The unofficial Wildlife Habitat and Human Interactions Lab (AKA Iglay Lab) at Mississippi State University
A fallen loblolly pine tree being further decomposed by prescribed fire.
Winged sumac and loblolly pine in the fall at the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge
The unofficial Wildlife Habitat and Human Interactions Lab (AKA Iglay Lab) at Mississippi State University
Meet The Team
A combination of postdocs and research associates complementing their past education with current research challenges, leading research projects and students alike and striving for the next phases of their careers.
The initial research spark to the dedicated pursuit of an advanced degree encompasses this group of team members guided by Dr. Iglay, research staff, and collaborators on their research adventures.
It takes more than one lab to be a success. Colleagues in this group are directly related to current research projects as Co-PIs, research supporters, and student researchers. Many more can be found among publications and past projects.
Ray Iglay, Ph.D., Certified Wildlife Biologist®
Lab Leader, Principal Investigator
I am an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture at Mississippi State University (MSU), a Certified Wildlife Biologist®, and faculty liaison for the U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services National Training Academy. I am from Wilmington, Delaware, and received my B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and Entomology from the University of Delaware. Then, I travelled south and stayed, earning my M.S. in Wildlife Science and Ph.D. in Forest Resources from MSU in 2007 and 2010, respectively. I'm dedicated to service focusing on my students, stakeholders, and wildlife science. Currently, I oversee projects among wildlife restoration, wildlife damage management, and the application of new technologies to wildlife conservation and science as highlighted on this website and hope to continue building my team to provide new opportunities for early career professionals while addressing concerns among myriad wildlife species, landscapes, damage management, and conservation topics. When not working on research, I teach two split-level courses and one graduate course regarding wildlife damage management and wildlife habitat. I have been actively involved with The Wildlife Society at national, regional, state, and student levels for over 15 years and was recently recognized as a Fellow. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my two children and wife in Starkville, MS, managing family properties, playing music, hunting and fishing.
​
RESEARCH STAFF
Dr. Landon Jones
Postdoctoral Research Associate
I am developing best practices for using drones to survey wildlife, focusing in particular on thermal imaging of birds and mammals. My broad research interests center on spatial ecology, animal movement, and simulation modeling, particularly with birds and mammals. I earned my BS and MS degrees from Brigham Young University in Utah and did my PhD at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, studying seed dispersal by two species of toucans in Costa Rica. A previous postdoc brought me to Purdue University to study the spatial ecology of bobcats (Lynx rufus) in Indiana. I love traveling, birding, and experiencing new cultures and landscapes. Feel free to contact me at landon.jones@msstate.edu or visit www.landonrjones.weebly.com.
Dr. Jared Elmore(Past)
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Current Position
Research Assistant Professor
Science Coordinator
National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative
Clemson University
Amanda Bowe (Past)
Research Associate
Current Position
Biometrician
Department of Defense
Dr. Carlos Ramirez Reyes(Past)
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Current Position
Assistant Professor, Data Services Coordinator
University of Nevada - Reno
STUDENTS
Emma Schultz
Ph.D. Student
I am originally from Silver Spring, Maryland. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Queens University of Charlotte where I was also a member of the softball team. I obtained a Master of Science in Marine Sciences from Savannah State University focusing on genetic analysis, nesting, and movement patterns of green sea turtles in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Since graduation from Savannah State in 2016, I have worked in several marine ecology-related positions including as a science educator at the Tybee Island Marine Science center, sea turtle biologist for South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and most recently, assistant coordinator for the Mississippi Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.
​
At Mississippi State University, I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. within the Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Department under the mentorship of Dr. Ray Iglay and Dr. Kristine Evans. My research interests include utilizing technology and machine learning applications to conduct novel wildlife research. Broadly, my interests also include the conservation of threatened and endangered species, as well as the impacts of climate change. My Ph.D. research will incorporate applications of small Unoccupied Aerial Systems (sUAS) in wildlife management with a focus on quantifying biases in wildlife monitoring associated with animal behaviors. In my free time, you will find Emma cheering on the MSU sports teams, scuba diving, or out on the tennis court. Hail State!
​
Simone Danisi
Ph.D. Student
I am originally from Naples, Italy. I hold a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in natural science obtained at the University of Naples Federico II. I joined the group in August 2022 to pursue a Ph.D. at the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture of Mississippi State University. My background comprises spatial ecology and the use of machine learning algorithms to analyze and find solutions to environmental and management problems. My Ph.D. project focuses on developing reliable decision tools to help landowners manage their pine forest stands for economic return and wildlife enhancement. During my spare time, I love hiking and traveling around the world. I am also a passionate wildlife photographer.
Jacob Wessels
Ph.D. Student
​I joined the lab in Fall 2023 to study movement ecology of Least Terns and Black Skimmers along the Mississippi coast, in collaboration with Audubon Delta. I am from Knoxville, Tennessee, where I got my start in ecology and ornithology as an undergraduate student in Biological Sciences (Honors Ecology and Evolutionary Biology concentration/ Wildlife and Fisheries Science minor) at the University of Tennessee. I later completed a Master of Science in Biology at Arkansas State University. I have worked on a variety of ecological field research projects, often studying songbird species of conservation concern like Cerulean Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers, and Loggerhead Shrikes. I have also contributed to studies of Northern Bobwhites and secretive marsh birds, as well as other taxa like reptiles, amphibians, and plants. My research interests include species-habitat relationships, population ecology, and spatial aspects of ecology like movements and space use, migration, distributions, and landscape ecology. I am also interested in conducting research that is relevant to conservation efforts. In my free time, I enjoy birding, photography, the outdoors, books, music, coffee, etc.
Dr. Tyler Evans (Past)
Ph.D. in Forest Resources
Current Position
Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gabrielle Ripa(Past)
M.S. Student
Current Position
Ph.D. Student
Virginia Tech University
Undergraduate Researchers
Lydia Morphis
Jackson Moody
Abby Shaw
Erin Macke
Cerise Mensah
Makenzie Sanabria
Utsaha Gurung
Anna Gamblin
Haley Holiman
J. Carson Kitaif
LAB COLLABORATORS
Dr. Sathish Samiappan
Associate Research Professor
Dr. Santhana Krishnan
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Damion Dehart (Past)
Web Developer
Dr. Kristine Evans
Associate Professor of Conservation Biology
Dr. Garrett Street
Associate Professor
Dr. Melanie Boudreau
Assistant Research Professor & Lab Alumna
Dr. Mark Woodrey
Assistant Research Professor
Rachel Anderson
M.S. Student
Sofia Campuzano
M.S. Student
Jared Feura(Past)
Dr. Bronson Strickland
St. John Family Professor of Wildlife Management
Dr. Mark McConnell
Assistant Professor of Upland Birds
Dr. Heidi Renninger
Associate Professor of Forest Ecophysiology
Dr. Courtney Siegert
Associate Professor of Forest Hydrology & Biogeochemistry
Dr. Bradley F. Blackwell
Research Wildlife Biologist
Field Station & Project Leader
Dr. Morgan B. Drabik-Hamshare(Pfeiffer)
Research Wildlife Biologist
USDA Wildlife Services
National Wildlife Research Center
Ohio Field Station
