Jason Hagani, a second-year PhD student at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Columbia University, where he studied environmental science and ecology, evolution, and conservation biology, respectively. As an undergraduate, Hagani focused on climate and geological sciences, but discovered he was more interested in wildlife as a whole and how he could use his degree to contribute to wildlife conservation efforts. 

His master’s research focused on spatial determinants of human-wildlife conflict, using mountain lions in California and black bears in New York to better understand conflicts between large predators and human populations. “I had the opportunity to do some really cool spatial modeling, but I also had some social science components that we worked with to create informational materials to deploy on campgrounds where there’s a high risk of human/animal interaction,” Hagani said. “I was doing research I was excited about but also felt like I was contributing to conservation efforts.”

As he got more involved in this kind of research, Hagani knew that he would eventually pursue a PhD. However, he wanted to gain professional experience, so he worked for a couple of years as a GIS analyst doing spatial analysis and modeling of restoration efforts on marshes unique to California. 

Ready to return to academia, Hagani was enticed by SEAS and its emphasis on interdisciplinary research. “I was drawn to the fact that everyone was doing something vastly different, and I thought having so many unique perspectives and research interests surrounding me would be a rewarding experience,” he said.

He emailed his now-advisor, SEAS Associate Professor Neil Carter, citing his excitement at having the opportunity to work with someone so established in his field of interest. “I was a big fan of his work and had read some of his papers during my master’s research. [Professor] Carter works on subjects I am interested in but also integrates social science into his research and works alongside NGOs, governments and local communities to identify pathways for human-wildlife coexistence.”

As a PhD student, Hagani’s research scope is still being refined, but he sees it taking off in different directions as he continues to put in the work. Broadly, his research examines the impacts of human activity on wolves in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and how those are reflected in the trophic system at large. To understand this larger question, Hagani has identified three smaller questions that will contribute to his major research conclusions. 

These aspects of his research examine how human activities impact wolf diet, how changes in wolf diet impact wolf movement, the larger ecosystem impacts of these changing patterns, and how cell phone location data can be used to visualize how human movement in remote areas influences wolf movement. “As apex predators, wolves are really important to the ecosystem so we need a better understanding of how human activities impact them,” Hagani explained. The different dimensions of his project attempt to provide insight into this interaction to guide future research and conservation efforts. 

The research is being done in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. “Each of these partners has different perspectives on wolves and the ecosystem as a whole, but we all have the same goals of sustainable resource management and supporting important flora and fauna in the Upper Peninsula,” he said. “It’s been a very educational experience to learn about different worldviews and ways of exploring science and ecology.”

Collaboration is one of the most important parts of Hagani’s work. “I’m not trying to do science for the sake of science,” he said. “The research that comes out of this PhD is actually applicable to the adaptive management plan the Sault Tribe is starting to design and the policy decisions that government agencies are going to have to make in the future. Collaboration like this will create a link between the science we are doing and actionable management strategies.”

Hagani also voices his gratitude to the funding channels and grants he has access to as a SEAS PhD candidate. He has utilized conference travel grants to expand his professional network surrounding his research, and is also an awardee of the McIntire-Stennis Capacity Grant from the Forest Service for research on conservation and management of forest resources. Additionally, Hagani is a research fellow with the Institute for Global Change Biology at SEAS. Besides financial support, Hagani expresses his gratitude for the support he has received from his fellow students and advisor. “The SEAS community is awesome. My cohort in particular is really close, and it’s been so exciting to share my work with them.”

Still early in his PhD, Hagani isn’t sure what his career path looks like after graduation. “I love doing research, so whatever my next steps are will involve research,” he said. “I want a chance to interact with local communities and conservationists in the field and do work that makes a difference to actual people and wildlife.”