Graduate Students

Amanda Pierce

Masters student, associated with the Center for Wildlife Health

Email: ampierce@tennessee.edu

I am a Research Coordinator for the Plant Science Department while also working on a Master’s Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science under the direction of Dr. Lisa Muller. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Tennessee in 2000.

My current research is assessing whether declining hunting pressure is influencing the frequency of roadkill of white-tailed deer in the vicinity of Oak Ridge, TN. With assistance from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), I am compiling roadkill data dating back to the 1970’s. I aim to develop recommendations to reduce the number of roadkills that occur in specific areas and during specific times of the year.

Background: I grew up in Seymour, TN, a small community south of Knoxville, and have always had an interest in all things outdoors. During my senior year at UT, I took a seasonal park ranger position in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and worked there seasonally for five years. I spent my winters here at UT working with the Soybean Breeding and Genetics program. I then spent a period working as a Wildlife Officer with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, before returning to UT to work with soybeans again, this time as a Research Coordinator, and have been blessed with a supervisor/Professor who is very supportive of ALL education and has allowed me to pursue my Master’s degree outside of his program.