The Coexistence Lab

I am a wildlife biologist specializing in wolf eco-ethology, with a focus on how wolves adapt to human-dominated landscapes and how those adaptations, in turn, shape human tolerance. My work integrates behavioral ecology, conservation behavior theory, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to understand the decisions wolves make when navigating contested spaces, places where wilderness meets working lands, and where coexistence is fragile. I am also interested in incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to achieve coexistence with wolves and other large carnivores.

Linking wolf behavior to human social dynamics, my graduate research will focus on how Oregon’s wolves adapt to human presence through habituation, and how that process shapes. Conflict resolution strategies can shape it. This work will examine fine-scale behavioral adaptation: how individual wolves learn to navigate deterrents, livestock pastures, and human infrastructure; how social groups maintain or lose cohesion under pressure; and how behavioral visibility (daylight movement, proximity to settlements, or vocal presence)  affects human tolerance.

I aim to trace the two-way feedback loops between wolf behavior and human perception, seeking patterns that can inform coexistence in contested landscapes. Where my mentor's research has illuminated the social-ecological interplay between humans and wolves, I want to build on that foundation by probing the mechanisms of habituation (distinguishing between adaptive tolerance and riskier forms of boldness)  and by testing novel, behaviorally informed deterrent strategies. This means moving beyond reactive conflict mitigation toward predictive, relationship-based approaches that respect both ecological integrity and community needs.

My dream when I enrolled at OSU for my bachelor's degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences was to train to do research that doesn’t just document conflict, but helps transform it. Research that focuses on coexistence, listening, and justice for both wildlife and the communities that share their habitats.

I earned my degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences from Oregon State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. My academic path, field experience, and commitment to TEK guide my work toward a vision of conservation rooted in reciprocity, trust, and adaptive learning. At the heart of this work is the belief that conservation is as much about relationships as it is about numbers, about memory, adaptation, and respect across species lines.

I aim to contribute to reimagining the concept of habituation, not just as a behavioral process, but as a reciprocal relationship that shapes how wolves and humans learn to live alongside one another. Wolves have taught me about resilience, empathy, and the shared ethics of living in a world where boundaries, ecological or political, are never fixed.