I am Lauren Eckert, a senior at Louisiana State University, majoring in Natural Resources Ecology and Management with a concentration in Conservation Biology.  My studies focus on strategies to protect threatened species through research on their habitats, genetics, and health. I am interested in disease ecology and how diseases affect wildlife behavior, population dynamics, and conservation efforts. I am also passionate about tackling the challenges posed by invasive species and finding ways to lessen their impacts on ecosystems.