Dr. Erica Rieder, Postdoctoral Researcher
I am a postdoctoral researcher with the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at the 老虎机攻略. As a conservation social scientist and system dynamics modeler, I strive to bridge the gap between research and management to improve our ability to make decisions on complex challenges. I began my career working for World Wildlife Fund, gaining a strong foundation in community-led conservation with WWF-Zambia. I expanded my experience with communities by supporting projects across Tanzania and Mozambique and then with WWF-US' Northern Great Plains Program. While working in South Dakota, I was introduced to systems thinking and system dynamics, which led me to pursue my PhD at North Carolina State University. In my doctorate, I combined a participatory approach with systems modeling, developing a conceptual systems map and a simulation model with stakeholders working to address the illegal tiger trade. My current research focuses on chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer populations, using systems modeling to help wildlife agencies better understand the spread of the disease and how to combat it.