Kathryn Sliwa

Research Associate

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.

Cody Tisdale

Research Associate

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.

Anthony Locatelli

Ph.D. Student

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.

Emily Martin

Ph.D. Student

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.

Neil Paprocki

Ph.D. Student

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. 

Shelby McCahon

M.S. Student

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.

Alice Morris

M.S. Student

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. 

Grace Overlie

M.S. Student

Grace is from Lowman, Idaho. She received her B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Idaho in 2021 and immediately began her master's in Entomology. She is interested in the conservation of native wildlife through the lense of arthropod community content and understanding how to better the world through scientific exploration. Outside of research, Grace likes to collect insects, spend time at home, and travel as much as possible.

Kim Sawyer

M.S. Student

Kim's research interests include understanding the effects of anthropogenic changes to the environment on wildlife behavior and fitness as well as the population dynamics of endangered species. She has a background with waterbirds of all varieties (marsh, shore, and sea) and much of her experience has been in urban and coastal wetlands as well as agricultural areas. In her free time Kim enjoys backpacking, running, playing soccer, and eating snacks.

Ty Styhl

M.S. Student

Ty was born and raised in southern Idaho. After serving in the navy and owning a contracting company, he received an associate degree in biology from College of Western Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in ecology and conservation biology from University of Idaho. His research interests are in applied ecology, ornithology, and botany. With his work and research, Ty hopes to inform science-based management practices on public lands. He enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, and carpentry in his free time.

Reese Wray

M.S. Student

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.

Anne Yen

M.S. Student

Anne is from Detroit, Michigan and received a B.S. in Resource Ecology from the University of Michigan. Before attending the University of Idaho, she worked with various agencies on projects with reptiles, amphibians, birds, and deer.  For three years, Anne served as a Graduate Student Mentor with the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative at U of I, a program supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the fish and wildlife fields. Her research interests include birds, herpetofauna, and drone applications.

Cydney Yost

M.S. Student

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.