Autumn 2022 Conservation Science Trainees

Bekzhan Berdikulov

Almaty City, Kazakhstan

Bekzhan attended the University of Lorraine in France where he studied Forest and the Environment and obtained a master’s degree. He is also a graduate of the Al-Farabi Kazakj National University in Kazakhstan where he obtained his master’s degree in biology, along with his bachelor’s degree in 2016. Bekzhan currently works as a Junior Researcher at the Institute of Zoology, Ornithology Center in Kazakhstan. After his traineeship Bekzhan would like to study raptors in Kazakhstan, analyze count data from Chokpak, and obtain his doctorate. Bekzhan also plans to write a book about the birds of Kazakhstan using up-to-date data in the Kazakh language.

Grace Muench

Pottsville, Pennsylvania

Grace is a student at Pennsylvania State University, Schuylkill, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a General Ecology Option. Grace has been a field assistant for Penn State for the last two years where she has been capturing and banding birds, searching for target nests, and monitoring nests. Grace is also a biology research assistant where she assists in compiling data for a project on mosquito host preferences. Grace recently completed a Summer Field Experience at Hawk Mountain where she assisted in the Broadwing Project along with many other research projects. Grace’s future plans are to complete her bachelor’s degree and then attend graduate school where she would like to study population ecology of songbirds.

Yhon Giraldo Gomez

Armenia, Colombia

Yhon is a 2019 graduate of the University of Quindio where he received his bachelor’s degree in biology. Yhon is currently the Coordinator of Conservation Projects and Bird Watching Guide at Penelope Birding in Colombia where he co-designs and develops strategic conservation and research projects, along with guiding bird watching groups. Yhon was also a research assistant on a project studying the crested eagle in Colombia. After his traineeship Yhon would like to continue to work in avian research and birding tourism.

Binta Sambou Mehta

Abuko, The Gambia

Binta is a 2014 graduate of the College of African Wildlife Management where she received her diploma in Wildlife Management. Binta also holds certificates in Natural Resource Management from the Southern African Wildlife College and Arts. Currently Binta is a Wildlife Conservation Officer and an Environmental Education Assistant of The Gambia Department of Parks and Wildlife Management where she conducts awareness programs on the importance of wildlife and environment conservation in schools and communities in protected areas in The Gambia. Binta is also involved in species inventory/surveys with flamingos, vultures, and other avifauna. After her traineeship Binta would like to enhance her educational background with training on the management and conservation of wildlife species.

Lindsey Czopek

Clay, Michigan

Lindsey is a 2022 graduate of Kent State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Zoology. Lindsey was a Wildlife Sanctuary Intern at the Raptor Hallow Sanctuary in Alliance, Ohio, where she cared for resident animals, flight trained raptors, led education programs, and more. Lindsay recently completed a summer research internship in Zimbabwe where she learned field research methodology for mammals and birds. After her traineeship Lindsey would like to work in wildlife research that supports the conservation of birds.

Emily Ritter

Beach Lake, Pennsylvania

Emily is a 2021 graduate of Millersville University where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology with a concentration in animal behavior and also minored in studio art. Emily worked as a field technician for the USGS Small Mammal and Disease Ecology Department where she live-trapped black-tailed prairie dogs around the Badlands National Park and Buffalo Gap National Grassland research plots. Emily also volunteered for the USGS Breeding Bird Survey program where she conducted aural and visual surveys along the Rockyford and Cedar Pass breeding bird survey routes in the Badlands National Park. After her traineeship Emily plans to look for a master’s or Ph.D. position with research that can benefit the conservation of imperiled species of birds. Her goals are to eventually teach ornithology at the university level to educate future generations.