he/him | they/them
Ronan is a master's student at Utah State University (USU). His thesis research examines how roads and fences affect how pronghorn and mule deer move around and use their environmental and geographic space.
He is broadly interested in wildlife movement and fire ecology, how these processes interact, and how they may change and adapt to a changing world. He is a strong R coder and GIS analyst and uses these tools extensively in his research.
It seemed like Ronan was born an ecologist. Growing up near Denver, CO, he spent his childhood exploring the woods outside his house, looking for snakes, taking home rocks and leaves, and admiring birds and bugs. He was always fascinated with the processes of the natural world, and it was only natural that he would go on to study science and ecology.
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In 2014, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with a Biology emphasis at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX. In 2018, he received a GIS certificate at the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, TX. In 2018, he received a GIS certificate at the University of North Texas (UNT). While attending these universities, he cultivated his passion for ecology research by working on a wide range of ecological and environmental research projects: invasive aquatic plant management, environmental archaeology, forest ecological succession, and particulate matter modeling. These experiences taught him valuable research and technical skills as well as the value of inter-disciplinary knowledge.​
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In his free time, Ronan enjoys making art inspired by the natural world. He has been an artist from a young age and art has always been a way to connect him with nature and expand his understanding of the environmental and natural sciences. You can also find him hiking and camping or staying indoors reading and playing with his cat, Milo.
