Connor Mccowan Email and Phone Number

Ever since I was young, I have loved being in some of the only unchanged areas left on earth that have not been exploited for human use. We call these untouched gems, nature. Fortunately, I live in a time where humans have not destroyed everything, yet. The calling of my life is to restore, protect and fight for these critically exploited natural areas. I am doing that today by studying the complex interactions invasive species have with native wildlife in South Florida. My current research revolves around the spread of an invasive parasite into native Anuran species. Specifically, I am examining the vulnerability of native southern toads to a nematode parasite found in the lung tissue of cane toads. I am completing this objective through both field based observational studies and laboratory based experimental studies. Studying the spread of this parasite and the effect it has will prove vital to the conservation of species as it faces new unforeseen threats.Outside of my research, I am a scientific educator that thrives in the fast-paced world of higher education. Through my graduate program, I have been working side by side with many of the faculty here at FGCU. I worked with them to design and implement student-focused exam support and review sessions that grew in popularity and effectiveness. These exam reviews sessions have been remarkably successful with students that participated. These students have well exceeded the averages for other students in the class and the department. well exceed exam averages for the department. In my coursework, I have been furthering my knowledge of our ever-changing ecosystems and developing new skills that will help further find trends in our ecosystem that are not obvious. One of these growing skills is data analysis and visualization through R-Studio. These skills will be critical for the understanding of complex relationships invasive species have with native species.