Conservation Ecologist, Conservation Research Program
[email protected]

Jessica is a Research Ecologist for the Conservation Research program working to investigate and conserve native species in the Willamette Valley and beyond. She is excited about monitoring threatened species and providing data to inform sound conservation decisions! She is working with plant species such as Kincaid’s lupine (Lupinus oreganus) and Botrychium pumicola, as well as coordinating regional efforts to monitor Fender’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi).

Jessica recently relocated to Corvallis after living in Southwestern Germany, where she earned a M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Konstanz with a focus on aquatic ecology and animal movement. For her Masters research at the University of Barcelona she studied the trophic niche and foraging behavior of loggerhead sea turtles in the Western Mediterranean using stable isotopes and 3D movement analysis. After graduating with her Masters, Jessica worked as a Field Biologist on ecotoxicological and risk assessment studies throughout Europe. She focused on small mammal studies with voles, mice, and rabbits, but also worked with lizards, birds, and arthropods. Before starting graduate school in Germany, Jessica worked on community development and sustainable agriculture in Northern California and on outdoor education in Telluride, Colorado. Jessica graduated with her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

When not chasing plants or butterflies, you can find Jessica exploring the region, most likely in the water, in the mountains, or on her bicycle. If it is raining, she is likely listening to music, dancing around, cooking food for friends, crocheting, or going for a walk in the rain. Jessica grew up in Michigan, and is happy to be immersed in the unique ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest and is curious to learn more about indigenous land stewardship practices in this region and everywhere.