Meet: Katie Haase, PhD
Catherine (Katie) Haase is a postdoctoral researcher at Montana State University studying the bioenergetic impacts of white-nose syndrome in bats across the western United States. Her research is focused on animal energetics and ecophysiology, and integrates topics from landscape ecology, animal behavior, and wildlife disease. She graduated with a PhD from the University of Florida and an MS from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Katie first started her career as a wildlife ecologist while attending Unity College in Maine for her BS in Wildlife.
You can follow Katie on twitter @BatmanateePhD |
When did you first identify as a scientist? Is there an origin story?
Although I got my undergraduate in Wildlife, I didn’t really “feel” like a scientist until I was working on my Master’s degree. I was presenting the final results from my thesis, which was focused on the thermal ecology and habitat use of moose, at the Northeastern Wildlife Conference, and realized that I was finally a wildlife ecologist.
I have always wanted to be a scientist - I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was seven because I wanted to study dolphins. I stuck with that dream but it slowly morphed from dolphins to all wildlife; yet I had a hard time figuring out what sort of degree I needed for that career. I grew up in New Jersey, and although I was exposed to the outdoors as a kid through Girl Scouts and family hiking trips, I really didn’t understand the field very well. But what I did know was that I didn’t want to work in a zoo or an aquarium, and I knew I wanted something more specific than zoology or biology. It wasn’t until I was looking at colleges that I realized there was actually a degree called “wildlife biology” – and the second I saw the pamphlet for Unity College’s wildlife program, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do. Through that program I finally got to live my seven-year-old dream of working with dolphins through an internship at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys!
You’ve worked on a lot of different species – which is your favorite and why?
I really have enjoyed working with all the different species I’ve worked with! I will always have a space in my heart for moose, as they were the first species I spent a lot of time focusing on. They are super awkward but pretty neat creatures. I have also worked with wolves, which are super smart and when you’ve spent as much time as I did watching the same individuals, you realize how they each have their own personalities. I also really like working with bats, which is my current study species, because they are a really neat group of species to ask some animal energetic questions with. I have a lot of interest in hibernation energetics, and they are the best species to study for that. But I would have to say my absolutely favorite species to work with is manatees. I did my PhD work on them, so I spent A LOT of time thinking about them, and got to have some pretty amazing experiences with them in the field. Some of my favorite field days were when I got to literally “wrestle” manatees to do health assessments. I also got to interact with them in the wild, which is not something I can say about most of my study species! I think a lot of people don’t realize that many wildlife ecologists may not interact with their study species regularly, so I felt very lucky that I was able to interact with them in their natural habitat.
Although I got my undergraduate in Wildlife, I didn’t really “feel” like a scientist until I was working on my Master’s degree. I was presenting the final results from my thesis, which was focused on the thermal ecology and habitat use of moose, at the Northeastern Wildlife Conference, and realized that I was finally a wildlife ecologist.
I have always wanted to be a scientist - I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was seven because I wanted to study dolphins. I stuck with that dream but it slowly morphed from dolphins to all wildlife; yet I had a hard time figuring out what sort of degree I needed for that career. I grew up in New Jersey, and although I was exposed to the outdoors as a kid through Girl Scouts and family hiking trips, I really didn’t understand the field very well. But what I did know was that I didn’t want to work in a zoo or an aquarium, and I knew I wanted something more specific than zoology or biology. It wasn’t until I was looking at colleges that I realized there was actually a degree called “wildlife biology” – and the second I saw the pamphlet for Unity College’s wildlife program, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do. Through that program I finally got to live my seven-year-old dream of working with dolphins through an internship at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys!
You’ve worked on a lot of different species – which is your favorite and why?
I really have enjoyed working with all the different species I’ve worked with! I will always have a space in my heart for moose, as they were the first species I spent a lot of time focusing on. They are super awkward but pretty neat creatures. I have also worked with wolves, which are super smart and when you’ve spent as much time as I did watching the same individuals, you realize how they each have their own personalities. I also really like working with bats, which is my current study species, because they are a really neat group of species to ask some animal energetic questions with. I have a lot of interest in hibernation energetics, and they are the best species to study for that. But I would have to say my absolutely favorite species to work with is manatees. I did my PhD work on them, so I spent A LOT of time thinking about them, and got to have some pretty amazing experiences with them in the field. Some of my favorite field days were when I got to literally “wrestle” manatees to do health assessments. I also got to interact with them in the wild, which is not something I can say about most of my study species! I think a lot of people don’t realize that many wildlife ecologists may not interact with their study species regularly, so I felt very lucky that I was able to interact with them in their natural habitat.
Who influenced you as an undergrad (or previous to that) and as a graduate student? Do you have any advice for current students?
I think I am like many women scientists in that I was influenced by Jane Goodall. She has influenced so many young women to be interested in biology, anthropology, and animal behavior. I remember writing a report about her while I was in high school, and the fact that she traveled to the Congo as a 22-year-old without any previous experience blew my mind.
As an undergraduate student I was influenced by a few of my ecology and biology professors. They are the ones I would say inspired my interest in research and furthering my education into graduate school. While a graduate student I was influenced by my academic advisers to focus my interests in thermal ecology and spatial ecology and to fine-tune my research at the intersection of these fields.
In terms of advice, I’d say this: have a plan on what you want to do in life, but know it will change with every step you take! I never thought I’d be studying bats in Montana, but it’s a great position and is helping me get to where I would like to be. Also, be open to new experiences and volunteer your time to help others on their field excursions. I’ve been able to work with black bears, burrowing owls, monkeys, amongst other species just because I offered to help my friends out.
What is an unexpected experience you’ve had because of your work?
The number one thing that I have gotten to do because of my work was meet Jane Goodall. That was pretty awesome!
I also never thought I would have to utilize basic construction and electronics skills. Through the years I’ve had to build animal traps, construct weather stations, solder circuit boards, wire car batteries, and build observation blinds, among other things. Luckily I grew up with a fairly hands on family and am the daughter of an electrical engineer, so I had some experience with these sort of things before college. I also had to learn to drive boats, ATVs, snow mobiles, 15 person vans, and truck trailers. I even had to take a driving test that involved back up a boat trailer through a serpentine course!
What do you enjoy doing in your “free” time?
I really like to read, hike, kayak, and travel. I am determined to visit all 50 states – I only have 7 more to go! And since I get to travel a lot with work, when I am home I try and spend as much time as I can outside hiking around Bozeman. And then on those rainy days I like to read as much as I can. I am currently doing a 52 book reading challenge for the year, where I try to read one book a week. Since the summer started I am behind a few weeks, but I know once the winter hits I’ll probably be able to make them up!
I think I am like many women scientists in that I was influenced by Jane Goodall. She has influenced so many young women to be interested in biology, anthropology, and animal behavior. I remember writing a report about her while I was in high school, and the fact that she traveled to the Congo as a 22-year-old without any previous experience blew my mind.
As an undergraduate student I was influenced by a few of my ecology and biology professors. They are the ones I would say inspired my interest in research and furthering my education into graduate school. While a graduate student I was influenced by my academic advisers to focus my interests in thermal ecology and spatial ecology and to fine-tune my research at the intersection of these fields.
In terms of advice, I’d say this: have a plan on what you want to do in life, but know it will change with every step you take! I never thought I’d be studying bats in Montana, but it’s a great position and is helping me get to where I would like to be. Also, be open to new experiences and volunteer your time to help others on their field excursions. I’ve been able to work with black bears, burrowing owls, monkeys, amongst other species just because I offered to help my friends out.
What is an unexpected experience you’ve had because of your work?
The number one thing that I have gotten to do because of my work was meet Jane Goodall. That was pretty awesome!
I also never thought I would have to utilize basic construction and electronics skills. Through the years I’ve had to build animal traps, construct weather stations, solder circuit boards, wire car batteries, and build observation blinds, among other things. Luckily I grew up with a fairly hands on family and am the daughter of an electrical engineer, so I had some experience with these sort of things before college. I also had to learn to drive boats, ATVs, snow mobiles, 15 person vans, and truck trailers. I even had to take a driving test that involved back up a boat trailer through a serpentine course!
What do you enjoy doing in your “free” time?
I really like to read, hike, kayak, and travel. I am determined to visit all 50 states – I only have 7 more to go! And since I get to travel a lot with work, when I am home I try and spend as much time as I can outside hiking around Bozeman. And then on those rainy days I like to read as much as I can. I am currently doing a 52 book reading challenge for the year, where I try to read one book a week. Since the summer started I am behind a few weeks, but I know once the winter hits I’ll probably be able to make them up!