Principal Investigator

Elizabeth K. Peterson PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Eastern Illinois University
Certified Ecologist, Ecological Society of America
Address: 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston IL 61920
Office Location: Room 2154 Life Science
Email: [email protected]
For more information about Dr. Peterson, check out her CV:
ekpeterson_cv_4-30-24.pdf
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I am an integrative ecologist and conservation biologist with interdisciplinary training in both research and teaching. As Research Faculty at Eastern Illinois University, I run an independent research program involving a team of graduate and undergraduate researchers. My research explores how anthropogenic stressors impact behavioral responses and adaptive life history strategies that are important for fitness at the individual and population levels, to develop methods to improve species conservation. In pursuit of this goal, I have worked with a diversity of organisms (chickadees, Old World monkeys, New World monkeys, chimpanzees, Drosophila, and prairie dogs), using an integrative approach in both field and laboratory settings.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

HOLLY KEATING

MS Thesis Student in Biology
Eastern Illinois University
​Starts Fall 2024

CHINELO MARYJANE OGWU

MS Thesis Student in Biology
Eastern Illinois University

IZABELLA SHEPPARD

MS Thesis Student in Biology
​Eastern Illinois University
​Starts Fall 2024

KLOW SI

MS Thesis Student in Biology
​Eastern Illinois University

SARA COLBY

MS Student in Biology
Colorado State University Pueblo

ADAM LIAO

MS Student in Biology
Colorado State University Pueblo

wildlife technicians

melissa loftin

Wildlife Technician
​Eastern Illinois University
B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2023

Undergraduate research students

marlene castillo

Wildlife & Natural Resources Major
Colorado State University Pueblo

alayna furman

Environmental Science Major
​Eastern Illinois University
​

XIANA PETTIS

Biology Major
Eastern Illinois University
​Starts Fall 2024

Lab Alumni

  • Chris Ahmay, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2023 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • ​Cody Back, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2020 (Colorado State University Pueblo), currently works as a Wildlife Technician for US Fish & Wildlife Services
  • Brittany Bohn, B.S. Biology 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Allaura Bryant-Watkins, B.S. Biology 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Stephanie Dudley, B.S. Biology and Wildlife & Natural Resources 2022 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Kyle Espinoza, B.S. Biology 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Zack Giltner, currently enrolled in 3-2 Program to pursue M.S. Biology (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Gabriela Hall, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2022 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Tyler Harvey, transferred to University of Nevada Las Vegas
  • Kevin Healey, B.S. Biology 2018 (Colorado State University Pueblo), currently works as a Gravimetric Laboratory Technician at Chester LabNet
  • Keshon Jackson, B.S. Biology 2022 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Hugh Long, B.S. Biology 2018 (Colorado State University Pueblo), currently enrolled in DO school in Kansas
  • Annalee Losch, currently enrolled in nursing school
  • Maxwell Martell, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources, currently working for USDA as a wildlife technician
  • Timber McGuin, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2024 expected (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Cirilo Mejia, currently enrolled in Central Community College
  • Jenna Morales, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo), currently enrolled in the M.S. Biology degree program at Colorado State University Pueblo
  • Oloyede Oluwatobi, B.S. Biology 2020 (Colorado State University Pueblo), currently enrolled in medical school
  • Makenzie Randall, B.S. Biology 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Katelynn Randolph, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2024 expected (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Noah Robison, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Rachel Ruiz, B.S. Biology 2018 (Colorado State University Pueblo), currently working as an EMT
  • Teyah Schiffer, B.S. Biology 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Klow Si, B.S. Wildlife & Natural Resources 2022 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Sean Kyle Staples, B.S. Biology 2018 (Colorado State University Pueblo)
  • Samantha Ulrich, B.S. Biology 2021 (Colorado State University Pueblo)