Directors
Dr. Charles Robbins
Founder and Director of Research
Gay Lynn Clyde, DVM
Director of Operations
Bear Center Faculty
Dr. Charles Robbins
Interests: Nutrition and Ecology
ctrobbins@wsu.edu
ctrobbins@wsu.edu
Dr. Heiko Jansen
Interests: physiology
heiko@wsu.edu
heiko@wsu.edu
Dr. Joanna Kelley
Interest: genetics
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The University of California Santa Cruz
jokelley@ucsc.edu
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The University of California Santa Cruz
jokelley@ucsc.edu
Bear Center Staff
Chelsea Davis
Animal Care Facilities Manager
chelsea.davis@wsu.edu
chelsea.davis@wsu.edu
Campus Veterinary Support Staff
Nina Woodford, DVM, MPH, DACLAM
Director & Attending Veterinarian
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Gay Lynn Clyde, DVM
Assistant Director – Campus Veterinary Services
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Jessie McCleary, LVT
Veterinary Specialist II
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Current Students
Ellery Vincent
Project: The link between circadian gene rhythmicity and cellular metabolism during hibernation
Amelia Christian
Texas A&M University, Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Science
Project: Nitrogen Metabolism and the Adaptive Capacity of Carnivorous Bears
Project: Nitrogen Metabolism and the Adaptive Capacity of Carnivorous Bears
Heather Havelock
Research Scientists
Blair Perry Ph.D.
School of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University.
Functional genomics of hibernation and adaptation in bears
Functional genomics of hibernation and adaptation in bears
Graduate Student Alumni
Past graduate students work for a wide range of universities and state and federal agencies, including US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Depending on available projects and funding, we generally accept 1 or 2 new graduate students each year.
Tony Carnahan, Ph.D
Project: Energetics of grizzly bears
Anthony Pagano, Ph.D.
Polar Bear Biologist, USGS, Anchorage
Project: Nutrition, Energetics, and Ecology of Polar Bears
Heather Keepers
Animal Care Facilities Manager
Brandon Evans Hutzenbiler
Animal Care Facilities Manager
Hannah Hapner
Project: Seasonal changes in energy metabolism of adipocytes in grizzly bears
Michael Saxton
Bear Biologist, Katmai National Park
Projects: Genetic relatedness of brown bears in Katmai National Park.
Genetics of insulin resistance in hibernating grizzly bears
Genetics of insulin resistance in hibernating grizzly bears
Joy Erlenbach
Bear Biologist, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Prior Projects: Ecology of coastal brown bears in Katmai National Park
Effects of increasing visitor use on the behavior of coastal brown bears
Prior Projects: Ecology of coastal brown bears in Katmai National Park
Effects of increasing visitor use on the behavior of coastal brown bears
Alexia Gee
Prior Projects: Genetics of seasonal changes in grizzly bears
Genetics of insulin resistance in the liver of hibernating grizzly bears
Genetics of insulin resistance in the liver of hibernating grizzly bears
Shawn Trojahn
Prior Projects: Genetics of muscle atrophy resistance in hibernating brown bears
Evolution of hibernation
Evolution of hibernation
Jamie Gehring
Research Associate, Allen Institute for Cell Science, Seattle, WA
Prior Projects: Development of a protocol for the isolation and cultivation of brown bear adipocytes
Changes in seasonal regulation of insulin sensitivity, food intake and adipose biology in brown bears
Prior Projects: Development of a protocol for the isolation and cultivation of brown bear adipocytes
Changes in seasonal regulation of insulin sensitivity, food intake and adipose biology in brown bears
Kim Rigano
Field Technician, Ecological Associates Inc.
Prior Projects: Development of a protocol for the isolation and cultivation of brown bear adipocytes
Changes in seasonal regulation of insulin sensitivity, food intake and adipose biology in brown bears
Prior Projects: Development of a protocol for the isolation and cultivation of brown bear adipocytes
Changes in seasonal regulation of insulin sensitivity, food intake and adipose biology in brown bears
Danielle Rivet, MS
University of Saskatchewan Ph.D. program
Studying drivers behind polar bear movement
Prior Project: Examining grizzly bear heart function and the systemic effects of a high saturated fat diet
Studying drivers behind polar bear movement
Prior Project: Examining grizzly bear heart function and the systemic effects of a high saturated fat diet
Jennifer Fortin-Noreus, MS, PhD
Grizzly Bear Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Faculty Affiliate, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana
Faculty Affiliate, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana
Justin Teisberg, PhD
Team Leader – Physiology & Nutrition
Grizzly Bear Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Grizzly Bear Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Karyn Rode, MS, PhD
Research Wildlife Biologist, Alaska Science Center, USGS
Nutritional, physiological and population ecology of large mammals with particular focus on polar bears, black bears, grizzly bears, and Pacific walrus and anthropogenic effects on large mammals.
Nutritional, physiological and population ecology of large mammals with particular focus on polar bears, black bears, grizzly bears, and Pacific walrus and anthropogenic effects on large mammals.
Jasmine Ware, PhD
Polar Bear Biologist, Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, Canada
Grant Hildebrand, MS, PhD
Regional Chief of Natural Resources, Anchorage, AK, National Park Service
Troy Tollefson, MS, PhD
Nutritionist, Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition
Laura Felicetti, PhD
Director of Recruitment, Outreach, & Admissions
Hutton Honors College, University of Indiana
Hutton Honors College, University of Indiana
David G. Hewitt, MS, PhD
Leroy G. Denman, Jr. Endowed Director of Wildlife Research
Executive Director
Executive Director
Sean D. Farley, MS, PhD
Wildlife Physiologist/Research Biologist, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Christy Welch, MS
Professor, Big Bend Community College
Biology and Botany
Biology and Botany
Michael Jacoby, MS
Quality Control and Site Safety Manager, Verdesian Life Sciences
Geoff Pritchard, MS
President, Bunch Grass Farm, Deary Idaho