I have always been intrigued by the complexity of ecosystems and the relationship between biotic and abiotic components. For my undergraduate thesis, I documented the effects of coniferous canopy cover on abiotic variables such as temperature, wind-speed, snow depth, and sunlight in relation to wintering white-tailed deer in the Adirondacks of New York State. I have since worked in multiple conservation-oriented positions as a technician and group leader on projects involving forest management, urban tree management, endangered salmonids, Harlequin duck breeding surveys, urban Red-tailed hawks, Golden Eagle banding, and Sage grouse habitat restoration. My interests in the interaction between plants and animals has led me to pursue a Master’s degree in entomology and ecology, evolutionary biology, and behavior. I am currently studying the effects of heat waves on the interaction and development of potatoes and the Colorado potato beetle.

email: snookjo2 ‘at’ msu.edu