Kerry Fanson

Principle Investigator

E-mail: kerryfanson@gmail.com
Education: B.A. in biology, Ph.D. in biology
Current job title: Research Associate, Macquarie University and 
                         Taronga Conservation Society Australia
What I've learned from this project: 

• Somewhere in Colorado roams “The Happy Crapper,” a lynx that makes leaps and bounds after it takes care of business.
  
• Lynx scat never seems to smell as bad when there is glitter in it.  (But when there’s not glitter, it’s pretty darn stinky!)
  

Nadja Wielebnowski

Co-Investigator

Education: B.S. in biology, M.S. in zoology, Ph.D. in ecology
Current job title: Vice President, Conservation Science and Head of Behavioral
                         Endocrinology, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo
What I've learned from this project:

• What works for many other cats (in terms of hormone assays) doesn't work for lynx...they are truly special!
  
  

Jeffrey Lucas

Co-Investigator

Education: B.S. in biology, M.S. in zoology, Ph.D. in zoology
Current job title: Professor, Purdue University, Dept. Biological Sciences
What I've learned from this project: 

• Important and interesting questions can be conducted in the field with the right technology and with someone who is not afraid to make the right connections and not afraid to stick with the project despite the length of time it takes for everything to come out the other end... I mean in the end.
  
  

Tanya Shenk

Co-Investigator

Education: B.S. in zoology, M.S. in wildlife biology, Ph.D. in wildlife biology
Current job title: Landscape Ecologist, National Park Service

Benjamin Fanson

Project Statistician

Education: B.A. in biology, M.S. in biology, M.S. in statistics,     
                Ph.D. in Brain, Behaviour and Evolution

Lauren Kapernaros

Undergraduate Researcher
 
Education: B.S. in biology education
Current job title: Biology teacher, Westfield Washington High School
What I've learned from this project: 

• Canada lynx are definitely the coolest wild cat out there!
  
• Designing a research project, conducting your experiments, doing the data analysis, and writing-up your results is an extremely intricate process that challenges you every step of the way.  However, producing a finished product is well worth the hard work and is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.
  

Jocelyn Bryant

Laboratory specialist

Education: B.S. in biology, M.S. in biology
Current job title: Endocrinology lab manager, Brookfield Zoo

Astrid Bellem

Laboratory specialist

Education: B.S. in Biology
Current job title: Lab Manager, Active Women's Study, University of Toronto
What I've learned from this project: 

• "Wild" poop is WAY more stinky than "captive" poop, and lynx' is most likely the WORST poop!!
  
  

Ani

Honorary team member

Education:   B.S. in doggie obedience
Current job title:   Therapist to Kerry & Ben, olfactory investigator
What I've learned from this project: 

• I'm still not allowed to chase lynx.  But I'm ready to go if they ever change their mind.
  
  

Advisory Committee

Peter Waser, Purdue University
Robert Meisel, University of Minnesota
Ignacio Camarillo, Purdue University

Volunteers

Katy Kindig
Amanda Laukant
Bret Moore
Natalie Rappaport