Taya Baerg is a third-year student in the Natural Resources Conservation at UBC Forestry. This summer, Taya is working as a Himalayan Carnivore Research Assistant at UBC’s Gaynor Lab. This position is apart of the WorkLearn program.
In this Q&A, Taya shares her experience working in this position, the skills she has developed and what a typical day at work looks like for her!
What are your role and responsibilities in your summer position?
My role in Gaynor Lab is a Work Learn position – it is as much my responsibility to learn as it is to work! As for the ‘work’ portion, my day-to-day responsibilities involve organizing and annotating images collected from camera traps in Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal, to support ongoing research studying human impacts on two of the region’s top predators: wolves and snow leopards. As for the ‘learn’ portion, I participate in meetings and discussions in which my labmates and I gain insight into each others’ research and critically read relevant scientific literature.
How has your degree prepared you for this role?
My degree in forestry has helped me in developing many skills crucial for this role, including interpreting data and scientific communication. My courses have introduced me to a number of concepts that have amplified my understanding of the lab’s research, such as niche partitioning and human-wildlife conflict. In particular, CONS 454 (South Africa field school) introduced me to the world of camera traps, inspiring me to further pursue work in this field.
What skills have you developed from this role?
This role has immensely strengthened my skills in data management and statistical analysis. I have had the opportunity to explore ways in which GIS and R can be used to manage data and synthesize results.
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
A typical day involves putting on some good tunes and looking at thousands and thousands of images of leopards, wolves, people, livestock, and so much more! It also involves collaborating with my supervisor and labmates to discuss our findings and overcome difficulties with the data.
What is your favorite part of this job?
The highlight of my job is hearing about what everyone else in the lab is doing! The lab’s research varies in terms of topic, location, and study subject – from bobcat range shifts here in BC, to ungulate niche partitioning in Mozambique, to predator-prey interactions in California. It is a privilege to be immersed in such diverse studies among such a passionate team
