Our Team
The LivWild Lab is one of three branches within the Human Dimensions Lab in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University. The other two branches are led by Dr. Kelly Biedenweg and Dr. Megan Jones.
While each lab focuses on distinct aspects of the human dimensions of conservation and natural resource management, we collaborate closely to strengthen human dimensions research at Oregon State and foster greater cohesion and impact across our teams.
Principal Investigator (PI)
Dr. Ethan D. Doney
Assistant Professor in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University
Ethan is an interdisciplinary conservation social scientist who researches the social dimensions of human-wildlife interactions. His research explores how people feel about wildlife and its management, with the goal of finding collaborative solutions to conservation conflicts. His work aims to bring people together to address issues related to wildlife species and their management, often involving engagement with communities, landowners, governments, organizations, academics, and other interested individuals and groups.
In his work, Ethan takes a pragmatic, mixed-methods approach to his research, combining qualitative and quantitative tools to understand complex human-wildlife dynamics. His broader program is guided by the goal of balancing biodiversity conservation with human well-being. This involves a strong emphasis on listening, empathy, and understanding diverse perspectives in order to navigate conservation challenges in contextually grounded and socially just ways.
Faculty Research Assistant
Faculty Research Assistant in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences at Oregon State University
Lauren is a social scientist driven by a desire to support both human communities and the ecological systems they depend on, recognizing the close connections between people and their surrounding environments. Her previous work aimed to identify ways to help shellfish farmers navigate changing social, economic, environmental, and policy conditions affecting their livelihoods. She is a lifelong Oregon resident and is eager to explore human-wildlife interactions in her home state.
Lauren is trained in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, with a primary focus on understanding people’s experiences, values, and perspectives. She enjoys connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds to explore how they relate to natural resources, conservation, and changes in environments. In addition to her research on shellfish farming, she has contributed to data-driven projects investigating public perceptions of ocean and coastal change in Oregon and has been involved in facilitation and environmental education efforts.
Lauren R. Rice, M.S.
Current Graduate Students
Alejandro (Alex) Pavlik
Incoming degree program info
Incoming description
Prospective graduate students
There are currently no opportunities for prospective graduate students. Please see the “Opportunities” page of our website for more details on joining the lab.