Room 4091, Engineering Building
Laramie, WY
Email: tverzuh@uwyo.edu
PhD, Ecology, University of Wyoming 2024
MSc, Zoology, University of Wyoming 2020
MSc, Science Education, Montana State University, 2009
BSc, Zoology, Colorado State University, 2005
Learning Actively Mentorship Program, 2024
Wilderness First Responder, expires 2024
AIARE Avalanche Level 1
Backcountry horse and horse packing training
ACA Swiftwater Rescue
ATV and Snowmobile safety and operation
Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow
Wildlife immobilization and necropsy training
Raised ~$21,000 in departmental funds to teach courses on building career readiness in graduate students and provide trainings on field safety and sexual harassment to graduate students and faculty.
Awarded ~$13,000 in small grants to conduct research.
United States Forest Service Cultural Transformation Award for the creation of the Four Corners Federal Land Internship Partnership, 2015.
Tana's academic journey spans over two decades, beginning with a BS in Zoology from Colorado State University (2005) and culminating in a PhD focused on animal behavior and conservation (2024). In the interim she worked for a small liberal arts school in SW Colorado, completed several field seasons doing wildlife research, and completed two MS degrees (Science Education [2009] and Zoology [2020]). Her expertise lies in animal movement ecology, behavioral ecology, and conservation biology, with a particular focus on animal spatial learning.
Tana's research philosophy centers on enhancing conservation efforts through a deeper understanding of animal behavior within natural systems. She employs a quantitative approach, bridging traditionally disparate fields to unravel the complexities of animal learning, memory, and movement patterns. This interdisciplinary perspective has been pivotal in her work on thermally sensitive species like moose and reintroduced populations such as bison in Banff National Park. Tana has nine published articles (four as first author), has five manuscripts under review (three as first author), and two more prepared for submission (as first author).
Throughout her career, Tana has fostered numerous collaborations with federal agencies (USFS, BLM, NPS), state wildlife departments (Wyoming Game and Fish, Colorado Parks and Wildlife), and national and international academic institutions (University of Idaho, University of Wisconsin, University of California Santa Cruz, University of Georgia, University of Minnesota, University of St Andrews, and the University of Guelph). These partnerships have not only enriched her research but also contributed to the development of innovative programs like the undergraduate internship initiative at Fort Lewis College and the GROW (Growing Research Outdoors in Wyoming) program at the University of Wyoming. Her commitment to mentorship and diversity in STEM is evident through her co-creation of the "Women in the Field" course, funded by the WY NASA Space Grant. As an educator, she emphasizes experiential learning and resilience, designing courses that challenge students within a supportive environment.
Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wyoming, Tana continues to advance her research while developing programs that bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical conservation efforts.
Animal spatial learning and movement ecology
Courses taught:
Introduction to R for Wildlife Ecology (cross-listed graduate and undergraduate course), Fall 2023, UW
Science Career Next Steps (graduate course), Spring 2023, UW
Cooperative Education (undergraduate course), Summers 2012, 2013
Specialized workshops or seminars conducted:
Women in the Field, week-long course for female-identifying undergraduate students, Summer 2023
Introduction to R, The Wildlife Society Conference, assisted in workshop, 2023
Advanced R Concepts, R Ladies Programming Series, Instructor, 2022
Innovative teaching methods or approaches:
Active learning modalities
Experiential learning
Co-chair Gordon Research Seminar on Movement Ecology
Women in the Field Program
