly in landscape analysis, forest monitoring, and biodiversity conservation.
Kylie Blake (MS Student)
kzb0180@auburn.edu
I am a graduate research assistant pursuing a master’s degree in natural resources. I am exploring the role of social information in avian habitat selection. My research centers on using conspecific attraction as a management tool to attract birds of conservation concern to protected areas with high-quality habitat. My primary interests include avian ecology and behavior, environmental management, and the effects of habitat change on biodiversity. Outside of research, I love running, crafting, and discovering new places through hiking and exploration.
Darcey Gans (MS Student)
dag0061@auburn.edu
I am a Graduate Research Assistant pursuing a master’s degree in wildlife science. I received my B.S. in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota in 2020, with dual minors in Communications and Behavioral Biology. During my degree I participated in research on monarch butterfly development, stable isotope analysis in American black bears, and the influence of roads on wild canine movements. Following graduation, I worked as a bat field technician with Indiana State University, assisted in research on Appalachian cottontails with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and served as the Conservation Education Specialist for Bur Oak Land Trust. My current research focuses on evaluating the status and distribution of Alabama’s native mammal species as part of the Inventory and Conservation Planning (ICP) Project. My research interests include applied ecology, species distribution modelling, social-ecological systems, and the research-implementation gap in wildlife.
Lucas Parvin (MS Student)
lkp0038@auburn.edu
I am interested in exploring the complexities of animal behavior, especially in response to environmental changes and human disturbance, in ways that inform and enhance management aimed at conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Austin Pomeroy (MS Student)
arp0135@auburn.edu
I am a graduate research assistant pursuing a master’s degree in wildlife ecology. I received my B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from Washington State University in 2022, with a minor in Forestry. Since graduation, I have held several technician positions, building a diverse skill set in surveying wildlife populations, characterizing soil and vegetation composition, and implementing prescribed burn management strategies.
My primary research and career goals lie in the intersection of private and public land use by wildlife populations, the livestock industry, hunters, and landowners, as well as the role of prescribed burns in managing these landscapes. My current research centers on assessing game and non-game mammalian populations across the state of Alabama and comparing them to previously forecasted estimates based on expected outcomes of habitat management practices implemented over the past 15 years
Rylee Tomey (PhD Student)
rdt0029@auburn.edu
I’m a graduate research assistant working toward a PhD, focusing on integrating diverse data sources into population models to guide decision-making for White-tailed Deer management in Alabama and beyond. My academic journey began at Purdue University in 2018 and continued at Auburn University, where I completed an MS thesis on rabies epizootiology. Splitting my time between fieldwork and model-based projects has given me an appreciation for a multifaceted approach to addressing complex ecological challenges. I’m passionate about applied research that supports practical wildlife management and the development of tools to make environmental health literacy more accessible to everyone.
Willow Kay (Undergraduate Student)
amk0151@auburn.edu
I am a undergraduate student in Wildlife Ecology and Management. I am interested in population dynamics with breeding birds in Alabama Ecosystems. In the summer I assist with avian point counts and other lab duties.
Grace Southerland (Undergraduate Student)
gts0027@auburn.edu
I am an undergraduate student pursuing my bachelor’s in wildlife ecology and management. I work with the lab as a field technician performing avian point counts and vegetation sampling, and I hope to enter the field of conservation ecology. Some of my key interests are bird behavior, novel predator interactions, and other anthropogenic influences on bird populations.