Research Associate

Kathryn Sliwa

Kathryn's research interests include movement ecology, conservation, and wildlife health and disease. She received a B.S. in Conservation and Wildlife Management from Delaware Valley University and earned a M.S. with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University—Kingsville. Her thesis focused on nilgai antelope movement ecology and how nilgai impact cattle fever tick eradication efforts in South Texas. Kathryn currently works on the Ridgway’s rail and secretive marsh bird projects in California and Arizona.

Research Associate

Cody Tisdale

Cody's research interests lie in how anthropogenic activities impact the environment and how wildlife species react to these various influences. He also has a particular interest in game species to ensure that populations are sustainably managed in the presence of both human encroachment as well as hunter harvest. Cody is currently working on the Grouse & Grazing Project studying the interactions between Greater sage-grouse and cattle grazing.

Ph.D. Student

Anthony Locatelli

Anthony is originally from Wisconsin.  He went to the University of Minnesota for his B.S. and Texas A&M University for his M.S., both in wildlife biology.  In general, Anthony is interested in avian ecology, spatial ecology, migration, conservation biology, wildlife management, and numerous other subjects.  For his Ph.D. dissertation, he is focusing on postbreeding movements, migration resource selection, and survival of burrowing owls.  In his spare time Anthony likes to hike, forage, bird, camp, watch the Packers, and go on road trips.

Ph.D. Student

Emily Martin

Emily received her B.A. in biology from Bates College in 2014 and spent the ensuing decade working on a wide variety of species, from the cryptic terrestrial salamanders of Shenandoah to the enigmatic forest elephants of Tanzania. Emily joined the Conway lab in the fall of 2022 after being awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. When she isn't thinking about snakes, Emily can usually be found hooting for owls or hiking with her dogs in the backcountry.

Ph.D. Student

Neil Paprocki

Neil is from western New York, completed his B.Sc. in Animal Behavior from Bucknell University, and his M.Sc. in Raptor Biology from Boise State University. His research interests broadly encompass aspects of behavioral and population ecology of birds. In his free, time Neil enjoys birding, camping, hiking, running, skiing, and playing board games. 

M.S. Student

Matthew Dunning

Matthew received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2019 and spent the next few years traveling the country working with a variety of avian species. Matt joined the Conway lab in the Fall of 2024. His research interests include avian movement/migration and exploring the population structure of Burrowing Owls across their entire range. In his free, time Matt enjoys plant collecting and pursuing art projects.

M.S. Student

Emma Hakanson

Emma is from Minnesota and completed her B.S. in Natural Resources at Northland College. Before moving to Idaho, Emma’s experience primarily included data management, GIS, and electrofishing for minnows. She became a graduate student in 2024 and is interested in the effects of competition on population dynamics and spatial ecology. In her free time, Emma is usually playing a variety of video games, reading/listening to audiobooks, or talking to people about squirrels.

M.S. Student

Shelby McCahon

Shelby grew up in a small town in North Dakota where her current graduate research now takes place. For the past 10 years, she lived in Alaska and has worked on a variety  of avian, small mammal, and toxicology projects. She graduated with her B.Sc. in Wildlife Biology in 2020 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and started her master's degree in Natural Resources in Fall 2022. Outside of research, Shelby enjoys practicing aerial arts, backpacking, birding, and photography.

M.S. Student

Alice Morris

Alice is originally from Natick, Massachusetts. She received her B.A. in Biology from Boston University in 2014, and spent the next few years working for various universities and agencies on wildlife research projects around the U.S. before returning to school for her master’s. When she isn't catching squirrels, Alice loves hiking and backpacking to explore Idaho’s wilderness areas. She also loves drawing and painting, and often draws artistic inspiration from her research. 

M.S. Student

Reese Wray

Reese graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Lipscomb University in 2017 and started his career working with greater sage-grouse in Idaho and an elk reintroduction program in his home state of Missouri. He spends his free time in the outdoors turkey hunting and fishing for bass and crappie. Otherwise, you can find Reese playing sports or watching them. His research interests are upland game bird ecology, animal behavior, habitat management and restoration, and regenerative agriculture.

M.S. Student

Cydney Yost

Cydney went to the University of Wyoming and graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Zoology and Environment & Natural Resources. Her research interests include movement and spatial ecology, behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and effects of anthropogenic disturbance. For her master’s thesis, Cydney is focused on selenium toxicity and the effects of selenium on the survival and reproductive success of the endangered Yuma Ridgway’s rail at the Salton Sea and throughout the Lower Colorado River Basin.