Tara Cornelisse (2011)

Fellowship Year: 2011
Academic Background: UC Santa Cruz - Ph.D. 2013- (Environmental Studies)
Tara Cornelisse is a Ph.D. candidate in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of California Santa Cruz. She is passionate about conservation biology and insects, and brings the two together in her dissertation research. She is investigating the habitat requirements and population viability of the endangered Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela ohlone), a species endemic to the unique coastal terrace grasslands in Santa Cruz County, California. Broadly, her work aims to bring much needed science to endangered species protection. Tara also strongly supports interdisciplinary research and is investigating the social aspect of conservation through surveying the recreational community that has a direct relationship with the Ohlone tiger beetle. She is also involved in community education through a program that allows her to bring aspects of her research and inquiry-based science into high school classrooms. Prior to her doctoral studies, Tara completed a M.S. in Conservation Biology at San Francisco State University comparing the breeding site preferences of two tiger beetles, one common and one a federal species of concern. When not studying the conservation needs of six-legged creatures, Tara spends time with her partner Laura and dog Lulu. She holds a B.A. in Ecology and Conservation from Boston University.
Expertise: Conservation Science & Biology, Environmental Education