Undergraduate research in action: Liam Jawish
Undergraduate students in the College of Natural Resources and Environment are already out in the field, asking real questions and finding answers through hands-on research opportunities, gaining tangible experience tackling active environmental challenges before they graduate.
Liam Jawish, a wildlife conservation major, took advantage of one such opportunity by joining a faculty-led research project in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Working with Associate Professor Haldre Rogers, he became part of a collaborative team studying how wildlife contribute to the spread of invasive plants in Appalachian forests.
At the university’s Stream Lab, Jawish helped deploy and maintain camera traps to monitor animal feeding behavior on both native and invasive fruiting plants. After collecting field data, he analyzed hundreds of camera recordings, identifying species and documenting how animals interacted with each plant.
The results showed that wildlife visited the native spicebush most frequently, suggesting a preference for native food sources when available. However, invasive plants such as Japanese barberry, Amur honeysuckle, and autumn olive were consumed by a wide range of mammals, highlighting how animals can also contribute to their spread.
The experience gave Jawish mentorship, field skills, and data analysis experience typically gained in graduate-level work. Through weekly lab meetings and collaboration with graduate students, he developed the skills and confidence to pursue a career in conservation science.
“The main implication is that if you pair findings about what animals are eating with animal movement data, you could potentially predict where invasive plants are likely to spread in the future,” Jawish said.
After graduation, Jawish will continue that work with the Conservation Management Institute, conducting bat research in North Carolina.
His experience reflects a core strength of the college's programs: giving students the chance to engage in meaningful, applied research that prepares them to address real-world environmental challenges.
