Melanie Berger
mberge01@syr.edu

• Degree Sought: PHD
• Graduate Advisor(s): Farrell
• Area of Study: Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management
• Undergraduate Institution: Brown University (Biology: Ecology & E)
• Previous Graduate Study: University of New South Wales (Conservation Biology)

Favorite Quote
"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein

Robert Curry
rbcurry@syr.edu

• Degree Sought: MS
• Graduate Advisor(s): Farrell
• Area of Study: Ecology

Kurt Gielow
khgielow@syr.edu

• Degree Sought: MS
• Graduate Advisor(s): Farrell
• Area of Study: Ecology
• Undergraduate Institution: University of Florida (Wildlife Ecology and)

Graduate Research Topic
I am currently developing a research project that aims to investigate population dynamics and abundance of American Robins on a rural to urban gradient. I plan to conduct research on the ecology of these birds, looking at their distribution on a broad to local scale and gain insight into their role in wildlife diseases such as Lyme disease. With this research, we will hopefully expand the knowledge of birds as part of the pathogen-vector-host cycle in the distribution and dispersal of ticks.

Favorite Quote
"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." - Aldo Leopold

Laine McCall
lemccall@syr.edu

• Degree Sought: MS
• Graduate Advisor(s): Farrell
• Area of Study: Conservation Biology
• Undergraduate Institution: University of Missouri Columbia*

Graduate Research Topic
My research will focus on how science and policy interactions affect the management and protection of endangered species.

Ravyn Neville
ranevill@syr.edu

• Degree Sought: MS
• Graduate Advisor(s): Farrell
• Area of Study: Conservation Biology
• Undergraduate Institution: Salisbury University

Graduate Research Topic
I am working on developing a project that examines how beech bark disease is impacting the biodiversity of the Adirondacks. Specifically, I'm interested in how different wildlife communities respond to the removal of American beech, and how that translates in effective forest management planning.

Michael Rosenthal
mrosen05@syr.edu

• Degree Sought: MS
• Graduate Advisor(s): Farrell and Stella
• Area of Study: Conservation Biology
• Undergraduate Institution: Cornell University

Links
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrrosenthal/ ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Rosenthal3

Graduate Research Topic
My research examines the effects that beavers' tree felling activities has upon small rodent, weasel, shrew and bat biodiversity and habitat selection.

Michael Whalen
mrwhalen@syr.edu

• Degree Sought: PHD
• Graduate Advisor(s): Farrell and Dovciak
• Area of Study: Conservation Biology
• Undergraduate Institution: Colby College

Links
My Photography: https://www.instagram.com/mr.zarfos/

Personal Statement
At ESF I study the relationships between acid rain, beech bark disease, and plant and bird community composition in Adirondack hardwood forests. I am enrolled in the MA of international relations program at Syracuse University, where I focus on international security. My volunteering efforts are dedicated to improving land conservation in my home town of Deep River CT. I enjoy producing nature and landscape photography in my free time.