I am a wildlife ecologist (a niche of the biological scientist profession) particularly interested in behavioural, population and spatial ecology of mammals. From an applied perspective, I seek to understand anthopogenic effects on wildlife to assist conservation decisions. My work occurs in terrestrial systems and often involves field studies on mammalian carnivores. My research has had an emphasis on investigating and mitigating human-wildlife interactions, predator-prey studies, habitat and species distribution modelling, as well as animal movement analyses. In addition to testing theory and providing ecological evidence across systems, a central theme has been to inform spatio-temporal decision making for management and planning.

I am a Lecturer in Ecology at the University of Brighton with a focus on mammal ecology and conservation. Prior to my current role, professional positions in North America and Africa facilitated a range of research experiences in various terrestrial ecosystems and with several mammalian species, including carnivores, omnivores and herbivores. After my last posdoc position I joined the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia where I led research projects on cheetahs and other species, particularly leopards in southern and eastern Africa. I maintain strong collaborations with the Cheetah Conservation Fund on applied research at the human-wildlife interface in rural landscapes of Africa.

In addition to research, I have been involved actively with various professional organizations especially the Society for Conservation Biology where I held leadership roles. I hold editorial roles with scientific journals (currently Frontiers in Conservation Science and Wildlife Biology) and have made professional contributions to IUCN and the EU. I have been involved in designing the first community conservancies (a form of area protection that empowers rural communities in natural resource management) for arid biodiversity areas in Somaliland, Horn of Africa.

I welcome enquiries from prospective Masters, Ph.D. and postdoc applicants for research projects in wildlife ecology, conservation biology, and human-wildlife interactions. I currently supervise/co-supervise several graduate students and work with postdoc-level scientists on a range of mammal projects across 3 continents. Most of the work involves free-ranging terrestrial mammals, particularly carnivores in Africa, Europe and North America. 

Graduate students (CURRENT):

Liomba-Junior Mathe (Ph.D.) – Balancing carnivore conservation and livelihoods in the Horn of Africa: An assessment of cheetah status, predator-prey dynamics and coexistence with rural communities in Somaliland. Co-supervised with Dr. Meed Mbidzo (Namibia University of Science and Technology), Prof. Angela Fuller (Cornell University) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). 

Mogae Makonyela (Ph.D.) – Understanding human-wildlife interactions and their impact on conservation and livelihoods in Namibian communal conservancies. Co-supervised with Dr. Meed Mbidzo (Namibia University of Science and Technology), Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund) and Dr. Dipanjan Naha (Cheetah Conservation Fund).

Stephen McAuliffe (Ph.D.) – Anthropogenic disturbance of badgers (Meles meles) occupying setts – An evaluation of noise and vibration impact mitigation in forest habitats. Co-supervised with Dr. Maureen Berg (University of Brighton), Dr. Cally Ham (Forest Research) and Dr. Alice Broome (Forest Research).

Subish Sebastian (MRes.) – Landscape connectivity for brown bears in Transylvania, Romania. Co-supervised with Dr. Anja Rott (University of Brighton) and Csaba Domokos (Milvus Group). 

Utarera Katjavivi (M.Sc.) – Effects of bush encroachment on landscape dynamics and habitat selection of collared cheetahs in north-central, Namibia. Co-supervised with Dr. Zahn Műnch (Stellenbosch University) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). 

Graduate students (COMPLETED):

2025

Carlie Hvizdash (MRes.) – Evaluating the effectiveness of latrine monitoring rafts as a population survey method for water voles in the United Kingdom (MRes completed 2025). Co-supervised with Dr. Maureen Berg (University of Brighton).

2024

Stijn Verschueren (Ph.D.) – Strengthening cheetah population monitoring for biodiversity conservation. Co-supervised with Prof. Dr. Herwig Leirs (University of Antwerp), Dr. Hans Bauer (University of Oxford) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). Current position: Postdoctoral researcher, University of Bern, Switzerland.

Matthew Kivlahan (M.Sc.) – Effect of land-use type on the community composition of medium- to large-sized mammals in a woodland savanna of central-eastern Namibia. Co-supervised with Prof. Herwig Leirs (University of Antwerp) and Stijn Verschueren (University of Antwerp).

Sophie Palmer (M.Sc.) – The effects of livestock guarding dogs on caracal (Caracal caracal) behaviour in South Africa. Co-supervised with Dr. Nicola Rooney (University of Bristol). Current position: Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK.

2023

Dallas Ruble (MRes.) – Livestock guardian donkeys in an African savannah. Co-supervised with Dr. Alastair Ward (University of Leeds) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). Current position: GIS Specialist, Talkie Communications, USA.

Emma Reasoner (M.Sc.) – Human-wildlife conflict and coexistence of black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in the Okakarara District Communal Area, Namibia. Co-supervised with Dr. Meed Mbidzo (Namibia University of Science and Technology), Dr. Anne Schmidt-Kűntzel (Cheetah Conservation Fund) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). Current position: Biologist I, Integrated Environmental Solutions, USA.

James Dimbleby (M.Sc.) – A spatial analysis of cheetah movement patterns across four classes of cheetahs in Namibia. Co-supervised with Dr. Nicola Rooney (University of Bristol) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). Current position: CITES Licensing Assistant, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, UK.

Maria Laura Ruozzi (M.Sc.) – Wildlife response to fire disturbance in a woodland savanna. Co-supervised with Prof. Herwig Leirs (University of Antwerp) and Stijn Verschueren (University of Antwerp).

2022

Eshaan Rao (M.Sc.) – A study on habitat utilization by different groups of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in bush encroached Namibia. Co-supervised with Dr. Nicola Rooney (University of Bristol) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). Current position: Lead Biologist, Pench Tiger Reserve, India.

2021

Holly Atkinson (M.Sc.) – Comparison of predation success between two apex predators in a thornbush savanna. Co-supervised with Dr. Nicola Rooney (University of Bristol) and Dr. Laurie Marker (Cheetah Conservation Fund). Current position: Postgraduate researcher, University of Bristol, UK.