Solution-Based Science for All 

Welcome! I'm Gabriel (Gabe), a 4th year PhD candidate in the Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab at Yale University School of the Environment. I believe science is a powerful tool to steward a world where everyone's well-being can thrive.  You might be thinking that's very well and good but a bit pie in the sky.  Let me give you an example of what I mean. 

Do you like rodents in your home? - What about waking up freezing because you live in an energy-inefficient building? Yeah, me neither! Now, what if I told you mice getting inside your home and your expensive heating bills are more related than you think. The lack of insulation in your walls, broken doors, and gaps in your home foundations can act as ENTER HERE signs for wildlife looking for food and a place to nest.  In the past, these would be seen as separate issues; an exterminator might place poison bait while you limit your heating. 

My work pushes back on this, opting for a systems approach; and working towards solutions that solve more than one issue, like retrofitting homes to be energy efficient and exclude common pests through integrated pest management IPM.  Evidence for this would mean a solution that supports reduced human-wildlife conflict, saves money on utilities, and reduces the risk of asthma and other illnesses. 

My dissertation is working towards this by better understanding the drivers of the complex issues mentioned above.  By trapping rodents and identifying their pathogens, we build a clearer picture of neighborhoods most at risk of infestations and brainstorm community-tailored solutions. I hope you stay a while and see what led me here and what I'll be doing next.