I recently completed my Ph.D. in the Animal Migration Research Group at the UMCES Appalachian Lab. My dissertation research focused on the ecology and conservation of migratory birds during the non-breeding seasons, which includes understanding how birds cope with the changing external conditions they experience during migration (both anthropogenic and natural challenges) and how free-roaming domestic cats affect birds during stopover and the stationary non-breeding period.
I stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher at the Appalachian Lab, where I'm working with the Department of Natural Resources to use weather radar data to map stopover habitat for birds across the state of Maryland for the upcoming 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan revision. Learn more about these projects on the Research page!
Prior to this, I completed my M.S. at Ball State University, where I studied habitat use of Cerulean Warblers with Dr. Kamal Islam, and received my B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy (Wildlife Ecology and Management concentration) from the University of Maryland. In between degrees, I'm privileged to have worked on a wide variety of field jobs and research projects across the U.S., from point count surveys in New Hampshire to tracking Gray Vireo fledglings in New Mexico. In my free time, I am an avid birder and love hiking, road trips, awful puns, growing chili peppers, playing with my (indoor) cats, and generally being amazed at the good fortune of living in a world with birds in it.
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Contact
Email: claire.nemes[at]umces.edu / Twitter: @cenemes / Google Scholar / ResearchGate
If you have questions about my research, need access to papers, or want to talk grad school / fieldwork / grant applications, drop me a line!
It's pronounced "NEE-mess" :)
© Claire Nemes, 2023