2022 Murie Family Conservation Award — Dr. Monica T. Engel
Details forthcoming…
2022 Albert R. & Alma Shadle Fellowship — Matthew Snider
The Albert R. and Alma Shadle Fellowship is awarded to a graduate student in recognition of current accomplishments and future potential in mammalogy. The 2021 recipient of the Albert R. and Alma Shadle award is Matt Snider of North Carolina State University.
Matt Snider has proudly been a member of ASM since 2018, during which time he has attended all of the meetings in person, online, and happily in person again, allowing him to present various sections of his work. He now serves on the African Research Fellowship Committee and the Conservation Committee. With the assistance of funding from the GRFP, National Geographic, and NC State he has been able to continue his graduate studies under the tutelage of Dr. Roland Kays and publish in various journals, including Journal of Mammalogy.
Building upon his nearly eight years living in sub-Saharan Africa as a research project manager and now a graduate student, he has been able to follow is passion for research on movement and community ecology. Some of these topics include home range dynamics of leopards (Panthera pardus) in relation to human density, medium and large sized mammal community changes along the habitat and elevation gradient on Mt Kenya, predator communities at the Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) migration in Zambia, and evaluating the utility of drones for large mammal surveys and anti-poaching efforts in Namibia. These field experiences have dovetailed with his passion for supporting local sustainability in conservation through building partnerships with local wildlife organizations and mentoring students in the US, Kenya, Zambia, and Namibia.
2022 ASM Fellowship — Marissa Dyck
The ASM Fellowship is the highest award made to a graduate student member of our Society. The award is intended to recognize current outstanding accomplishments in mammalogy, service to ASM, as well as the potential for a productive, future role in professional Mammalogy. The recipient of the 2021 American Society of Mammalogists Fellowship is Marissa Dyck from Ohio University.
Marissa Dyck was born and raised in McMinnville Oregon. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with bachelor’s degrees in Zoology and Environment and Natural Resources. Marissa is currently pursuing a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology at Ohio University, under the mentorship of Dr. Viorel Popescu. Her research focuses on carnivore ecology and conservation in the US and Eastern Europe. Specifically, she uses non-invasive techniques coupled with statistical modeling to assess occupancy, interspecific interactions, and population viability of species such as lynx, wolves, bobcats, and coyotes.
Marissa has been a member of ASM since 2017 when she was an undergraduate student and has attended and presented at four ASM conferences since joining the society. She serves on the Conservation and the African Graduate Student Research Fund committees and was elected as a student representative to the Board of Directors in 2022. Marissa has also received grants-in-aid from ASM and Sigma Xi, and numerous grants and fellowships from Ohio University. She has published in journals such as Ecology and Evolution, Mammal Review, Journal of Mammalogy, and Ecology. Marissa is passionate about teaching and mentorship; throughout her graduate degree she has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate level courses in ecology and statistics and mentored over 25 undergraduate students.