Erica F. Stuber | X-SCALE ECOLOGY
Assistant Unit Leader - USGS UT Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Assistant Professor - Utah State University Department of Wildland Resources & Ecology Center
PEOPLE
Dr. Erica Stuber
Spatial Ecologist
Amanda Hayes-Puttfarcken
MSc Student
I obtained my B.S. in Zoology at Miami University and completed a project focused on mate choice in female prairie voles. I’ve worked in the field doing white-footed mouse population surveys in Michigan, camera trapping in Namibia, land restoration in Nevada, and ground squirrel and vegetation surveys in Illinois. These days I’m studying avian occupancy and abundance across a habitat quality gradient, and am interested in determining a measure of species’ resilience to habitat degradation. For fun I enjoy most things that involve being outdoors including camping, hiking, running, and skiing. I also dabble in climbing and swing dancing, and have a strong case of the travel bug at all times whether within the US or abroad. In the future, I plan to influence wildlife management practices through innovative research and public outreach.
Jack Rasmussen
MSc Student
I’m from a small midwestern town where I grew up fishing, hunting, skiing, and doing everything I could to be outdoors. I obtained my first degree in economics in 2016 and worked as an analyst for a retailer. Quitting in 2018 and persuing a BS in Biology graduating in spring 2020. During my second degree I worked on southern flying squirrel home ranges, and lake level predictability utilizing dendrochronology. Prior to joining the lab, I was working at a nature preserve where we focused on habitat restoration and raptor migration. My science interests are rooted in my upbringing as an outdoorsman; animal movement, space usage, habitat restoration, and human factors influencing animal movement. I can usually be found either skiing or flyfishing depending on the season. After graduate school I hope to continue researching animal movement and human impacts on wildlife. The project I am currently working on is looking at how mule incorporate Utah WRI (Watershed restoration Initiative) treatments into their home ranges.
Jaylin Solberg
MSc Student
I grew up in Minnesota and I received my B.S. in Fisheries & Wildlife Biology at the University of North Dakota in Spring 2020. Since 2017, I've worked on multiple state and federal research projects with multiple species including waterfowl, bats, and multiple large mammals, mainly ungulates. I started my Master's in Fall 2021 researching how to account for ecological neighborhoods to better understand mule deer abundance on restored habitat in Utah. My research interests include spatial and landscape ecology, resource selection, and wildlife management. When I'm not in the lab, I like to ski, rock climb, watch marvel movies, and find new ice cream places. My long-term goals include becoming a wildlife biologist to manage wildlife and habitat on public lands and to increase human diversity on public lands.
Aimee Van Tatenhove
PhD Candidate
I'm a Fritz Knopf doctoral fellow at Utah State University, co-advised by Drs. Clark Rushing (UGA-Warnell) and Erica Stuber. My research is focused on American white pelican demography, migratory connectivity, historical population drivers, and airspace use. I work primarily with the population of white pelicans west of the Rocky Mountains, with a focus on white pelicans around Great Salt Lake. I also work part-time as a science intern at Utah Public Radio. In my free time, I bake, ski, and attempt to keep my two cats from eating my indoor plants. For more info, see my personal site!
Mallory Sandoval-Lambert
PhD Candidate
