Ivan Monagan, PhD student
On the summer road that ran by our front porch
Lizards and snakes came out to sun.
It was hot as a stove out there, enough to scorch
A buzzard's foot. Still, it was fun
To lie in the dust and spy on them. Near but remote,
They snoozed in the carriage ruts, a smile
In the set of the jaw, a fierce pulse in the throat
Working away like Jack Doyle's after he'd run the mile.
Aunt Martha had an unfair prejudice
Against them (as well as being cold
Toward bats.) She was pretty inflexible in this,
Being a spinster and all, and old.
So we used to slip them into her knitting box.
In the evening she'd bring in things to mend
And a nice surprise would slide out from under the socks.
It broadened her life, as Joe said. Joe was my friend.
But we never did it again after the day
Of the big wind when you could hear the trees
Creak like rocking chairs. She was looking away
Off, and kept saying, "Sweet Jesus, please
Don't let him near me. He's as like as twins.
He can crack us like lice with his fingernail.
I can see him plain as a pikestaff. Look how he grins
And swings the scaly horror of his folded tail."
Erich Eberhard, PhD student | Broadly, I am interested in the interdisciplinary study of coupled human and natural systems, with an emphasis on understanding the socioeconomic drivers of biodiversity loss and its cascading consequences for ecosystem function, ecosystems services, and human wellbeing. My PhD research makes use of emerging technologies, including bioacoustics, to study biodiversity dynamics across multi-use tropical landscapes and unravel the mechanisms by which they shape services. To complement my research activities, I develop multimedia projects that explore environmental narratives and support community participation in research and management.
Maddy Dietrich (she/her), PhD student | My research focuses on marine ecology and coastal resilience, in particular the way that climate change and other abiotic factors affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of southeastern US salt marshes.
Emily Leggat (she/her), PhD student | I am interested in how human environments and infrastructure influence species interactions. My area of focus is insect interactions in urban areas. [CV 2023]
Valentino Lee, MA Student | My research interests lie in the study of marine ecosystems and the ecology and behavior of marine species, including corals and reef fishes. I am also interested in leveraging my computer science background with emerging technology fields, such as bioacoustics and underwater videography, to help wildlife monitoring and conservation efforts. For my master's thesis, I am investigating the impact of shark and ray presence/absence on coral reef background sounds which I hope will lead to better understanding of interspecies interactions on healthy reefs. In my free time, I volunteer at the New York Aquarium where I lead dive teams cleaning the underwater exhibits. I also teach the divers and speak with the public about marine life and conservation, and maintain the dive team's social media page.
Sean Reese (he/him) is a PhD student in the School of International and Public Affairs' Sustainable Development program. He is broadly interested in natural resource policy but focuses on topics at the intersection of economics, ecology, and earth science. He is particularly interested in global efforts to preserve biodiversity, the economic value of nature, and how the biosphere acts as a mediator for climate change impacts (particularly through the provision of ecosystem services).
Lily Kunkel (they/them), Bridge Scholar | Ecology is the foundation and methodological home base for my research interests, but I’m deeply influenced and inspired by further research and work experience in social psychology, archaeology, environmental art, and sustainability. I am broadly interested in human-nature interactions, urban ecology, and anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity. As a two-spirit ecologist of Choctaw and Cherokee descent, I am also particularly interested in traditional ecological knowledge, environmental justice, and science communication.