Scholarship Application Details

E-mail:
jerod.merkle@umontana.edu

Phone:
4062743499

Address:
32 Campus Dr, Forestry 303
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812

University Enrolled:
University of Montana

Enrollment Type:
Graduate

Degree Program:
Wildlife Biology

Dean:
Dan Pletscher

Dean's E-mail:
dan.pletscher@umontana.edu

Visa:
N/A

How my attendance/participation will contribute to my educational experience:
I am currently a master's student studying human-black bear interactions in Missoula, Montana. My goal is to become a wildlife researcher, informing conservation and management of wildlife species in North America. To carry out this career goal, I need experience presenting my work at professional conferences. Emerging Issues Along Urban-Rural Interfaces is an excellent opportunity for me to diversify my educational experience in multiple ways. First, presenting in Atlanta would expose me to another region of researchers and issues. Second, presenting at a diversity of conferences provides communication experience that is imperative to success in wildlife research. Third, to attain my career goal, I must work towards a PhD degree. My attendance at the conference would allow me to network with other researchers and possibly develop a relationship with a future advisor. Finally, my current research fits well within the objectives of this conference. Attendance would help me develop my own research while broadening my knowledge of my research subject.

Title and authors of my oral/poster proposed for conference:
Predicting the spatial distribution of human-black bear interactions across an urban area. Merkle, J.A., P.R. Krausman, J.J. Jonkel, and N.J. DeCesare