I study how the nutritional content of food resources can create the potential for mismatches between what’s available and what animals require based on their physiological needs. In my thesis, I’ve studied insectivorous riparian bird requirements for highly unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids and how freshwater insect subsidies can provide them with these ecologically essential resources. In the future I plan to continue studying how local resource composition, trophic ecology, phylogeny, and life history influence animal nutritional requirements, including their susceptibility to phenological nutritional mismatch.
I’m also passionate about educational outreach and teaching, mentoring undergraduates and early grad students, and making academia more inclusive for all.
My husband, Ryan Shipley, is also a 6th year PhD candidate in EEB. It was a match made in the 2012 EEB core course!
