Jacob Shurba, AWB
Wildlife Disease Ecologist and Graduate Student
Bio
My Story
I've wanted to work with animals since I was a child, and had my heart set on being a veterinarian. That changed shortly after I started college and I finally found my niche in wildlife disease ecology. Since then, I have pursued this passion and now study waterfowl disease ecology at Clemson University. Following my graduation from Clemson, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in wildlife disease ecology. I wish to work for a federal agency as a wildlife disease ecologist and eventually teach at the college level. Here, I can mentor and help grow the next generation of wildlife disease scientists.
Research Projects
The Course of My Career
Performing research is one of the top items in a scientists' job description. Below, you will find a brief synopsis for two of my recent projects. Research is ongoing and ever-changing and that is the thing that makes it so exciting and interesting.
Nest-box, microhabitat and microbial influences on wood duck production and recruitment in Georgia and Florida.
Wood ducks are an important waterfowl species across the Atlantic Flyway, but little is known about how habitat and nest-box characteristics, as well as the microbiome of their nest boxes may affect their recruitment. This study is being performed to fulfill the requirements of a Master of Science through Clemson University and is ongoing until May 2022.
Gapeworm Presence and Prevalence in Greater Prairie Chickens
GRPC populations are fragile in Wisconsin, I investigated reports of gapeworm parasites in GRPCs by necropsying dead GRPCs and analyzing parasites removed from the carcasses. Determined that gapeworm can be found in at least one of the two populations and management recommendations are ongoing.
Jacob Shurba, AWB
Relevant Experience
Field Research Technician
January - August 2019
Assisted staff biologists with a pilot mark-recapture survey of wood ducks in South Carolina. This involved administering leg bands on adult hens and applying web tags (a novel technique) on newly hatched ducklings. Hired on at the conclusion of this study as a graduate research assistant to continue the work for a Master of Science degree at Clemson University.
Field Technician
May - August 2018
Assisted with graduate research on the brood success of wood ducks in Wisconsin. I aided in the application of leg bands and radio-collars and was responsible for locating the ducks daily using radio telemetry and triangulation. Additionally, I assisted with habitat and plant identification in the surrounding field sites.
Teaching Assistant
August - December 2017
Responsible for recreating the lecture PowerPoints with updated literature pertaining to each topic. Additionally responsible for grading exams and other written assignments and acting as a tutor to those who needed assistance. I was also given the opportunity to develop and teach three lectures on wildlife parasitology.
Contact Me
261 Lehotsky Hall ATTN: Jacob Shurba
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29631
(630) 267-2068
