Massachusetts About Us
The Massachusetts Unit is led by Dr. Allison Roy (Unit Leader - Fisheries), who oversees Unit operations. Dr. Graziella DiRenzo (Assistant Unit Leader- Wildlife) and Dr. Tammy Wilson (Assistant Unit Leader - Ecology) joined the Unit in Fall 2020. Deb Wright provides administrative support for Unit activities.
Massachusetts Unit scientists hold research faculty rank at the University of Massachusetts, teach graduate level courses, and oversee the Unit's research projects. Research projects typically support graduate students and post-docs and address a variety of topics, many focused on the needs and interests of our Cooperators. Our Unit has developed a special concentration on issues related to urban and suburban fish, wildlife, and habitats. We also conduct research on a range of fish and wildlife populations, from rare and endangered to overabundant species. Forest wildlife, freshwater invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, and human-wildlife interactions round out much of the remainder of our current research program. Research funds for the Massachusetts Unit come mainly from MDFW, MDMF, USFWS, Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, and several NGOs, with additional support for students from campus programs such as DEC and OEB.
The Massachusetts Unit is housed in Holdsworth Environmental Conservation Center at the north end of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst campus. We are fully integrated into the Department of Environmental Conservation and affiliated with other programs such as OEB and Harvard Forest.