Research Area: Plant Ecology, Modeling using a Geographic Information System

Faculty Mentor(s): Advisor: Dr. Michael Kelrick, Committee Members:
Dr.Steve Carroll, Dr. Jon Gering, and Dr. Hyun-Joo Kim

Research Thesis: Development of a habitat suitability model for the federally threatened Missouri bladder-pod (Lesquerella filiformis) at two spatial scales

Research Description:

I have been interested in studying rare plants ever since I began doing research in undergrad. with the hooded pitcher plant, which is state endangered.  I enjoy doing field work whether it is in a wetland (as with the pitcher plant) or in a glade (as with the bladder-pod).  However, I also really enjoy learning about and using math and statistics.  So developing a mathematical model to describe the association between a rare plant and its microhabitat has been the perfect project!

Expected Date of Graduation: May, 2004

Undergraduate Education: University of North Florida, 2001, B.S. in Biology with a minor on Psychology

Why did you choose Truman?

My partner got accepted to KCOM so we moved to Kirksville. I really wanted to get a graduate degree with a focus in ecology.  After I had been in Kirksville for a few months I found out that Truman had a Masters in Biology program so I talked with a few of the professors.  They were so friendly and helpful that I was really motivated to become part of their biology community!

Hometown: Melbourne, Florida

Hobbies: Hanging out with my partner (Garrett Edwards), plant identification, triathlons, surfing, camping/hiking, yoga, playing guitar, watching movies, and recently I have started rock climbing

Favorite place to eat in Kirksville: Il Spazio!!

Additional Info: This summer I will be moving to Phoenix, AZ where I hope to teach biology at a community college.  I would like to get a masters degree in Statistics, maybe during the second and third year of teaching.  I would also like to be certified in massage therapy while I am in Phoenix, maybe during a summer.  Then, I would like to get a PhD. in something math and biology related and go on to teach and do research at a university in Florida.