Dr. Jess McLaughlin (they/them)
Jess is the PI! They grew up as a generally outdoorsy kid in Dayton, OH, and so naturally they decided at 18 to run off to Alaska to get their degree in Wildlife Biology at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Since then, they’ve followed that with an MSc in Biological Sciences (also at UAF), a PhD in Biology at University of Oklahoma, postdocs at UC Berkeley and UMass Amherst, and a stint as an instructor at Mission College (CA).
Jess is interested in why certain taxa have the specific evolutionary outcomes they do when similar taxa do not, and they get very excited about figuring out how to use cool new sequencing tech for conservation. They are also an advocate for equity in STEM, especially for LGBTQ+ inclusion. You can read more about their background and CV here.
Undergraduate Researchers
One of the great things about UAA are our amazing undergrads. The current undergrad lab members are:
Iqra Dubed
My name is Iqra Dubed. I was born in Ethiopia but raised in Anchorage. I am currently majoring in Natural Sciences with a minor in neuroscience. My love for biology began in my eighth-grade biology class, and it has only grown since then. I also have a deep love for birds, with a special interest in different bird species and their unique characteristics. The Somali ostrich, in particular, fascinates me because of its distinct traits and the role it plays in the ecosystems of the Horn of Africa.
Maggie Gibson
Hello! My name is Maggie and I am currently a Senior at the University of Alaska Anchorage pursuing a bachelor’s in biological sciences with an emphasis in research. My decision to pursue wildlife research was first influenced by a friend pushing me to apply for a program called AKUNiTE were I worked with a biologist from the USGS on sea otter carcasses. My part in the project was to clean/process sea otter skulls that had been collected and remove their premolar (if available) to be sent to the lab for aging. In addition to the valuable experiences I gained through the USGS, I am also an on-call volunteer with the Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services (AVPS), assisting with providing diagnostic and research pathology services, such as necropsies and histopathology, for wildlife and domestic animals.
Outside of the classroom, I work as a board-certified dental assistant at Southcentral Foundation. My fundamental areas of focus are emergency/urgent dental care, adult special needs, and traveling to the many villages in Alaska. Being able to travel to remote communities in Alaska, allow me to observe and appreciate the natural beauty our state has to offer. During my time in these communities, I have observed a variety of biologist conducting research on the wildlife in these communities such as the sea birds io the Pribilof Islands. These experiences influenced my desire to pursue wildlife research as I want to preserve our state’s beauty for future generations and to advocate for those who cannot.
Laura Kauppi
I love science and find genetics fascinating. I really enjoy problem solving and learning more about the world in which we live.
Join us!
Want to see your face in this gallery? I am currently recruiting MSc students for Fall 2025! I am also willing to discuss PhD and postdoc opportunities. And as always, undergrads are always welcome!
Interested? Let’s talk! Email me at jfmclaughlin [at] alaska.edu.
Collaborators
Part of what makes science fun is working with so many other cool people! Below is a running list of some of the folks we’ve worked with:
Dr. Kinsey Brock, SDSU
Dr. Andy Danylchuk, UMass Amherst
Dr. Lisa Komoroske, UMass Amherst
Dr. Sara Lipshutz, Duke
Dr. Matthew Miller, Reneco International Wildlife Consultants
Dr. Ian Wang, UC Berkeley
Dr. Kevin Winker, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Dr. Chris Witt, University of New Mexico