OUR RESEARCH TEAM
Dr. Kristin E. Brzeski, Director
Michigan Technological University Kristin is an Assistant Professor in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University, where her lab’s research focuses on wildlife genetics, conservation, and management. Dr. Brzeski has been conducting red wolf conservation science since her PhD and is leading the initiative to understand the genetic ancestry and ecology of the unique Gulf Coast canid population. In addition to her canid research, Dr. Brzeski is a co-founder of Biodiversity Initiative, a NGO that works to conserve biodiversity. Currently, her team is working with local conservation practitioners to monitor and protect endemic Central Africa wildlife. Lab Website Biodiversity Initiative CV Project email: gulfcoastcanineproject@gmail.com |
Dr. Bridgett M. vonHoldt, Co-Director
Princeton University Bridgett's research program investigates genomic signatures of demographic events, namely admixture and selection with a focus on wild and domestic species. Her program integrates computational and molecular approaches to connect evolutionary history with applications in fields of wildlife management, companion animal health, and endangered species policy.
Her research has shaped species protections with updated genomic perspectives and contributed significant insights regarding behavioral evolution of the domestic dog. Lab Website North American Canine Ancestry CV |
Dr. Joey W. Hinton, Co-Director
Wolf Conservation Center Joey is a wildlife ecologist with the Wolf Conservation Center where he serves as the Senior Research Scientist. He is a New Jersey native who acquired his PhD from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Joey’s research background focuses on the conservation and management of canids, specifically red wolves and coyotes, but also includes dabbling in some ungulate research.
His ongoing projects include the ecology and conservation of the reintroduced red wolf population in northeastern North Carolina, the ecology and management of coyotes in the southeastern United States, and the ecology and management of moose in the Adirondack Park of northern New York. Website |
Jazmin "Sunny" Murphy, Research Partner
Wolf Conservation Center Sunny is a socioecologist with the Wolf Conservation Center. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology in her home state of California at U.C. Santa Barbara, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Environmental Policy and Management (concentration: Fish and Wildlife Management) with American Public University.
Sunny’s research centers on the intersections of culture, ideology, legislation, economics, and land use with canid ecology, with special emphasis on African diasporic and Indigenous communities in the United States. Areas of particular interest regarding canid ecology include cognition, behavior, space, and synanthropy, all surrounding the goal of developing nonlethal adaptive management techniques that are equitable across cultures and species. |