I am a final year PhD student, co-supervised by the University of Stirling, UKCEH and RSPB, and funded by NERC IAPETUS2 (see the 'Research' tab for more details). My main research interests lie in conservation, human-wildlife conflict and avian life-histories.
PhD Ecology | University of Stirling (2019 - present)
Research Assistant | University of Glasgow (2017 - 2019 FT, 2019 - Oct 2022 PT)
Data Analyst | University of Glasgow (2016 - 2017)
MSc Quantitative Methods in Biodiversity, Epidemiology and Conservation | University of Glasgow (2015 - 2016)
Field Assistant | St Kilda & University of Edinburgh (2015)
BSc (hons) Biology | University of Stirling (2009 - 2013)
My PhD explores the environmental basis for spatial and temporal change in riverine bird populations. This will focus primarily on White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus), but will also identify patterns of change and response to environmental stressors in two other riverine bird species: Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) and Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea).
From 2017 - 2019, I worked as a as a Research Assistant in the Katie Hampson Lab, joining a team that researches many aspects of the Rabies virus primarily in Tanzania, but with collaborators worldwide. This role involved providing general support for data management, processing, visualisation and analysis using R, and Github for version control. Through this, I have had the opportunity to contribute to multiple projects that research detection, treatment access and provision, and genetic sequencing of the Rabies virus (see Outputs).
My MSc thesis explored tick infestation in woodland passerines, and the relative important of various bird species as transmission hosts for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., the bacterium responsible for Lyme borreliosis in humans. This project utilised mist-netting to capture birds and examine them for ticks at three sites in Central Scotland. Engorged ticks were removed for subsequent identification under microscope, and lab analysis to identify presence and predominant genospecies.
Article
Lushasi K, Steenson R, Bernard J, Changalucha JJ, Govella NJ, Haydon DT, Hoffu H, Lankester F, Magoti F, Mpolya EA, Mtema Z, Nonga H & Hampson K (2020) One Health in Practice: Using Integrated Bite Case Management to Increase Detection of Rabid Animals in Tanzania. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Art. No.: 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00013
Article
The need to improve access to rabies post-exposure vaccines: Lessons from Tanzania
Changalucha J, Steenson R, Grieve E, Cleaveland S, Lembo T, Lushasi K, Mchau G, Mtema Z, Sambo M, Nanai A, Govella NJ, Dilip A, Sikana L, Ventura F & Hampson K (2019) The need to improve access to rabies post-exposure vaccines: Lessons from Tanzania. Vaccine, 37 (Supplement 1), pp. A45-A53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.08.086
Article
Hampson K, Ventura F, Steenson R, Mancy R, Trotter C, Cooper L, Abela-Ridder B, Knopf L, Ringenier M, Tenzin T, Ly S, Tarantola A, Moyengar R, Oussiguéré A & Bonfoh B (2019) The potential effect of improved provision of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in Gavi-eligible countries: a modelling study. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 19 (1), pp. 102-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099%2818%2930512-7
2022, University of Stirling
Demonstrator for R (postgrad) and GIS (undergrad).
2021, University of Stirling
Demonstrator for field techniques (postgrad) and GIS (undergrad).
2018, University of Glasgow
Assistant Leader for Level 3 Fieldcourse to Payamino, Ecuador; conducted bird surveys and guided students in experimental design.
2017-2019, University of Glasgow
Demonstrator for field survey techniques and identification on MSc Vertebrate ID module.
Assistant for bird ringing demonstrations.
