Ashley Bowers-Macrander, M.S.

About Me

I have had an interest in science and animals for as long as I can remember. That interest led me to pursue a biology degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As an undergraduate, I had the privilege to work on numerous research projects including: parasitism and commensalism in hermit crabs, female mate choice in the green swordtail, and anti-predation behavior and ontogeny in the southern platyfish. After graduating with my Bachelors degree, I decided to stay at UNL for my Masters degree, in order to continue researching what I was passionate about. During that time, I studied male-male competition and potential resource defense polygyny in the southern platyfish.

Following grad school, I took a short break from academia and worked as a zookeeper at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. My position allowed me to work with over 50 species and hundreds of individuals, ranging from the endangered Matschie's tree kangaroos and Amur leopards to prairie dogs and squirrel monkeys. This line of work stoked my enthusiasm for animal conservation and my love of talking about conservation and biodiversity with the public. After leaving the zoo, I began working full-time in academia, holding positions at The Ohio State University, Zane State College, and University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Education

• Masters of Science, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Biological Sciences, Specialization: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, 2006 – 2009
• Bachelors of Science, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Biological Sciences, 2002 - 2006

Courses Taught

I am available to mentor honors students. If you are interested in a project related to animal behavior or conservation/outreach, please feel free to email me.

• BIO II: Biology Diversity
• BIO III: Ecology & Evolution
• Conservation Biology
• Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II

Office Information