Education: B.A., Biology, Reed College, 2003; M.S., Biology, Portland State University, 2006; Ph.D., Biology, Portland State University, 2014
Present Position: Postdoctoral Researcher San Diego Zoo Global 2014-present. Where she develops and manages an international research program studying improvement of captive breeding methods, the effects of domestication on reproductive success in captivity, and reintroduction training methods in the giant panda. Her work involves international collaboration with the Chinese Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), Beijing Normal University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the University of Edinburgh, and St. Louis Zoo. Director of PDXWildlife 2013-present. Meghan co-founded a local non-profit in Portland, Oregon that conducts directed research questions that answer pressing wildlife management needs. Under this organization she developed a menu-marking program in Portland that recruits restaurants to mark sustainable seafood items and researched the effectiveness of menu marking on consumer choice and helped develop and organize non-lead ammunition outreach initiatives at gun shows.
Former Positions: United States Fish and Wildlife, Aquatics Conservation Program Intern 2014- 2015, Portland, OR; Oregon Zoo & San Diego Zoo Global, Giant Panda Graduate Program Behavioral Research 2011- 2014, Portland, OR; Portland Community College, Adjunct Professor and Lab Instructor for Conservation Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Introductory Biology 2009-2014, Portland, OR; Clark Community College, Adjunct Professor and Lab Instructure for Human Anatomy and Physiology 2008-2014, Vancouver, WA; Oregon Zoo, Radioimmunoassay Technician 2006-2010, Portland, OR; United States Forest Service, Wildlife Biological Technician 2006, Estacada, OR; Portland State University, Teaching Assistant for Human Anatomy and Physiology and Histology 2006-2014, Portland, OR; Portland State University, Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit Graduate Behavioral Research 2004-2006, Portland, OR; Oregon Zoo, Research Associate 2005-2014, Portland, OR; Smithsonian Institution/National Zoological Park, Giant Panda Behavior Intern 2005, Chengdu, China; Oregon Health and Sciences University/Oregon Primate Center, Primate Research Assistant II 2003-2004, Portland, OR; Reed College, Urban Bird Behavioral Research Senior Research Thesis 2002-2003, Portland, OR; Organization of Tropical Studies, Field Research Intern 2002, Costa Rica; United States Forest Service, Type I Wildland Firefighter (Hot Shot Crew) 2002, Zig Zag, OR; United States Forest Service, Engine Crew Wildland Firefighter 1999 & 2000, Springerville, AZ.
TWS: Active member since 2006; Attends annual meetings; participates in TWS organized workshops and events since becoming a member.
Interests: Professional – Investigating management techniques through directed scientific research to improve the the success rate of endangered species conservation initiatives. Mentoring and training the next generation of conservation leaders. Promoting multi-institutional collaborations and student training between various groups working with wildlife across the state. Becoming part of the conservation solution! Personal – Horseback riding, traveling, gardening, hiking and spending time with family and friends.