Molly J Vander Werp, PhD in Forest Science, 2026
Molly Vander Werp is a first-year PhD student in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Tech, co-advised by Dr. Sarah Hoy and Dr. Kristin Brzeski. Her doctoral research sits at the intersection of molecular ecology and wildlife conservation, where she uses noninvasive genomic tools to uncover how genetic change relates to wildlife health in the Isle Royale National Park moose population.
As a Michigan native, Molly grew up hearing about the wolves and moose of Isle Royale, both in the news and the biology classroom. Working with the Isle Royale system as a graduate student is a dream come true.
Before graduate school, Molly worked as a bluebird monitoring assistant, a bear genetics technician, and a Parkinson’s disease researcher. She is thrilled by the opportunity to combine her expertise in molecular lab techniques with her love of wildlife science.
As a 2026 recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Molly plans to continue her PhD research at Michigan Tech. She extends her gratitude to past and present advisors, collaborators, and mentors.