Students chosen for wildlife research program
Conducting field work in the forest are Paden Alexander, Native American Research Assistant; Austin Moran, Tribal Wildlife Technician; and Ryan Adams, Tribal Wildlife Biologist.
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News from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
FLATHEAD RESERVATION — The Native American Research Assistantship Program, a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and The Wildlife Society, allows students to learn and gain beneficial hands-on experience while working with wildlife professionals on approved projects.
Students work as research assistants with USFS Research and Development scientists, while TWS provides administrative support and coordination for the program.
Five students have been selected for research assistantships, which last for 12-14 weeks in late spring of 2016 and run through late summer 2016.
Paden Alexander, a Mission High School graduate who’s now a student at the University of Montana, was selected for a research assistantship and will be mentored by Mike Schwartz, director at the National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation. Their project topic will be “Combining Cutting Edge Genetic Technology and Traditional Ecological Knowledge to Assess and Monitor Wolverine Distribution on the Flathead Indian Reservation.”
Paden will work at the Genomics Center during most of the project, but he will also be working in the field with Tribal Wildlife Biologists.
“Paden has worked with the Tribal Wildlife Program in the past and has been an excellent seasonal technician with the Tribal Wildlife Management Program,” said Dale Becker, Tribal Wildlife Program Manager. “Professional educational research programs such as the Native American Research Assistantship provide educational and networking opportunities for Native American students.”
The Tribal Wildlife Management Program extends their appreciation to the USFS and TWS for providing funding to Native American students and also extends their appreciation to the research scientists who mentor the students in this year’s program.
For more information regarding this program please contact Dale Becker, Tribal Wildlife Management Program at 406-883-2888 or daleb@cskt.org.
