Background
I come to my PhD with a background in wildlife biology, conservation, and fieldwork across diverse ecosystems. My experience includes tracking large mammals in Botswana and Yellowstone, conducting ungulate and vegetation surveys with Round River Conservation Studies in British Columbia, and training as a field guide apprentice in South Africa. I have also worked as a sled dog handler in Vermont, gaining skills in animal care and behavioural management. These experiences shaped my interests in ecology, conservation, and the human-nature relationship, and now inform my current research integrating AI with ecological monitoring for conservation outcomes.
PhD
Bioacoustics and Deep Learning for Avian Identification and Population MonitoringKey research areas: Bird ecology, conservation, environmental intelligence. Methods: AI models (computer vision, acoustic analysis), ecological field data, statistical modelling. Data: Birdsong recordings, images, observational datasets (e.g., eBird). Interdisciplinarity: Combines ecology, computer science (AI/ML), and social science (access, ethics, conservation justice).
In Simple Terms...
I use AI to automatically recognize bird species from sounds and images. This helps track bird populations and detect threats to ecosystems more quickly and accurately than humans could alone. It allows conservationists to spot threats earlier and prioritize wildlife protection more effectively.
Supervisors
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Lead Supervisor
Dr. Louisa van Zeeland
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Co-Supervisor
Dr. Evangeline Corcoran
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Co-Supervisor
Dr. Hywel Williams
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Co-Supervisor
Dr. Camille Bonneaud