The Ecological Society of America is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA). Students in the 2026 cohort are engaged in advocacy with an interest in science policy. Awardees will travel to Washington, D.C., for policy, communication and career training followed by meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“This year’s Graduate Student Policy Award recipients represent an exceptional group of emerging leaders in ecology,” said ESA President Peter Groffman. “Their interest in public service signals a bright future for ecological science. With their training and experience, they will be equipped to lend scientific insight to important conversations about research priorities and environmental decision-making.”
This year 20 students received the 2026 GSPA award: Olivia Aguiar (Temple University), Noah J. Andexler (Northern Michigan University), Olabisi Atofarati (Howard University), Lillie M. Bradshaw (Florida State University), Gabriel F. Calistro (University of California, Davis), Emma C. Daily (Boston University), Braden Charles DeMattei (The Ohio State University), Jonathan Gewirtzman (Yale University), Koa Grabar (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa), Chukwudi Michael Ikegwu (Howard University), Sikander Khare (University of Florida), Nichole Leach (Old Dominion University), Grace Leuchtenberger (University of Washington), Olisa Menakaya (Morgan State University), James Moloney (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), Vanessa Morales (Georgetown University), Lily M. Olmo (Oregon State University), Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas (Cornell University), Taylor L. Rubin (City University of New York) and Noelle D. Visser (University of Louisville).
Olivia Aguiar is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at Temple University. She researches disease ecology and conservation of North American bats with a focus on the fungal disease white-nose syndrome (WNS). Her research aims to determine how disease dynamics have changed since the introduction of WNS to North America and to help managers develop strategies that support bat population recovery. Aguiar is dedicated to connecting with her community to encourage science engagement with non-practitioners. As a graduate student she mentors students from diverse backgrounds and works to improve science accessibility. After graduate school, she aims to continue researching conservation and wildlife management to inform policy surrounding natural resources management. Aguiar holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and an M.S. in Integrative Biology from Oklahoma State University.
Noah J. Andexler is a master’s student funded by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Science lab at Northern Michigan University. His research aims to understand brown and black bear ecology using advanced DNA and isotope tools. Through this work, he hopes to provide essential information for national park management and to lay a foundation for whole genome DNA sequencing in ecology. In addition to his research, Andexler is passionate about mentoring the next generation of ecologists, and seeks to translate the ecological stories of the natural world into tangible actions. Prior to his research, he worked as a wildlife technician throughout the western U.S. and graduated with a B.S. from University of Wisconsin Stevens–Point.
Olabisi Atofarati is a Ph.D. student in Biology at Howard University, specializing in ecology, evolution, conservation and genetics. She investigates fish diets and gut microbiomes across different aquatic ecosystems using DNA metabarcoding approaches, with the goal of understanding how these relationships influence productivity and ecosystem functioning. Her research is important because fish play a critical role in food security, livelihoods and aquatic ecosystem stability, yet many aquatic ecosystems are managed with limited biological data. Atofarati is committed to community-engaged research, mentoring students, integrating indigenous knowledge and ensuring that scientific evidence informs conservation and policy decisions. She aims to build a career at the science-policy interface, translating research into practical strategies for sustainable fisheries management and conservation. She holds a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Ilorin and an M.S. in Environmental Biology from the University of Abuja, Nigeria.
Lillie M. Bradshaw is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biological Science, Ecology and Evolution Group at Florida State University, where she investigates coastal ecosystems. Her research explores the impacts of human activity and climate change on the ecology of Florida Keys coral reefs and policy solutions that enable restorative mariculture practices across the U.S. By collaborating directly with state and federal managers, Bradshaw ensures her work provides actionable insights for resource management in a changing world. She is committed to bridging the gap between research and policy to benefit coastal environments and the communities that depend on them. Bradshaw holds a B.S. in Biology and a graduate certificate in GIS from the University of Missouri and previously held roles with the Custer Gallatin National Forest, the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center and the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory.
Gabriel F. Calistro is a master’s student in the Graduate Group in Ecology at the University of California, Davis. His graduate research focuses on the application of remote sensing and machine learning in the mountain lakes of the Sierra Nevada, where he aims to autonomously document, identify and predict algal blooms. This research interest, like many throughout his career, stems from a goal of helping communities exist harmoniously with nature. Calistro obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and International Relations from Boston University, after which he received a 2023 Fulbright fellowship to Italy. He begins his studies at UC Davis supported by the Tahoe Environmental Research Center Graduate Fellowship and recently held a role at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University.
Emma C. Daily is a Ph.D. candidate at Boston University and a trainee in the university’s URBAN program, an NSF traineeship program providing science communication and policy training at the intersection of biogeoscience and public health. She studies how global climate and land-use change affect temperate forest ecosystems, and her thesis work investigates relationships between urban trees and particulate matter pollution, a major public health threat. Emma is passionate about connecting ecological science and policy on local to international scales, and attended COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to advocate for considering ecology in establishing regulations for the voluntary carbon market. She has previously studied the effects of climate change on a variety of ecosystems including remnant prairies in Minnesota, coastal New England and the Arctic tundra. She earned her B.A. in Biology from Macalester College.
Braden Charles DeMattei is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University with a research interest in freshwater plankton food web dynamics. His research explores how toxic cyanobacteria blooms shape species interactions and the ecosystem services that emerge from them. DeMattei is also interested in incorporating computer vision models into his work to facilitate the processing of large food web datasets. He hopes his work will provide managers with a clearer picture of how freshwater ecosystems function at an individual and ecosystem scale. DeMattei’s career goal is to have his work improve freshwater resource management, either through continuing his research or advising policymakers. He received his B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles and his M.S. with Commendation in Marine Conservation from the University of Aberdeen.
Jonathan Gewirtzman is a Ph.D. candidate in Ecosystem Ecology and Biogeochemistry at the Yale School of the Environment and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. His research investigates greenhouse gas cycling in forests and wetlands, aiming to improve predictions of carbon-climate feedbacks, inform strategies for mitigating natural emissions and enhance nature-based climate solutions. Gewirtzman is committed to translating ecological science for policy and public audiences, serving as Secretary of the ESA Biogeosciences Section and engaging in science communication through public talks and K-12 outreach. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Brown University and an M.Phil. in Environment from Yale.
Koa Grabar is a Master of Environmental Management student and Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation Fellow in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His research focuses on human-wildlife coexistence, examining how wetland management practices and human perceptions shape interactions with endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Grabar is particularly interested in how ecological research can inform policies that support both biodiversity conservation and community-based stewardship. He is committed to applied, place-based research that bridges science, culture and policy while centering locally grounded conservation approaches. His long-term goal is to contribute to science-informed environmental stewardship and the recovery of Hawaiʻi’s endangered waterbird species. Grabar holds a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Chukwudi Michael Ikegwu is a Ph.D. student in the Nneji Ecology, Genetics, Evolution, and Conservation Biology (NEGEC) Laboratory at Howard University. His research examines the elevational distribution, biodiversity patterns and conservation genomics of amphibians and reptiles in tropical montane ecosystems of West and Central Africa. He leverages open biodiversity data to identify conservation gaps for threatened montane species, supporting long-term monitoring and evidence-based conservation planning. Beyond research, he is committed to capacity building, inclusive science, mentoring students and cross-institutional collaborations in Africa and beyond. He uses creative writing to communicate science and conservation to broader audiences, and aims to advance evidence-based conservation policy in underrepresented regions. Ikegwu holds a master’s degree with Distinction in Biology from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Indonesia and a First Class Honours degree in Applied Biology from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria.
Sikander Khare is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biology at the University of Florida. His research combines theory and data analysis to understand how biodiversity influences ecosystem stability, productivity and carbon storage. Alongside his research, he is engaged in environmental and conservation policy issues, collective advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration, with extensive experience in negotiation and stakeholder communication. Khare aims to build a career at the intersection of ecological science and public policy, helping ensure that scientific evidence meaningfully informs decision making. He holds an M.S. in Informatics from Indiana University and a B.S. in Physics from Imperial College London.
Nichole Leach is an M.S. student in the Biological Sciences Department at Old Dominion University (ODU), where she studies coral population genetics in tropical systems. Her research examines how coral populations differ genetically and how some have adapted to extreme temperature environments. Her work seeks to understand how coral reefs can persist in a rapidly warming ocean and to inform conservation strategies. Leach is committed to equity, inclusion and engagement through mentoring, leadership roles supporting women+ in STEM and her work as a 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellow. She aims to pursue a career at the intersection of environmental science and policy, advancing nature-based solutions. Leach holds a B.S. in Biology from ODU, where she completed the Undergraduate Research Honors Scholars Certificate and an REU in the Philippines.
Grace Leuchtenberger is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Washington in the Department of Biology and an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Using a combination of predictive modeling, water quality measurements and field experiments, she researches how oyster reefs can influence natural environmental variability. Her research allows her to work across boundaries, engaging with oyster growers, restorers, nonprofits and managers to work toward actionable science that supports coastal ecosystems. When not in the intertidal, Leuchtenberger runs a mental health awareness initiative for marine scientists, through which she created mental health resource workshops for undergraduate and graduate students. Her experiences as a marine scientist and mental health advocate have shown her how government support can facilitate coastal and human resilience, which has fueled her interest in a science policy career. Leuchtenberger earned a B.A. in Biology from Carleton College.
Olisa Kenneth Menakaya is a Ph.D. student in Bioenvironmental Science at Morgan State University. His research examines how wastewater-based epidemiology and local environmental data can be transformed into accessible, interactive tools that help communities interpret changes in ecosystem and public health conditions. As a Graduate Fellow with the Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity, he integrates AI-assisted learning with community-engaged, design-based methods to support evidence-based decisions in schools and community settings. Menakaya is committed to inclusive STEM mentorship, science communication and cross-sector collaboration that broadens participation in ecological problem-solving. His goals include developing scalable, data-informed learning systems through artificial intelligence approaches and bridging gaps between STEM literacy and policy for real-world environmental issues. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Tennessee State University and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland, College Park.
James Moloney is a Ph.D. student studying mosquito biology in the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech. All species of mosquitoes rely on plant sugars for energy and Moloney examines how invasive mosquito populations interact with plants in different environments. He hopes that his findings will lead to technologies that stop the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Moloney’s work is supported by the Graduate Teaching Scholars program at Virginia Tech, a three-year scholarship aimed at giving graduate students the tools they need to educate the next generation of scientists. Moloney wants to leverage his love of research and education to make science more accessible for all in the future. He received his B.S. in Biology from Truman State University in Missouri.
Vanessa Morales is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at Georgetown University. Her research examines how human-caused disturbances affect interactions within and among species, especially in environments with low biodiversity, as well as ecosystem functioning. Currently, she is focusing on how sea level rise and nutrient pollution impact salt marsh communities by analyzing how these stressors may affect plant productivity and decomposition as well as the abundance and identity of arthropods that live in the marsh. She is passionate about mentoring and creating an inclusive environment for underrepresented groups in STEM. She received her B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Wildlife from Missouri State University.
Lily M. Olmo is a Ph.D. student in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University. She is broadly interested in how human-managed and human-made habitats can support fish biodiversity, particularly in coastal environments. Olmo has worked with state and federal agencies, universities, tribal groups and nonprofits to create research directly relevant to community needs and management priorities. She is committed to inclusion and diversity in science and enjoys serving as a mentor to the next generation of STEM professionals. Olmo’s research is supported by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and a NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center Graduate Fellowship. Prior to her Ph.D., Olmo received a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.S. in Fisheries Biology from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas (Oneida/Tonawanda Seneca) is a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University, where she is supported by NSF. Her research examines how knowledge-practice systems influence insect biodiversity, with a particular focus on fire regimes. Through community-engaged research, she generates a holistic understanding of insect responses to distinct land management practices. Reuben-Thomas is deeply committed to translating research into practice and regularly engages local communities through educational workshops. She aims to emphasize the importance of Indigenous Knowledge-Practice Systems to better inform conservation policy, supporting more equitable land management decision-making processes. Reuben-Thomas earned her B.A. in Integrative Biology from Buffalo State University and her M.S. in Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, and Genomics from the University of Rochester.
Taylor L. Rubin is a Ph.D. student in Biology at CUNY Queens College and Graduate Center, specializing in urban ecology. For her Ph.D., she is investigating how scavengers that live in cities interact with our food waste and how that interaction may influence disease spread. Rubin is passionate about bringing more people into the research process in the hopes of de-mystifying scientific research and increasing science literacy. Her long-term career goal is to pursue ecological research while working alongside community members and policymakers to translate scientific knowledge into meaningful change. Rubin currently serves as the board secretary for Birdability, a nonprofit dedicated to making birding and the outdoors accessible for those with disabilities. Previously, she earned a B.A. in Anthropology from the College of William & Mary and a master’s degree in Neuroscience and Animal Behavior from Emory University.
Noelle D. Visser is a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Louisville investigating how fungal microbiomes alter plant host chemistry. Her dissertation explores how changes in the fungi living inside plants affect the scents and chemical compounds produced by their flowers and leaves, with the aim of contributing to our limited knowledge of floral microbiomes. Visser is an active member of the Kentucky Academy of Science Policy Committee, informing the public about legislation concerning the environment, science education and human health. She intends to pursue a career bridging history, policy and science to cultivate environmental interest in the public. Prior to her Ph.D., Visser worked as a lab tech at the University of Michigan. She earned her B.S. in Human Biology from Indiana University and her M.S. in Medical Mycology from the University of Manchester.
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