Meet Our People
Directors

Dr. Charles Robbins
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