Research Interests and Background:
I grew up in Glenview, IL, where my fascination with the natural world was sparked by periodical cicada emergences, searching for crayfish burrows in the local remnant prairie, and formative camping trips in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
I had the opportunity to broaden my ecological horizons when I went to Dartmouth College (in Hanover, NH) for my Bachelor’s degree. Situated in a vast network of New England forests and waterways, Dartmouth facilitated my ongoing love of forest ecosystems and all the wonderful creatures they contain. As an undergrad, I joined the Ayres Lab and was able to gain my first research experience in the lab and in the field (at the amazing Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest). After finishing my undergrad, I became a full-time research technician for the Ayres Lab. I served as a lab manager and a mentor for a dozen undergrads, and I fell in love with bioacoustics research while manually validating tens of thousands of bird songs, among other research projects.
In the Zuckerberg Lab, I am excited to build upon the statewide Snapshot Wisconsin project by incorporating new phenological measurements and a fleet of autonomous recording units (ARUs). I will be investigating how seasonal phenology (snow cover duration, spring green-up timing, and more) can be more effectively modeled with a network of citizen scientists and camera traps, then connecting these models with bird and mammal communities, as well as acoustic soundscapes. In doing so, I aim to generate ecological insights into the connection between understory phenology and animal communities, as well as work with the Wisconsin DNR to directly inform wildlife management priorities. My PhD is co-advised by Zuzana Burivalova, so I also work closely with the Sound Forest Lab.
In my free time, I enjoy birding, baking sourdough, cooking elaborate meals for friends, and exploring nearby natural areas!
Education:
B.A. Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, Dartmouth College, 2024.
Contact:
wjcummings@wisc.edu
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