Student Information
Graduate Student
Environmental Life Sciences
The College of Lib Arts & Sci
Long Bio
Kayla Burgher is an Environmental Life Sciences Ph.D. Candidate in the Senko Lab for Marine Megafauna and Fisheries Conservation at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on assessing and mitigating fisheries bycatch of charismatic marine megafauna, such as sea turtles and elasmobranchs, while preserving fisher livelihoods. Kayla employs a multidisciplinary approach that integrates quantitative modeling, community-based conservation, threat assessments, and innovative bycatch reduction technologies. Much of
Kayla’s current research is based in North Carolina, where she is testing
solar-powered illumination of pound nets and examining the
underlying drivers of sea turtle bycatch in gillnet and
pound net fisheries. Additionally, Kayla is passionate about science communication and co-hosts SciChronicles, a podcast where scientists share personal stories about their unique experiences and journeys in science.
Courses
2025 Spring
2022 Fall
2021 Fall