Directors
Director of Operations
Gay Lynn Clyde, DVM
College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences and Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Director of Research
Dr. Charles Robbins
School of the Environment and School of Biological Sciences, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences; and College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty
Dr. Charles Robbins
School of the Environment and School of Biological Sciences, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences and College of Sciences
Area of Interest:
Nutrition, energetics, and ecology of grizzly bears and polar bears.
Dr. Heiko Jansen
Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine
Area of Interest:
Physiology, genetics, and ecology of bear hibernation
Dr. Joanna Kelley
School of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Area of Interest:
Physiology, genetics, and evolution of bears
Staff
Chelsea Davis
Animal Care and Facilities Manager
photo coming soon
Campus Veterinary Support Staff
Nina Woodford, DVM, MPH, DACLAM
Director & Attending Veterinarian
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Gay Lynn Clyde, DVM
Assistant Director – Campus Veterinary Services
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Jessie McCleary, LVT
Veterinary Specialist II
Office of the Campus Veterinarian
Current Graduate Students
Tony Carnahan
Project:
- Energetics of grizzly bears
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
Research Scientists
Anthony Pagano, Ph.D.
School of the Environment, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University
Nutrition, Energetics and Ecology of Polar Bears
Blair Perry Ph.D.
School of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University.
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.
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
Projects:
- Genetic relatedness of brown bears in Katmai National Park
- 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
Alexia Gee
Prior Projects:
- Genetics of seasonal changes in 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
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
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
Danielle Rivet, M.S.
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
Jennifer Fortin-Noreus, M.S., Ph.D.
Grizzly Bear Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Faculty Affiliate, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana
Justin Teisberg, Ph.D.
Team Leader – Physiology & Nutrition
Grizzly Bear Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Karyn Rode, M.S., Ph.D.
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.
Jasmine Ware, Ph.D.
Polar Bear Biologist, Department of Environment, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, Canada
Grant Hildebrand, M.S., Ph.D.
Regional Chief of Natural Resources, Anchorage, AK, National Park Service
Troy Tollefson, M.S., Ph.D.
Nutritionist, Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition
Laura Felicetti, Ph.D.
Director of Recruitment, Outreach, & Admissions
Hutton Honors College, University of Indiana
David G. Hewitt, M.S., Ph.D.
Sean D. Farley, M.S., Ph.D.
Wildlife Physiologist/Research Biologist, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Michael Jacoby, M.S.
Quality Control and Site Safety Manager, Verdesian Life Sciences
Geoff Pritchard, M.S.
President, Bunch Grass Farm, Deary Idaho
Christy Welch, M.S.
Professor, Big Bend Community College
Biology and Botany