Tynan Becker

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests:
Research Interests:
Techniques:
Personal Interests:
Email:

Casey Clark

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests: My primary interest is ecology and the health of animal populations, with a focus on marine mammals. In Alaska, many marine mammal species are important subsistence resources for Alaska Native communities. I think it is vitally important to educate people about the importance of protecting subsistence species and maintaining access to a healthy and readily available food supply.
Research Interests: My research investigates the impacts of previous changes in climate on Pacific walruses, to provide information about how walruses may respond to current and future Arctic warming. Specifically, I am investigating how walrus diet and foraging location changed across 2,500 years and relating that information to climate reconstructions.
Techniques: I use two primary laboratory techniques for my research. First, I use stable isotope analysis to measure isotope ratios of Pacific walrus tissues (mostly bone collagen), which provides information about walrus diet and foraging location. Second, I measure trace element concentrations using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). I use this technique to reconstruct histories of exposure to individual trace elements such as iron, zinc, nickel, cadmium, etc., for individual walruses.
Personal Interests: I enjoy spending time outside, hiking, cabin trips in the winter, camping in the summer, kayaking, and fishing.
Email: ctclark@alaska.edu

Sheri Coker

Aline Collin

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests:
Research Interests:
Techniques:
Personal Interests:
Email:

Andrew Cyr

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests: I have been mentoring undergraduates, high school students, and middle school students in my field of study for over 4 years. I have mentored youth at science camps, outdoor camps, environmental education camps, and language camps. I mentored in Morocco with the Peace Corps, teaching concepts ranging from environmental protection and agriculture, to health care and small business ideas. Presently I am mentoring with the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory.
Research Interests: Hands-on, patience, and fun. We can get a classroom teaching setting with useless tests and boring lectures anywhere. But the beauty of mentoring is that it allows for a closer teaching environment, allowing for more hands-on learning, with patient and open minded mentors. I try to create a comfortable and fun learning environment where my mentee feels challenged, but supported, and feels free and unintimidated to ask questions.
Techniques: Toxicology, Contaminants, Fish, Biomonitoring, Bioaccumulation, Biomagnification, Mercury, POPs, non-motorized remote clean sample collection
Personal Interests: Cross country skiing, backcountry skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, alpine/rock/ice climbing, biking, non-motorized endurance travel, canoeing, rafting, packrafting, hunting, birding, recycling, energy research, woodworking and turning wrenches.
Email:  acyr1@alaska.edu

Carla Frare

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests: I have been a chemistry TA for several semesters. I have mentored undergrads and high school students in the lab. I enjoy interacting with students and sharing my experiences with them.
Research Interests: I am interested in hibernation. I am investigating the neuronal pathways activated during the onset of torpor, in particular the pathways involved in the sleep-awake cycle and in thermoregulation.
Techniques: Immunohistochemistry, microscopy, open-flow respirometry, animal experiments (surgery, drug compounding, perfusion)
Personal Interests: I like being outside, reading and cooking. I love summer evening hikes around town.
Email:  cfrare@alaska.edu

Scott Jerome

Madison Kosma

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests:
Research Interests: To understand the role humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) play in the early marine mortality of hatchery juvenile salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). I am interested in using stable isotope analysis to determine the contribution of hatchery salmon to the diet of humpback whales observed near hatchery release sites.
Techniques:
Personal Interests: Outdoor: snowboarding, surfing, hiking, running, kayaking, rock climbing, softball, basketball, volleyball, etc. Indoor: aesthetics, apple products, technology, and succulents.
Email:  mmkosma@alaska.edu

Don Larson

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests: I have taught BIOL 310 Animal Physiology, been a GK-12 fellow teaching in 7th grade and high school introductory biology, and an instructor for ASRA. I have also served as a TA for multiple courses. I have mentored high school students, undergraduates, and masters students. My philosophy for teaching and mentoring is the same. I train students to be confident, creative researchers capable of critical analysis and holistic synthesis.
Research Interests: I examine ecological physiology of overwintering and host physiology influences on parasites, specifically trematodes. I ask how the physiology of seasonality in hosts alter disease and parasites. I use both snail and amphibian parasites. This study focuses on the One Health examining animal and environmental health, and zoonotic disease transmission.
Techniques: I use taxonomic identification of helminthes through keys and staining, PCR, ultra low cooling baths, microscopy, various loggers, field collections and necropsies.
Personal Interests: Cross country skiing. Dog training. B-movies. Cooking. Running. Skijoring.
Email:  djlarson@alaska.edu

Marianne Lian

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests:
Research Interests:
Techniques:
Personal Interests:
Email:

Malabika Maulik

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Teaching Interests: I have been a teaching assistant in general chemistry modules for undergraduates in the Chemistry and Biochemistry department. In addition, I have taught undergraduates for biochemistry and metabolism module. I have actively mentored high school and undergraduates on projects investigating the role of endemic phytochemicals in treating neurodegenerative disorders. Currently, I am mentoring two BLaST funded undergraduates on their projects that involve probing the effects of Alaskan botanicals on a worm model of Parkinson's disease.
Research Interests: Neurodegenerative disorders mainly Parkinson disease Understanding parkinson pathology and signaling pathways Gene expression Phytochemicals, especially Alaskan botanicals in treating parkinson's disease
Techniques: Microbiology, fluorescent microscopy, confocal microscopy, worm behavior (healthspan, lifespan, motility etc), RT-PCR, RNAi, Bioassays, staining.
Personal Interests: Baking, Painting, Travelling
Email: mmaulik@alaska.edu

Lauren Wild

Affiliations: University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast
Teaching Interests: As a marine mammal biologist I have been a guest lecturer in Fisheries Technology courses at the UAS Sitka campus. I love working with students and adults of all ages, and collaborating with people from all walks of life, which helps me learn and grow as a research biologist.
Research Interests: My research focus is on marine mammal interactions with fisheries. I have a Master's degree in Marine Mammal Science from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where I focused on sperm whale acoustics. I have worked with a project called the Southeast Alaska Sperm Whale Avoidance Project for the last six years. This project is a collaborative effort between fishermen, scientists, and managers, to understand the interaction between sperm whales and fishing gear, and work to minimize the effects of depredation.
Techniques: Acoustics, telemetry and photo-id.
Personal Interests: When I am not out on the water or in the lab doing research, I can be found playing violin, hiking, bike riding, boating, or dancing!
Email: lawild@alaska.edu

Kimi Yatsuhiro