Conservation Science, Policy & Engagement-The Parsons Lab, GMU

Recent Graduate Student Research Projects:

MS Students
• McConchie, T. 2007. Computer assisted analysis of individual bottlenose dolphin fins off Wallops Island, Virginia. Masters thesis. George Mason University, Virginia. (joint director with D. Kelso)
• McDuff, H. 2008. How sea turtle populations are impacted by shrimp trawls along the United States east coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Masters project. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Tadur, S. 2008. The use of patent variables in biotech firm valuation-the case of misspecified models. Masters project. George Mason University, Virginia.
• O’Bryhim, J. 2009. Public knowledge, attitudes and behavior to sharks and shark conservation. Masters thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Wong, D.L. 2009. Public perception of mammals and mammal conservation in Fairfax County. Masters thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Willis, T. 2009. Decentralized wind energy generation: advantages and challenges. Masters project. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Fazio, J. 2010. A behavioral assessment of the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa); a comparative analysis of reproductive success. Masters thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Griffith, D. 2010. Waste reduction as a method to reach conservation goals; a comparative analysis of plastic waste management. Masters thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Patterson, K. 2010. Conservation, captivity, and whaling: a survey of Belize whale-watching tourist attitudes to cetacean conservation issues. Masters thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Sitar-Gonzales, A. 2011. A survey of student opinions of green commercials. Master’s thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Galgano, M.R. 2011. A review of Brucella — focusing on marine mammals and the associated zoonotic health risk. Master’s project. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Tracy, S. 2012. Understanding conservation: a study of student attitudes and understanding of the effects of human activities on global ecosystems. Master’s thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Hendren, A. 2012. The public perception of marine invertebrates in the Washington, D.C. Area. Master’s project. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Sharma, A. 2012. Marine plastic pollution. Master’s project. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Redman, M. 2013. Keeping green schoolyards green: a study of challenges and success strategies for the long-term sustainability of schoolyard habitats. Master’s thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Ozbenian, S. 2013. Survey of attitudes toward, conflicts with and management of wolves and bears in rural villages in Armenia. Master’s thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Roland, A. 2013. Population size and viability of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off the coast of the Parque Nacional De Este, Dominican Republic. Master’s thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Abrahams, H. 2014. Mitochondrial control region diversity and phylogeographic patterns of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) along the East Coast of the United States. Master’s thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.

PhD Students
• Ambler, J.B. 2011. Whales and the people who watch them: baleen whales in Virginia’s near-shore waters and the educational and conservation potential of whale watching. Doctoral thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Crerar, L. 2012. Genetics of the Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas): a study of ancient bone material. Doctoral thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Luksenburg, J. 2012. The cetaceans of Aruba: a multidisciplinary study. Doctoral thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Shafer, C.L. 2013. Grizzly emigration and land use: an interdisciplinary case study of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Doctoral thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.
• Thornhill, J.L., 2014. Bridging the gap between research and decision-making: empirical evidence from a case study of gray wolf (Canis lupus) management in the US. Doctoral thesis. George Mason University, Virginia.