Anna DeCan, Undergraduate

“By defining the boundaries of a host-pathogen relationship, can we better predict and mitigate disease outbreaks within a wildlife system?”

I am currently working with Troy Koser, a Ph.D. student at Montana State University, to determine whether there are subsets of Winter Tick populations between moose and elk within Grand Teton National Park. Analysis of the genetic differences between Winter Tick populations on various species of ungulates within the park will be done through the extraction and sequencing of tick DNA as well as the classification and life stage identification of each specimen. Ultimately, the genetic differentiation, and determination of these ectoparasites as species dependent, may provide insight into the recent spread of Winter Ticks across the West. This will play a key role in the management of what is a notable parasitic epidemic, one that is threatening ungulate populations across the country.

Bachelor of Science 2021
Organismal Biology, Pre-Veterinary Certificate, Microbiology Minor
Montana State University - Bozeman