Emily Nastase

Bio

I am a PhD candidate in the department of Applied Ecology where I am studying the demography, habitat use, and genetic structure of the Henslow’s Sparrow in North Carolina. The Henslow’s Sparrow is a grassland-specialist songbird species that is experiencing widespread population declines from the loss of breeding habitat. With this research I hope to assist decision makers in evaluating the Henslow’s Sparrow’s status and improve conservation management actions to promote species viability throughout its range.

Before coming to NC State, I worked as a Science Communicator at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. In that position, I helped produce ecosystem health report cards and communicate scientific findings of research projects from around the globe. After completing my PhD program, I hope to aid in the conservation of threatened landscapes and vulnerable species by developing spatial models of natural resources and species distributions.

When I’m not conducting research, I enjoy getting out in nature and exploring North Carolina! I also love traveling, painting, backpacking, and climbing.

Academic Advisor: Dr. Jaime Collazo