Olivia Davis

Olivia is a fifth year PhD candidate in the Biology and Society program on the Ecology, Economics, and Ethics of the Environment track.  She is advised by Dr. Leah Gerber and is a member of the Conservation Innovation Lab.  She studies conservation and science policy, and is involved in projects examining the categorization of actions for Endangered Species Act recovery plans, the Five-Year review process for listed species, and Species Status Assessments. She hopes to help bridge the gap between scientists and decision makers. She is also interested in science communication, and how she can better communicate her science to stakeholders, the public, and broader audiences. Further, she works with Dr. Katelyn Cooper on graduate school mental health interventions for mentors and mentees, and advocates for the normalization and prioritization of graduate student mental health in the sciences and academia.

Prior to attending ASU, Olivia completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at The College of New Jersey, with a minor in Psychology.  Her research thesis focused on social behavior of stickleback fish, for which she completed fieldwork in Alaska and participated in the Mentored Undergraduate Summer Experience program.  She also completed an Environmental Education and Animal Behavior internship at the Philadelphia Zoo.  Olivia is excited to expand on biology background and learn from the faculty and her fellow graduate students here at ASU.