When I think of someone I can depend on, I think of Kyle G. George. Kyle earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry, Conservation Biology, and almost Captive Wildlife Management from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, but I learned just what an asset he is to have on your side during our graduate school experience at Eastern Michigan University, where he earned a Master’s in General Biology. I not only got the chance to learn alongside Kyle, but I also taught undergraduate biology labs alongside him, and I can’t think of anyone more prepared to do the work of saving one of our most important pollinators. (notes from me in green)
What first sparked your interest in science?
I honestly have no idea. I didn’t have any science or outdoorsy role models growing up, I don’t feel like I spent an above-average amount of time outside, and I seem to be the only one in my family who has a particularly analytical view of the world. There was definitely always a strong pull to science though (likely due to my brain’s default to over-analyze). Since maybe kindergarten, more often than not I wanted to be a veterinarian (particularly in a zoo) when I grew up, and this held true through freshman year of undergrad. I was drawn to the intersection of science and wildlife conservation. After spending a summer as an intern in the veterinary department of a zoo, I realized that I wanted more of a hands-on approach to conservation, which led me to wildlife research and eventually bats (those important pollinators I was telling you about).
Describe your research in laymen’s terms:
My thesis research looked at the bacteria and fungi living on the skin of bats. I looked at how factors such as body region, host species, site, and season might show differences in the composition of natural microbial communities. This research was a preliminary effort to explore possible solutions to the disease white-nose syndrome (WNS). Bats offer essential benefits to the agriculture industry through pollination or control of insect pests that would harm crops; the estimate is that they save the North American agricultural industry between 3.7 and 56 billion dollars every year. Unfortunately, WNS has killed over 6 million bats in eastern North America since it was discovered in New York in 2006. The disease is caused by the cold-loving fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which grows on bats during hibernation. The fungus causes bats to wake up from hibernation more frequently than is normal, depleting energy stores before insects are available to eat at the end of winter and often causing death due to starvation or exposure to the cold while searching for food (those poor little guys!). The fungus can be found throughout much of eastern North America and has been detected in Washington state as of March 2016.
Currently, I am a biological sciences technician at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI where a majority of my tasks focus on bats and WNS. I assist with the national P. destructans surveillance project which aims for early detection of infected sites as P. destructans spreads and of new species that are susceptible to WNS (not all species of bat are affected by the disease). We also conduct research to improve surveillance and diagnostic methods and assist with priority research in trying to fight the disease. Personally, my job involves all aspects of the surveillance project; I travel to different states for field work (cave surveys and mist-netting), enter data from site information and results of all bat submissions, analyze samples, perform some rudimentary necropsies (surgical examination of a dead animal), give presentations at conferences, participate in management meetings and conference calls, and prepare grant applications and manuscripts for publication. I also perform other tasks in support of the wildlife epidemiology and emerging diseases branch, which allows me to be at the forefront of mortality events happening across the country. For all of my experience and interests, I could not have asked for a more perfect job or location right out of graduate school.
What are your hopes/plans for your scientific future?
As of right now, I imagine myself in a position that works closely with endangered and threatened species and that allows me to conduct field research (some lab work would be nice too), present at conferences, interact with the public, and make management decisions. I am drawn to the idea of adaptive management. For example, I might be the director of some nature reserve where I conduct research and use results of that research to inform on management decisions for the reserve. Bats will hopefully be a large part of my scientific future, but I also want to branch out more into other wildlife taxa, plants, and overall ecosystem research; I am a big supporter of integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines for the benefit of conservation.
As much as I’d like to contribute to the political discussions around science, I’m not sure that I have the emotional tenacity to handle it (fair enough, politics is brutal!). However, I do plan to contribute through continued ethical science (those two words seem a bit redundant) and public education.
What do you think is the most important thing for the general public to know about science?
Science is not a belief. It is a tool we use to critically explore and learn about the universe. (Amen to that!)
Additionally, science is not contradictory to religion and has only strengthened my belief in a God.
What non-scientific interests do you have?
Volleyball, drag shows, kayaking, community service, LGBTQ causes, and music (guitar, piano, singing, etc.)
References for any scientific publications:
Lorch, J. M. et al. 2016. First Detection of Bat White-Nose Syndrome in Western North America. mSphere 1:e00148-16.