Mentoring

In addition to classroom instruction, I believe that having the opportunity to work on a research project as an undergraduate is essential for developing the skills needed for entering graduate school or a job in the natural resources field.

Accordingly, I have made a point to include dozens of students in the field and lab components of my research. Moreover, I have closely mentored 13 undergraduate students on independent research projects, helping them to define research questions, formalize a study design, write grants to obtain funding, collect and analyze data, and interpret results. These projects have been on a variety of subjects related to small mammal ecology. All students have presented their findings at undergraduate research symposia or national conferences, and five are coauthors on peer reviewed publications.

To date, four of these students are pursing master’s degrees in biology or natural resource subject areas, with three focusing on aspects directly related to the ecology of small mammals. I find the experience of mentoring students and watching them progress to be one of the most rewarding aspects of research.

PUBLICATIONS

Stephens, R. B., C. B. Burke, N. Woodman, L. B. Poland, and R. J. Rowe. 2018. Skeletal injuries in small mammals: a multispecies assessment of prevalence and location. Journal of Mammalogy 99:486-497.

Stephens, R. B., T. J. Remick, M. J. Ducey, and R. J. Rowe. 2017. Drivers of truffle biomass, community composition, and richness among forest types in the northeastern US. Fungal Ecology 29:30-41.

Stephens, R. B., K.  H. Karau, C.  J. Yahnke, S. R. Wendt, and R. J. Rowe. 2015. Dead mice can grow – variation of standard external mammal measurements from live and three postmortem body states. Journal of Mammalogy 96:185-193.

Stephens R. B., E. M. Anderson, S. R. Wendt, and J. K. Meece. 2014. Field identification of Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensisand P. maniculatus gracilisin Wisconsin from external measurements. The American Midland Naturalist 171:139-146.

PRESENTATIONS

Burke, C. B., R. B. Stephens, N. Woodman, and R. J. Rowe. 2016. Skeletal injuries in small mammals: a multi species assessment of injury type and prevalence. 96th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Minneapolis, MN. (Poster)

Burke, C. B., R. B. Stephens, N. Woodman, and R. J. Rowe. 2016. Skeletal injuries in small mammals: a multi species assessment of injury type and prevalence. University of New Hampshire Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH. (Poster)

Poland, L. B., R. B. Stephens, and R. J. Rowe. 2016. Missing digits in shrews: insights into a secret live. University of New Hampshire Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH. (Poster)

Graves, R., R. B. Stephens, and R. J. Rowe. 2015. Effects of age, density, and seasonality on molt pattern in the mammal genus Peromyscus. University of New Hampshire Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH. (Oral)

Nowick, J., R. B. Stephens, R. J. Rowe, and E. Hobbie. 2015. Do diets of woodland jumping mice and southern red-backed voles differ across forest types? University of New Hampshire Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH. (Poster)

Remick, T. J., R. B. Stephens, and R. J. Rowe. 2015. Truffle Abundance and Mycophagy by Small Mammals in Northern New England Forests. University of New Hampshire Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH. (Poster)

Uccello, A. J., R. B. Stephens, and R. J. Rowe. Variation in truffle consumption by Myodes gapperi between managed and unmanaged forests in northern New Hampshire. 2015. University of New Hampshire Undergraduate Research Conference, Durham, NH. (Poster)

Karau, K. H., R. B. Stephens, C. J. Yahnke, and S. R. Wendt. 2012. Effects of researcher experience and animal disposition on measurement variation in Mus musculus. UWSP College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. (Oral)

Karau, K. H., R. B. Stephens, C. J. Yahnke, and S. R. Wendt. 2012. Effects of researcher experience and animal disposition on measurement variation in Mus musculus. UWSP College of Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Symposium, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. (Oral)

Karau, K. H., M. Shirley, and R. B. Stephens. 2012. Re-evaluation of the arctic shrew (Sorex arcticus) and water shrew (Sorex palustris) distribution in Wisconsin. UWSP College of Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Symposium, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. (Poster)

Wendt, S. R., R. B. Stephens, and E. M. Anderson. 2012. Distinguishing Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and P. maniculatus gracilis using external field measurements in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Wausau, Wisconsin. (Oral)

Wendt, S. R., R. B. Stephens, and E. M. Anderson. 2012. Distinguishing Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and P. maniculatus gracilis using external field measurements in Wisconsin. UWSP College of Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Symposium, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. (Oral)

Wendt, S. R., R. B. Stephens, E. M. Anderson, and J. K. Meece. 2012. Distinguishing Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and P. maniculatus gracilis using external field measurements in Wisconsin. Posters at the Rotunda, Madison, Wisconsin. (Poster)

Wendt, S. R., R. B. Stephens, and E. M. Anderson. 2011. Effectiveness of pitfall and Sherman live traps for capturing small mammal species. UWSP College of Natural Resources Undergraduate Research Symposium, Stevens Point, Wisconsin. (Oral)**high honors