Idaho Wolf Project Technicians hiking to a survey site in Idaho.

STAFF

The Idaho Wolf Project is supervised by Dr. David Ausband. The project employs year-round research scientists as well as graduate students and field technicians. Our field staff and graduate students are invaluable. Without their hard work and dedication, our project would not be possible.

Meet the Team

Assistant Unit Leader, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Email: dausband@uidaho.edu

Ph.D., University of Montana, Fish and Wildlife Biology, 2011-2015

M.S., University of Montana, Wildlife Biology, 2003-2005

B.S., University of Montana, Wildlife Biology, 2003

Dr. David Ausband

Dr. David Ausband is a U.S. Geological Survey wildlife research biologist. He started the Idaho wolf research project in 2006. Dave is the Assistant Unit Leader at the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and is a faculty member at the University of Idaho where he supervises graduate students and teaches two graduate courses in wildlife science. Dave is also affiliate/adjunct faculty at the University of Montana and Washington State University.

The Ausband Lab

The Ausband Lab is comprised largely of distinguished students pursuing their Master’s and Doctorate degrees in wildlife studies. This lab is part of the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in the College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Dr. Ausband also has students working on topics unrelated to the wolf project ranging from modeling snow cover to grizzly bear, black bear, and caribou conservation.

We also want to extend a sincere thanks to Jessica Bylin who worked on the Idaho wolf project as a technician and designed our beautiful website.

Wolf Project Graduate Students

Current graduate students of the Ausband Lab affiliated with the Idaho Wolf Project.

Ariana Cerrata collecting gray wolf scat.

Dr. Ariana Cerreta

Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho

Ph.D. Dissertation title: From genes to behavior: Using genetic and genomic techniques to inform management and study adaptation in a cooperatively breeding carnivore. Completed April 2026

Koryna Boudinot

Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho

Ph.D. Dissertation title: The dynamics of group stability in cooperatively breeding species

Former graduate students affiliated with the Idaho Wolf Project.

Former MSc student

Heather Clendenin

Currently: PhD candidate, University of Memphis

M.Sc., Thesis title: Monitoring wolf packs by counting litters: sibling reconstruction, from genetics to genomics. University of Idaho, 2019

Dr. Sarah Bassing deploying a trial camera to detect gray wolves in Idaho.

Former MSc student and post-doc research scientist

Dr. Sarah B. Bassing

Currently: Faculty at Montana State University

M.Sc., Thesis title: Harvest and persistence of wolf populations: variable effects of harvest on wolf packs in the Rocky Mountains. University of Montana, 2018

Former MSc student

Dr. Jennifer Stenglein

Currently: Quantitative Wildlife Research Scientist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

M.Sc., Thesis title: Evaluating the potential of noninvasive genetic sampling for monitoring gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Idaho. University of Idaho, 2009

Former MSc student and research specialist

Peter Rebholz

Currently: Alaska Game and Fish Department. Peter was a research specialist who helped lead the Idaho wolf project from 2022-2026

M.Sc., Thesis title: Linking age and social status of cooperative breeders to vulnerability throughout the harvest season, University of Idaho, 2022

Former MSc Student

Carisa Stansbury

Currently: University of Wyoming

M.Sc., Thesis title: Monitoring gray wolves (Canis lupus) using noninvasive genetic sampling at rendezvous sites, University of Idaho, 2012

Former MSc student

Kat Petersen

Currently: University of Idaho

M.Sc., Thesis title: Deciphering dispersal dynamics of a cooperatively breeding carnivore: investigating the impacts of harvest on dispersal of Idaho wolves, University of Idaho, 2025

Graduate Students

Graduate students of the Ausband Lab unaffiliated with the Idaho Wolf Project.

MSc Student (former)

Brianna Lubenau

Currently: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

MSc thesis title: Effects of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on the persistence of southern mountain caribou, Coadvised with Dr. Matt Falcy.

MSc Student (Current)

Nate Rice

Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Idaho

M.Sc., Thesis Title: Habitat Selection, Connectivity, and Translocations of Inland Continental Grizzly Bears

MSc Student (former)

Kaitlyn Strickfaden

Currently: Ph.D. student, University of Montana, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit.

M.Sc., Thesis title: Novel methods for deriving snow depth from remote cameras and application to wildlife habitat and ungulate management, University of Idaho, 2022. Coadvised with Dr. Tim Link.

MSc Student (former)

Matt Nelson

Currently: Ph.D. student, Michigan State University, Boone and Crockett Fellow

M.Sc., Thesis title: Bears, Berries, Bearings on the Landscape, University of Idaho, 2022

Interested in joining the Idaho Wolf Project as a wildlife technician or the Ausband Lab as a prospective graduate student?

Learn More

Donate Today

Your money will go directly to our current research efforts, The Idaho Wolf Project, and will help us survey for and sample wolves in Idaho.

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* CNR Carnivore Ecology is the designation for Idaho Wolf Project donations