Chandika R G, Ph.D. student, 2021 – present
My research interest revolves around how genomics & GIS can help in wildlife monitoring and conservation. In particular, for my Ph.D., I intend to look at the coding regions in the genome in the North American cervid populations for diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease.
Before enrolling at UWM, I worked in three different projects at various laboratories in India. My genetics journey began with my Master’s dissertation on landscape genetics of Nilgiri Tahr, an endemic-endangered ungulate in South India. Parallely, I was shown how integrating landscape data could bring out reasons that hinder gene flow between populations. This experience in genetics paved the way to execute a project independently for deducing the genetics of captive-bred Red Panda in Darjeeling Zoo, India and Singalila National Park, India (captive-bred individuals will be restocked in Singalila). My interest to use -omics for conservation developed during this project when the ‘genetic health’ of the population was sought by the conservation managers. We studied the microsatellite diversity of these Red Pandas, and helped to make decision on which individuals could enhance the genetic diversity in this population.
After completing this project, I moved to the Zoological Survey of India in a DST-SERB-funded project that will deduce the phylogeography and colonization history of Indian Rhesus macaque. Though this is a species under Least Concern in IUCN Red List, it has become vermin in many parts of India. Apart from that, its range extension because of human mediated changes in the landscape is posing threat to bonnet macaque which is an endemic species in South India. It will be interesting so see how this project would take shape especially from management perspective.
My leisure activities include reading topics in psychology and permaculture, anything artsy and appreciating good thought-provoking humor. My outdoor hobbies are biking and photography.
Billie Harrison, PhD student, 2022 – present
My research has focused on applying quantitative analysis, GIS and now genomics tools towards the conservation of often maligned taxa like herptiles, fish and invertebrates. I am fortunate to have worked on field research projects from below the sea up to cloud forest heights. For many years, I have been researching the endemic Grenada frog (Pristimantis euphronides) and the introduced Johnstone’s frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei) on the island of Grenada. For my Master’s degree, I explored the relationship between the two species and mapped the distribution of the endemic frog. The recent IUCN Lesser Antillean amphibian assessment developed extant range data based on my mapping efforts and updated the status of P. euphronides from “Red List, Endangered” to “Critically Endangered”. After completing this effort, it became clear that still very little is known that can aid in conservation management strategies for this species. For my PhD, I hope to gain a better understanding of how anthropogenic and climate changes might impact diversity and gene flow in this high elevation endemic. I am also very interested in determining occupancy through stratified random sampling efforts.
I was a contributing author on the 2022 Amphibians and Reptiles of Wisconsin guide book and served as the Outreach Coordinator for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Species Survival Planning group. As coordinator of the Outreach team, I strive to inspire citizens to make responsible choices that benefit our communities by protecting the natural places upon which we rely.
In my free time, I enjoy being outside and going on ridiculously long runs. I then enjoy boring my husband, family and friends by talking endlessly about herptiles, invertebrates and fish. After I’ve strained my human relationships enough, I turn to caring for my herptiles, invertebrates and dog who register no complaints when I watch slow-paced films and play, or attempt to play different musical instruments.
McKenzie Henkelman, PhD student, 2024 – present
My research focuses on the genetic relationships between contemporary and historical southwestern elk. My first aim is to determine if the native elk in Arizona (Merriam’s elk) are genetically different from other elk subspecies including Rocky Mountain elk from the Southern Rockies and Roosevelt elk from the Pacific Northwest. My second aim is to see if there is any signature of native Arizona elk remaining in today’s herd, which was re-established through translocations.
My academic journey began at Winona State University (WSU). I attained my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WSU while working on a wide variety of research projects. I had focused most of my research on population ecology of various aquatic species including Salmo trutta, Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis macrochirus, and Cyprinus carpio but worked on other projects such as parasite identification in midwestern waterfowl and multiplex PCR development. While attaining my master’s degree I was a microbiology TA and worked as a GIS technician at GeoSpatial Services mapping wetlands to the NWI coding system using spatial analysis.
Outside of academia I enjoy many hobbies including reading, fishing, skiing, videogames, and crafting. If I’m not working on a project or book, I can often be found snuggling my cat and dog in bed watching a new series. I love to travel, but my favorite place is Hayward Wisconsin, my hometown. There you can find me fishing on a lake or kayaking the Namekagon River.