Postdoctoral Researchers

David La Puma, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2012
B.A. Ithaca College, 1997
PhD Rutgers University, 2010
Currently the Director of Global Market Development for Cellular Tracking Technologies

My research interests lie at the interface between avian ecology and applied conservation biology. I’m most interested in how species exist in dynamic landscapes such as fire-prone ecosystems, and along seasonal passages such as trans-continental migration. Migration carries with it many perils while clearly also providing unparalleled benefits; the balance of such tradeoffs is likely influenced by the quality of stopover habitat en route. My research at the Aeroecology Lab aimed to quantify such stopover habitat using remotely sensed NEXRAD weather radar and to develop spatial models of stopover habitat for the Southeastern region of the United States. Ultimately this research provided guidance to conservation entities in order to identify and protect important bird areas.  In my spare time I manage a website where I attempt to forecast birding conditions in the Upper Midwest and Mid Atlantic regions using radar and weather data. Come visit me over at www.woodcreeper.com and watch the action unfold before your eyes!

James McLaren, Postdoctoral Scholar, 2015-2016
B.A. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PhD University of Amsterdam

T.J. Zenzal, Visiting Scholar, 2016
B.S. University of Scranton, 2008
PhD University of Southern Mississippi, 2016

My research interests include movement ecology, behavioral ecology, conservation science, and the use of technology to study wildlife. I studied the stopover ecology of migratory birds along the Northern Coast of the Gulf of Mexico with the Migratory Bird Research Group at the University of Southern Mississippi and the Aeroecology Lab at the University of Delaware. My post-doctoral research focused on the use of radar to study climate change, weather events, and habitat availability along the Mississippi-Alabama coast during migration. The MS-AL Sea Grant Project integrates data collected from weather surveillance radar and a long-term migration station in Fort Morgan, AL to better understand migrant-habitat relations. My dissertation work examined the stopover ecology of ruby-throated hummingbirds during autumn migration.  My personal interests include outdoors activities, such as hiking, camping, biking, or walking my dog. I also enjoy cooking, reading, and music.

Desiree Narango, Postdoctoral Fellow
B.S. SUNY: ESF, 2006
M.S. The Ohio State University, 2012
Ph.D. University of Delaware, 2018

Desiree is a 2020 recipient of the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship who collaborates with Jeff Buler and the Aeroecology lab for her postdoctoral work. Her current research seeks to understand how urbanization and tree communities shape habitat for migratory birds en route. This research combines large plant and bird data sets, remotely sensed data, weather surveillance radar, and field methods to explore habitat use and quality in urban forests at both local and regional scales. Beyond research, Desiree is also interested in science communication and storytelling, public outreach, and improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in ecology and conservation. In her free time, she takes care of her indoor and outdoor plants, goes hiking as much as possible, reads sci-fi, explores new music, and watches movies.
Website: www.desireelnarango.weebly.com
Google Scholar

Research Associates

Jaclyn Smolinsky, Research Associate
B.A. State University of New York at Albany, 2002
M.S. University of Southern Mississippi, 2010

I am fascinated by the amazing journeys of migratory species and my research activities over the past few years reflect this interest.  Having been a member of the Aeroecology Program for several years, I teach newbies the ropes and help with all things radar.  Prior to joining the lab, I worked on a number of projects relating to songbird migration but have also spent some time studying shorebirds and turtles.  In addition to these interests, I am also a fan of community-based conservation projects, environmental education and reptile, especially turtle, conservation. Jaci now lives in Georgia and continues to work on radar data with T.J. Zenzal!

Graduate Students

Sergio Cabrera-Cruz, PhD Student, 2015-2020
Sergio joined the Aeroecology Program in 2015 on a Fulbright scholarship bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from his undergraduate studies in biology and M.S. research monitoring the response of migrating birds to wind farm development in Mexico. His doctoral research focused on the response of migrating birds to artificial lights at night. He employed various methods (e.g., satellite data, weather surveillance radar, tracking radar, bird banding data) to answer questions relating to how these lights are effecting birds at global, regional and local scales. See his work: Google Scholar and Research Gate.

Solny Adalsteinsson, PhD Student
B.S. Penn State University, 2008
M.S. Penn State University, 2008
PhD University of Delaware, 2016
Thesis: The effect of forest fragment dynamics on human disease risk: developing a holistic approach to prevent tick-borne diseases in urban landscapes.

Liliana Calderón, MS Student 2017-2020
B.S. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014
M.S. University of Delaware, 2020
Thesis: Age, sex, and size related differences in distribution of migrating landbirds on northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
Currently banding birds in Costa Rica!

Hannah Clipp, MS Student 2016-2019
B.S. West Virginia University, 2016
B.Mds. West Virginia University, 2016
M.S. University of Delaware, 2019
Thesis: Investigating landbird stopover ecology and distributions along the U.S. coast of Mexico at multiple scales.
Currently pursuing her PhD at West Virginia University

I joined the Aeroecology Program in 2016.  I am using the national network of weather surveillance radar to study bird migration and stopover ecology along the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, I am investigating how winds and hurricanes over the Gulf of Mexico affect migratory bird distributions along the Gulf Coast. This is my first experience in the field of radar ornithology. In the past, I have conducted research on community ecology at created wetlands, the effects of recolonizing salmon on avian communities and populations, the impact of grassland management strategies on dickcissel spatial ecology, and reducing pollutant loading in streams. See my website for more details about my previous research experiences, publications and presentations.  On a personal level, I am interested in nature, science, research, avian and mammal ecology, reading books, creative and scientific writing, art, photography, and tennis. I am an avid birder, with a matching enthusiasm for seeing mammals and herps.

Matthew Boone, MS Student
B.S. University of Texas, 2012
M.S. University of Delaware, 2016
Thesis: The effect of Hurricane Sandy on landbird migration in the Northeast United States.

Kenneth Duren, MS Student
B.S. University of Duren, 2007
M.S. University of Delaware, 2010
Thesis: A predictive habitat occupancy model of Northern Bobwhite in the Delmarva Peninsula, USA.

Kyle Horton, MS Student
B.A., Canisius College, 2011
M.S. University of Delaware, 2014
Thesis: Examining songbird migration along the Delaware Bay: A comprehensive approach.
PhD Oklahoma University, 2017

Mason Sieges, MS Student
B.S. Northland College, 2004
M.S. University of Delaware, 2015
Thesis: If you flood it, they will come: Quantifying waterbird response to the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative.

Tim Schreckengost, MS Student
A.S. Penn State University, 2009
B.S. Penn State University, 2011
M.S. University of Delaware, 2017
Thesis: Methods for studying stopover ecology of migrating landbirds with weather surveillance radar.

Research Assistants & Undergraduate Students

Kaylie Beale, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2022 Summer Intern
B.S. University of Delaware, 2022

Kaylie is a Wildlife Ecology & Conservation and Insect Ecology & Conservation double major at the University, where she is also the president of the Blue Hen Birding Club. She has been birding since the age of 10. She spent the late spring and early summer of 2021 as a point count field technician in the Great Basin of Nevada. In addition to birds and insects, Kaylie has a passion for native plants, music, art, history, and learning and knowing.

Hanna Cortes, USGS Summer Intern. 2021

Liam Wheeler, UD Research Apprenticeship Work-Study. 2021-2022

Kern Freesland, Undergraduate Research Assistant. 2021

Carolyn Macek, UD Research Apprenticeship Work-Study. 2021

Helen Dotchel, UD Research Apprenticeship Work-Study. 2021.

Alex Dilworth, Research Technician
B.S. University of Delaware 2021
Alex Dilworth Photo
Alex is a recent graduate from the University of Delaware’s Wildlife Ecology & Conservation program. He discovered his interest in birds from joining the university’s Blue Hen Birding club during his freshman year. While not working for the lab, he works at Tristate Bird Rescue & Rehab caring for sick and injured birds.

Mia Montgomery, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2019
B.S. University of Delaware 2020

Susannah Halligan, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2017-2019
B.S. University of Delaware 2019
Thesis: The Delaware Waterfowl Tracker
CANR Summer Scholar
Currently studying at SUNY!

Mark Pacheco, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2017-2019
B.S. University of Delaware 2019
Thesis: Mapping Fall Stopover Sites for Migrating Birds Around the Great Lakes
CANR Unique Strength Scholar
Currently working at Disney World!

Lucas Walls, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2018-2019
B.S. University of Delaware 2019
Thesis: Mapping of bird distributions in Mexico with weather radar.

Paola Troche, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2017
B.S. University of Delaware 2018

Jessica Beatty, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2017
B.S. University of Delaware 2018

Annabel Posimato, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2017
B.S. University of Delaware 2018

Alegna Adams, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Michael Burgess, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Njeri Kimani, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Sara Locker, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Emily Moorman, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Gloria Salas, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Emily Slingerland, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2015-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2015

Joseph Wheeler, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016-2017
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Charlotte Lambert, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016
B.S. University of Delaware, 2017

Daniel Day, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016

Laura Donohue, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016
B.S. University of Delaware, 2018

Anna Dougherty, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016
B.S. University of Delaware, 2018

William Kaselow, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2016
B.S. University of Delaware, 2018

Kimberly Rivera, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2015-2016
B.S. University of Delaware, 2015
Thesis: North Carolina radar bird density analysis

Kevin Archibald, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2014
B.S. University of Delaware, 2015

Janine Antalffy, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2013-2014
B.S. University of Delaware, 2013

Matthew Levendosky, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2013-2014
B.S. University of Delaware, 2014

Daniel Greene, Research Assistant, 2011-2013
B.S. University of Delaware, 2011

Laura Young, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2013
B.S. University of Delaware, 2014

Lauren Cruz, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2012-2013
B.S. University of Delaware, 2013

Marlo Atkinson, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2013
B.S. University of Delaware, 2013

Mashea Brown, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2012

Rebecca Lyon, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2010-2011
Thesis: The effects of wing morphology and body size on the distribution of migrating birds along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico