My scientific background is urban and spatial ecology, and conservation biology. Currently, I am working in the Merrill Lab as a research assistant, as part of a large collaborative team that supports chronic wasting disease management in Alberta. This team has developed an integrated population model (IPM) that combines demographic, harvest and disease-surveillance data to estimate mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) population and disease dynamics across the province. They are also developing a simulation tool that uses IPM outputs to predicts how alternative management strategies (e.g., harvest and vaccination) may affect CWD prevalence, disease spread and mule deer populations. In particular, my work centres on supporting this work by executing simulations, advancing simulation tool capabilities, and developing streamlined, automated, and accessible scripts that maximize efficiency and limit potential error.