Cory T. Williams

Assistant Professor
Institute of Arctic Biology
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK

Email: ctwilliams(at)alaska.edu

Helen Chmura

Postdoctoral Fellow (2018 - Present)

Helen is interested in the mechanisms underpinning seasonal changes in behavior and physiology. She completed her PhD at UC Davis, examining the link between reproductive phenology and autumn migratory departure timing in arctic songbirds.

 Anusha Shankar

Postdoctoral Fellow (2019 - Present)

Anusha is interested in how animals respond (physiologically and behaviorally) to extreme and energy-limited environments. She will be working on trade-offs in immune function and reproduction in ground squirrels and on the neuroendocrine responses of grass rats, a diurnal model for seasonal affective disorder, to short photoperiods. She studied free-living hummingbird torpor and daily energy management in Ecuador and Arizona for her PhD at Stony Brook University. Visit her website at anushashankar.weebly.com

Devin Johnson

PhD Student (2017 - Present)

Devin is studying the mechanisms and processes that limit gyrfalcon distribution and abundance. His research takes place near Nome, AK, and is a part of the Peregrine Funds' Gyrfalcon Conservation Project in collaboration with Dr. David Anderson.

Sara Wilbur

MS Student (2016-Present)
co-advised by Brian Barnes

Sara is interested in how variable hibernation physiology affects macromolecular integrity. She is curious to see if arctic ground squirrels, an extreme hibernator, have telomere length dynamics that are correlated with the degree of tissue-specific oxidative stress experienced throughout hibernation.

 Matt Kynoch

MS Student  (2018-Present)
co-advised by Knut Kielland

Matt is studying the movement ecology and energetics of lynx in the Brooks range of Northern Alaska. His project combines satellite telemetry with biologging and involves a collaboration with state and federal wildlife agencies.

Cassandra Duncan

MS Student (2018-Present)

Cassie's main research interests revolve around neuro-endocrinology and reproductive physiology of mammals. The goal of her MS project is to better delineate the mechanisms and pathways that underlie circannual timing of life-history events, specifically reproduction, in the arctic ground squirrel. One of her long-term goals is to contribute to conservation and reproductive advancements for endangered species.

Victor Zhang (lab affiliate)

PhD Student (Northern Arizona University)

Victor is a PhD student in the lab of collaborator Loren Buck at NAU. He is combining biologging with endocrinology to examine how movement-specific energy expenditure is influenced by environmental conditions and reproductive state in arctic ground squirrels, Abert's squirrels, and striped skunks.

Undergraduatess

Meret Beutler
Kyle Callegari
Tiffany Lehnard
Shelby McCahon
Maddie Michaud