Wolfe Laboratory
Michigan Technological University
Lab Members
Tanner Barnes, PhD student
(co-advised with Dr. Kristin Brzeski)
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Research: Effects of experimental changes in microclimates on white-nose syndrome and zoonotic disease in bat hibernacula. Project funded by MI-SAPPHIRE and NFWF award.
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Katie Brouwer, MSc student
(co-advised with Dr. Kristin Brzeski)
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Research: Rapid assessment of songbird habitat quality. Project funded by Integrated Field Practicum TA fellowship.
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Carl Greene, PhD student
(co-advised with Dr. Jeremy Bos)
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Research: Developing low-cost deployments of autonomous thermal and lidar sensors to monitor and manage bat hibernacula microclimates. Project funded by USFWS.
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Garrett Kucharski, MSc student
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Research: Climatic effects on the regional distribution and habitat selection of migratory birds. Project funded by MI-SAPPHIRE, GLRI, and MTU GA position.
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Ellie Resendiz, PhD student
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Research: Unraveling drivers of stopover habitat quality, at multiple spatial scales, across the Great Lakes Basin. Project funded by GEM Fellowship, GLRI, and USDA Forest Service.
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Alex Riebe, MSc student
(co-advised with Dr. Shane Oberloier)
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Research: Developing autonomous systems for temperature control in bat hibernacula to combat White-nose Syndrome. Project funded by NFWF award.
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Jackie Suits, MSc student
(co-advised with Dr. Kristin Brzeski)
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Research: Drivers of emergent zoonotic disease in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Project funded by MI-SAPPHIRE.
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Lab Alumni
Tiff DeGroote, PhD (graduated 2024)
(co-advised with Dr. Kristin Brzeski)
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Research: Biodiversity assessments and conservation in central African Protected Areas. Project funded by Biodiversity Initiative, Salonga Conservation Initiative, and the Devlieg Foundation Fellowship.
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Jenna Brewer, MSc (graduated 2024)
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Research: Developing and testing an acoustic deterrent to reduce migratory songbird collisions. Project funded by NSF GRFP.
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Samuel Lopes Oliveira, PhD (graduated 2022)
(co-advised with Dr. David Flaspohler)
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Research: Assessing migrant bird communities in Mexican oil palm plantations, and determining the efficacy of using carbon offsets to conserve migrant birds on their tropical wintering grounds.
PhD student, Sam Oliveira, introduces his research focused on assessing the value of forest fragments for Wood Thrush across the Caribbean Slope of Costa Rica -- an area dominated by pineapple farming.
Maria "Lulu" Ferrer, MSc student (graduated 2022)
(co-advised with Dr. Kristin Brzeski)
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Research: Dynamics of avian malaria in northern Michigan.
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Seth Finkel, MSc student (graduated 2022)
(co-advised with Dr. David Flaspohler)
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Research: Response of Ruffed Grouse to dissimilar forestry management practices.
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Breanna Gusick, MSc student, (graduated 2021)
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Research: Effects of different silviculture treatments on small mammal diversity in northern hardwoods.
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MSc student, Bre Gusick, discussing her trapping techniques used to assess small mammal communities across different silviculture prescriptions
Tony Lammers, MSc student, (graduated 2020)
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Research: Winter range expansion of songbird communities in North America.
Tori Engler, Undergraduate student, (graduated 2020
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Research: Assessing Eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) survival and physiological condition across different silviculture prescriptions in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Andrew Wiegardt, MSc student (Humboldt State University 2017)
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Research: Epigenetic action of forest-dwelling birds along a disturbance gradient in Equatorial Guinea, Central Africa.
Read Andrew's thesis here.
