In college, I learned about wildlife conservation from textbooks, but in Madagascar, I witnessed conflict and truly understood the urgent need to protect people and wildlife alike.
I started graduate school after college, and I’ve since had the opportunity to return to Madagascar several times for my research. For my PhD, I am using leeches as a tool to study the animals these creatures feed on. The leeches I study live on land, specifically in tropical rainforests like those in Madagascar. I collect leeches from the forest, take them back to my lab, analyze the blood in their guts, and figure out which animals they’ve fed on. It involves lots of hiking, camping, paperwork and planning, but I love every minute of it!
During this expedition, I'll be updating you from the field with stories, pictures and videos. Also joining me will be Dr. Mark Siddall, Curator of Parasitology at the American Museum of Natural History. He is my PhD advisor, and he’ll be helping me collect and process leeches. We'll meet the rest of the team once I arrive in Madagascar!
