Elsa Youngsteadt
I am an insect ecologist interested in how urbanization and climate change alter insect physiology, behavior, and mutualisms. I am also committed to conveying research results to audiences who can use them through Extension and outreach. Non-science interests include running, cat training, and gardening.
Kate Gorman
I am interested in pollinator diversity in urban systems. I am currently a PhD student studying how socioeconomic status relates to landscaping decisions and ground nesting bee diversity in Raleigh, NC.
Melina Keighron
I am a PhD student in the Youngsteadt and Petry labs. I am broadly interested in combining fieldwork and modeling approaches to better understand how human-driven environmental change affects native plant populations and plant-pollinator interactions. In my free time I enjoy painting, going on walks, and playing pickleball, frisbee, and board games.
Michelle Kirchner
Michelle is a PhD student studying the diversity and ecology of ants in temperate tree canopies. In natural forests and urban streets, she uses a giant slingshot and rope to climb high into the treetops and discover which ants are living up there and what they're eating. In her free time, Michelle likes to go on long walks with her dog, listen to true-crime podcasts, and read a good book.
Gwen Kirschke
I am a PhD student studying how floral nectar is distributed in habitat matrices and how its distribution might shift with climate change and pollinator garden plantings. More broadly, I am interested in plant-insect interactions and the ways that they are impacted by human-driven environmental change. I also enjoy hiking, reading, and working on a variety of creative projects.
Oliver Roper
I’m an undergraduate student interested in urban ecology, spatial ecology, climate change, and how they all affect one another. My main interests are in how we can make urban spaces more wildlife friendly by allowing for movement with green spaces and wildlife corridors.
Laura Taylor
I am a PhD student studying how urbanization and climate change impacts an endemic butterfly species, the Crystal skipper. More broadly, I am interested in the intersection between behavioral, conservation and urban ecology of plant-pollinator interactions. In my free time, I like to hike, thrift, read, and go to concerts.
Lab Alumni
AEC 492 project, research assistant
Lucie Ciccone
2020 - 2022
HON 298 project, research assistant
2020 - 2022
current: PhD program, Cornell University
AEC 492 project, research assistant
2020 - 2022
current: MS program, Montana State University
research assistant
Thomas Reed
2018 - 2019
current: Open Space Assistant Manager, Wake County, NC
AEC 492 project
Sasha Rogalski
2019
CONTACT US
Elsa Youngsteadt
ekyoungs@ncsu.edu
Office: 234 David Clark Labs
Lab: G23 David Clark Labs
Mailing address:
North Carolina State University
Department of Applied Ecology
Campus Box 7617
Raleigh, NC 27695
Shipping Address:
North Carolina State University
Department of Applied Ecology
127 David Clark Labs
100 Eugene Brooks Ave
Raleigh, NC 27607
Copyright 2021 Elsa Youngsteadt. Logo by Lucie Ciccone