​Alexandra L. DeCandia, Ph.D.

Assistant Teaching Professor
Department of Biology, Georgetown University

Research Associate
Center for Conservation Genomics
Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute

Alexandra (Allie) DeCandia joined Georgetown University in August 2021 as an Assistant Teaching Professor [CV]. As a researcher, Allie applies tools and concepts from molecular ecology, disease ecology, and conservation biology to inform wildlife management in captivity (e.g., black-footed ferrets) and the wild (e.g., Channel Island foxes and Yellowstone National Park wolves). As an educator, she applies a ​student-centered learning approach to actively engage students and trainees with material, while equipping them with skills and confidence to pursue scientific exploration. As a communicator, she shares her love of science with elementary and middle school students through classroom visits, with the public through non-technical science writing, and with colleagues through peer-reviewed articles and presentations at scientific conferences. Outside of her work, her favorite activities include hiking (especially in National Parks!), exploring new cities, experimenting in the kitchen, and finding creative ways to be more eco-friendly. ​

Mammal Microbiome Team

Laura Adeduro

Undergraduate Research Assistant​
Georgetown University, Class of 2023
Major: Biology
Minor: Disability Studies

Laura is from PG County Maryland, so the DMV area has always been her home. She hopes to continue her Biology career in Medical Genomics and its relationship with congenital disease. Although her academic interests may be medical, her personal interests are environmental. Laura also loves cooking and reading sociology books.

Research Areas of Interest: ecology, climate change ecology, socio-ecological systems, population genetics​

Urooj Ahmed

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Georgetown University, Class of 2024
Major: Biology of Global Health
Minor: Medical Humanities

Urooj is a sophomore in the college from Bear, DE. Her interest in conservation biology was piqued by growing up in a dense, forest area which exposed her to all sorts of critters, her favorite being birds. Urooj is excited to apply her knowledge of microbial diversity to mammals after initially studying it in vineyard soils. She is most interested in how wellness is impacted by the environment. 
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Research Areas of Interest: ornithology, population genetics, microbiology, climate change

Alexandra (Alex) Bamford

Undergraduate Research Assistant​
Georgetown University, Class of 2023
​Major: Environmental Biology
​Minor: French

Alex joined the lab her Junior year after having been a TA for Ecology with Dr. DeCandia, which sparked her interest in wildlife research. She is working towards a degree in Environmental Biology and a minor in French. Aside from research, Alex will continue to work as a TA in the Biology Department. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, going on long hikes, and cooking for friends and family. 

​Research Areas of Interest: climate change ecology, wildlife conservation biology

Rachel Gaudreau

​Undergraduate Research Assistant​
Georgetown University, Class of 2022
​Major: Biology of Global Health and Justice and Peace Studies

Rachel is a senior in the College from Middletown, Connecticut. Outside of the lab, she is involved with Prison Outreach, where she teaches a literature class for incarcerated students in Alexandria, Virginia. She is also a communications intern at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at the Georgetown Law Center. She is interested in the intersection of science and social justice. 

​Research Areas of Interest: conservation biology, science communication, historical ecology

Afua Nyantakyi

​Undergraduate Research Assistant​
Georgetown University, Class of 2022
​Major: Biology

Afua is a senior biology major on the pre-med track who spends her time outside of class tutoring science, running the GU creative writing club with an amazing board, dancing with the the Groove Theory dance team, and writing for The Hoya. 

Research Areas of Interest: microbiomes, neurobiology, bioethics 

​Samantha Pasciullo Boychuck

Undergraduate Research Assistant​
Georgetown University, Class of 2023
​Major: Environmental Biology

Samantha is a junior from Tabernacle, NJ. She was drawn to environmental biology after a childhood spent exploring nature with her friends and family. Samantha engaged with these interests through gardening, hiking, fishing, helping turtles cross the road, and bird watching. More recently, she has helped perform research on tick populations in the NJ Pine Barrens and on Yellow-billed cuckoo migratory patterns, and learned about foraging in the Northeast United States. She is excited to learn more about microbiomes with the DeCandia lab! Also, Samantha loves to cook, listen to the Beatles, attempt to learn guitar, take her golden doodle to the park, and visit her friends!

Research Areas of Interest: conservation biology, animal behavior, ecosystem and resource management, population genetics, wetland ecology, ornithology

Lab Mascot

Stella Rae

Lab Mascot 

Stella Rae was adopted from Worthy Dog Rescue in January 2021, and soon after joined the DeCandia lab as the official lab mascot! She is interested in the local D.C. wildlife, and is particularly fond of squirrel- & bird-watching in Rock Creek Park. Outside of her work in the lab, Stella enjoys going for neighborhood walks, zooming around the dog park, making new friends, taking long naps on the couch, and watching football games and the Great British Baking Show with her humans.