David Kramar is currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech in the new Geospatial and Environmental Analysis doctoral program. He is currently working with Dr. Bill Hopkins in wildlife and Dr. Bill Carstensen in geography. His dissertation research involves a spatial and biological investigation of mercury (Hg) levels in Virginia 's bald eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ), and the physical properties of the region that contribute to its availability. He is particularly interested in how changes in physiographic properties contribute to elevated Hg levels found in eagles.
His research interests include Biogeography, Environmental Modeling Using GIS, PDA and Web-Based integration of Environmental Datasets, Mercury Contamination in High Trophic Level Piscivores, Ecological Toxicology, and Quantitative Methods. Currently he is funded through the US EPA STAR fellowship program.
Dave received his bachelors degree in geography at Appalachian State in Boone , NC and his masters in geography at Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech for his masters degree, he focused on new methods of estimating Hg risk to common loons ( Gavia immer) in the Rangeley Lakes region of western Maine . He has been involved with Hg studies in various avian species since 2002 when he began work with the BioDiversity Research Institute and was part of a larger Hg study that resulted in 21 peer reviewed papers in a special issue of Ecotoxicology.
In between completion of his degrees, Dave worked in both the public and private sectors as a GIS Analyst and GIS Project Manager.
email:
dkramar@vt.edu
