Idaho People

Courtney Conway Unit Leader Email: cconway@usgs.gov Website: http://www.cals.arizona.edu/research/azfwru/cjc/ Tel: (208) 885 - 6176

I received a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University, a M.S. in Zoology from the University of Wyoming, and a Ph.D. in Organismal Biology & Ecology from the University of Montana. I grew up in Cincinnati and spent many of my weekends camping, hiking, backpacking, and climbing in OH, KY, and WV. I was motivated to find a career where I could continue to do these activities as part of my job, while still contributing to science.

Christine Moffitt Assistant Unit Leader Email: cmoffitt@uidaho.edu Tel: (208) 885 - 7047

Dr. Christine Moffitt received a BA in Biology from the University of California, MA in Biological Sciences from Smith College, and a PhD in Fisheries Biology from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Michael Quist Assistant Unit Leader Email: mcquist@uidaho.edu Website: http://webpages.uidaho.edu/quistlab/ Tel: (208) 885 - 4064

Mike received his BS in Fishery Resources from the University of Idaho, MS in Biology from Kansas State University, and a PhD in Biology from Kansas State University. Mike joined the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in 2010, where he is an Assistant Unit Leader and Assistant Professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at the University of Idaho.

Candy Ihm Program Specialist Email: cihm@uidaho.edu Tel: (208) 885 - 6336

Boling Sun Research Technician Email: bsun@uidaho.edu

Bryan Bakevich Email: bakevich@iastate.edu Tel: (515) 294 - 5646

Jessica Buelow Email: buel0184@uidaho.edu

Lubia Cajas Cano Email: lubiacajas@vandals.uidaho.edu

Jesse Fischer Email: fischer@iastate.edu

Jesse received his BA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a major in fisheries and wildlife. After graduating, he earned his MS from Kansas State University while studying prairie stream fish assemblages and sampling methodologies. Jesse is currently a doctoral student focusing on understanding how lentic fish assemblages and population characteristics reflect ecological integrity.

Bryan Jones Email: jone6267@vandals.uidaho.edu

I graduated with a BS in ecology, wildlife, and fisheries from Brigham Young University - Idaho in 2010. While working on my undergrad degree I had the opportunity to work for the USDA Forest Service, and the Henry's Fork Foundation, working mainly with Yellowstone cutthroat trout. I am currently pursuing a master's degree at the University of Idaho. My research deals with steelhead trout kelt migration and physiology. My personal interests include fishing, hunting, and spending time with my wife and two daughters.

Joshua McCormick Email: mcco7627@vandals.uidaho.edu

I am originally from Pennsylvania, where I earned a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Penn State University. I have worked for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. I am currently working on my Master’s degree where my research focuses on answering questions related to anadromous fisheries management and applying appropriate sampling designs to provide relevant information for making management decisions. In my free time, I enjoy hunting, fishing, backpacking and painting.

Tim Parks Email: tparks@iastate.edu

Tim graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a B.S. in Fisheries and Water Resources. Prior to graduate school, he has worked as a Fish Technician for the US Forest Service and the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game. Currently, his MS research focuses on describing the distribution of fish species of greatest conservation need in nonwadeable rivers and understanding the effect of dams on fish assemblage structure. In his freetime, Tim enjoys playing the guitar loud in local garage bands, skateboarding transitional concrete structures, homebrewing with friends, and fishing from shore.

Zachary Penney Email: penn4282@vandals.uidaho.edu

Where I am from: Wallace, Idaho

B.Sc. Aquatic Resources: Sheldon Jackson College, Sitka, Alaska
M.Sc. of Earth and Ocean Science: University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia

Research interests: I am presently studying fish physiology and bioenergetics, specifically freshwater reproduction in Snake River steelhead trout. I studied age and growth composition of coho salmon as a senior thesis during undergraduate degree and examined trace element chemistry in sockeye salmon otoliths for my Master's degree.

Interests outside of school: Like most fisheries biologists, I love to fish. As a Nez Perce tribal member I enjoy fishing for salmon and steelhead using rod and reel, dip-nets, spears, and gaffs. Growing up in North Idaho I also enjoyed angling for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass in the Coeur 'd Alene Lake system, as well as fly fishing for cutthroat trout in the north fork of the Coeur 'd Alene River.

Maggie Picard Email: pica7766@vandals.uidaho.edu

John Plumb Email: plum2404@vandals.uidaho.edu

Where I am from: all over - my father was in the US Navy, but for the last 15 years, I live in Husum, Washington.

B.Sc. General Biology: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
M.Sc. Zoology: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Research interests: Population ecology of salmonids in relation to environmental and human induced affects. Involved in a variety of research topics such as juvenile salmon passage at Snake and Columbia river dams in relation to prototype fish passage structures and dam operations, the fitness of lake trout in relation to climate change in Canadian boreal shield lakes, and currently, the role of hatchery supplementation in determining the abundance, growth, and seaward emigration timing of subyearling fall Chinook salmon in the lower Snake River, Idaho.

Other interests: Hanging-out with my two boys, being with my wife without my two boys, long-distance running, white water kayaking, rock climbing, bow hunting, and of course, fishing for steelhead and salmon.

Christopher Smith Email: smit8051@vandals.uidaho.edu

With an upbringing on a family farm in rural northwest Iowa, I developed an interest in the management and preservation of natural resources. Subsequently, I attended Iowa State University (ISU) with a major of Animal Ecology and an emphasis in fisheries to pursue this interest. Once I graduated with my B.S. from ISU in 2011, I accepted a graduate research assistantship (MS) with the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. More specifically, my research focuses on an assessment of different sampling techniques for juvenile burbot in the Kootenai River. When I am not working, I enjoy fishing, hunting, and many other outdoor activities.

John Walrath Email: walr7955@vandals.uidaho.edu

John grew up in the heart of Nebraska and received a BA in Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010. His undergraduate experience consists of assisting Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit graduate students during the academic years and working for Idaho Department of Fish and Game during the summers. Prior to becoming a part of the Idaho Cooperative Research Unit as a MS student he worked for Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. His research is focused on the effects of introduced northern pike and smallmouth bass on adfluvial cutthroat trout in the Lake Coeur d'Alene system. John enjoys biking, hunting, fishing, and backpacking in his free time.

Steven Whitlock Email: whit4614@vandals.uidaho.edu

I received a BS in biology from Northland College (northern Wisconsin) in 2010. While in school I interned for three years at the USGS Lake Superior Biological Station where I assisted with trawling, hydroacoustics, and analysis of historical fisheries data. After graduating, I worked as a technician for the BLM in Oregon assessing stream habitat condition and mapping channel morphology. My master’s research involves characterizing kokanee reproductive ecology in Lake Pend Oreille, ID and determining the effects of water level manipulation on the availability spawning habitat.