People

Meet the Team

Samniqueka Halsey (Primary Investigator)
Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

My research stresses the importance of using long-term data sets, GIS, and remote sensing. She uses computational approaches to understand the mechanisms involved in the patterns we see in nature. Most of my work involves using modeling approaches to delineate how spatial and temporal changes in ecological interactions influence a focal species. I hold a particular interest in informing management actions with my models.

I earned my Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Illinois-Urbana - Champaign. My dissertation research focused on advancing our understanding of the mechanisms involved int he ecology of Lyme disease through quantitative reviews and building spatially-explicit models depicting tick-pathogen-host interactions. I hold a MS in Biological Sciences from Chicago State University where I aided the continued conservation of Cirsium pitcheri by determining whether restoration efforts improved meta-population viability.

Teaching:
Graduate Emphasis Areas: Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Undergraduate Emphasis Areas: Natural Resource Science and Management

Courses:
Ecosystem Management (FW 4600W/7600)
Ecological Restoration (NATR 8200)
Natural Resource Biometrics (NATR 4110/7110)
Disease Ecology (FW 4810/7810)

Graduate Students

Evan Aljundi

Degree Program: Masters Student in Natural Resources
Emphasis: Fisheries and Wildlife

Project: Identifying Patterns of Chronic Wasting Disease Prevalence in Missouri’s Odocoileus virginianus Population

Evan graduated with a Bachelors in Natural Resources Science and Management with an emphasis in Fisheries and Wildlife. My research interests are conservation and disease ecology surrounding mammal

Skylar Ciccolini
Degree Program: Masters Student in Natural Resources
Emphasis: Fisheries and Wildlife Biology

Project: Managing Disease Risk in Tallgrass Prairies: A New Frontier

Skylar graduated with a Bachelors in Natural Resources Science and Management with an emphasis in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Her research interests include conservation and its effect on whole ecosystems. She also is a member of Mizzou’s track and field team.

Degree program: masters student in Natural Resources
Emphasis: fisheries and wildlife

Project: Exploring Public Perceptions of Chronic Wasting Disease in Missouri’s Deer Population

Kyle graduated with his bachelors in natural resources science and management with an emphasis on terrestrial ecosystems. His research interests are ecological restoration, habitat restoration, and disease ecology.

Alyssa Smolensky

Degree Program: Masters Student in Natural Resources
Emphasis: Fisheries and Wildlife Science

Project: A case study in quantifying urban afforestation as a conservation strategy for endangered wildlife species

Alyssa is a graduate from the University of Vermont with a major in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and a minor in Community and International Development. Her research interests include urban ecology and wildlife conservation.

Chantelle Wimms

Degree Program: Masters Student in Natural Resources
Emphasis: Fisheries and Wildlife Science

Project: Identifying relationships between Fire Management, Vegetation Composition, Arthropod Vectors and Small Mammals in Tall Grass Prairies

Chantelle is a graduate Truman State University with a major in Biology. Her research interests include animal behavior and wildlife conservation.

ALumni

Kirsten Hirst
Degree Program: Masters in Natural Resources, Emphasis: Fisheries and Wildlife, December 2022
Thesis: Understanding Bacterial Zoonotic Disease Infection And Its Severity On Wildlife Populations

Evan Aljundi
Degree Program: Masters in Natural Resources, Emphasis: Fisheries and Wildlife, December 2022
Thesis: Understanding bacterial zoonotic disease infection and its severity on wildlife populations

Jermayne Smith
Degree Program: Masters in Natural Resources, Emphasis: Fisheries and Wildlife, May 2024
Thesis: Identifying Patterns of Chronic Wasting Disease Prevalence in Missouri’s Odocoileus virginianus Population

Current Summer Field Technicians

Rachel Rebel
I am a senior at the University of Missouri and majoring in Natural Resources Science and Management with an emphasis in Fisheries and Wildlife. My research interests include topics in mammals and birds, as well as population genetics and conserving endangered species.