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People

Melanie Kunkel

Wildlife Veterinarian & Visiting Scientist

Melanie has broad interests in free-ranging wildlife health and disease, with specific interests in the epidemiology and pathobiology of diseases, particularly those at the interface of human, wildlife, and domestic animal health.
Helen Lee

Conservation & Livelihoods Advisor

Helen focuses on wildlife health and conservation, and furthering the impact of One Health and Planetary Health approaches. She works on developing sustainable solutions to conservation and development challenges, with a particular focus on local communities.
Mani Lejeune

Parasitologist

Mani is intrigued by the biodiversity of wildlife parasites and focuses on improving understanding of host-parasite interactions.
Md Mamun headshot

Postdoctoral Affiliate

Mamun is studying harmful algal blooms and their ecology in East Africa’s Lake Victoria, and is focused on how these blooms affect food webs, fish health, and human health.
Katherine McClure

Postdoctoral Fellow in Disease Ecology (2019-2021)

Katherine is a disease ecologist interested in applying quantitative methods to better understand and control infectious diseases at the population level.
Steve Osofsky

Wildlife Veterinarian

Steve's focus is on the conservation of free-ranging wildlife, as well as on the deeply intertwined relationships among environmental stewardship, system resilience, economic development, and human health and well-being.
Lydia OMeara headshot

Postdoctoral Affiliate

Lydia is a nutritionist and postdoctoral researcher working on food systems and nutrition in low resource contexts in sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific. Her work focuses on innovative mobile phone-based methods for integrated monitoring of ecosystem and public health, exploring linkages between aquatic biodiversity and nutritional adequacy for fisheries-dependent communities living on the frontlines of climate change.
Jennifer Peaslee

Wildlife Health Program Coordinator

Jennifer is the communications and activities coordinator for the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab and assists other related programs. Her research interests include avian disease, insects, and arthropods.
Raina Plowright profile picture

Veterinary Epidemiologist & Disease Ecologist

Raina studies the mechanisms that drive the spillover of pathogens between species. Her transdisciplinary work demonstrates that preserving and restoring wildlife habitats can stop pathogen spillover by minimizing contact between wildlife and people as well as their livestock.
Victoria Priester

Communications Assistant (Part-Time)

Victoria is a Cornell veterinary student focused on the health of free-ranging wildlife. She has worked with endangered species in the United States and internationally. She is passionate about engaging the public in conservation.