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Wildflowers and mountain views at sunrise on top of Mt. Axtell.

Master of Science in Ecology

Research in Your Backyard

Take advantage of the living laboratory that surrounds Western's campus.

Master of Science in Ecology students complete a thesis project of their choice, work with local partners, and apply for grant funding to transform their ideas into tangible outcomes. Explore example MSE projects below:

Big Horn Sheep Conservation Wet Meadow Insect Diversity
A wide landscape shot of a student collecting insect samples on the Taylor River.
Graduate student, Cody Hinkley, glasses for big horn sheep while standing on the Painted Wall Overlook in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Big Horn Sheep Conservation

Cody Hinkley

Working in the Black Canyon and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, Cody is using a network of remote camera traps to estimate the population size and sex ratios of the S80 bighorn sheep herd. His work directly informs wildlife management decisions and has drawn strong support from key partners like the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the National Park Service.

Protecting a Sensitive Species

With bighorn sheep considered a sensitive species and in need of special attention to avoid the endangered species list, the BLM has provided nearly $38,000 in grant funding to support research and expand the timeline of the study.

  • A photo of a ram big horn sheep hanging out with a group of ewes at the start of the rut near Blue Mesa Reservoir.
  • Graduate student, Cody Hinkley, glasses for big horn sheep while standing on the Painted Wall Overlook in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
  • Photo of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison from the Painted Wall overlook in the national park.
  • Graduate student, Cody Hinkley, glasses for big horn sheep while standing on the Painted Wall Overlook in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
  • Graduate student, Cody Hinkley, takes a break from glassing for big horn sheep while standing on the Painted Wall Overlook in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
  • Graduate student, Cody Hinkley, glasses for big horn sheep from the Red Rock Canyon Trail in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

In the News

March 9, 2025

‘I’ll never put my sword down for wildlife’: Graduate student from Garfield County studies health of bighorn sheep herd in Colorado

Post Independent

Western master’s student Cody Hinkley is leading a federally funded study on bighorn sheep in the Black Canyon and Gunnison Gorge, using motion-activated cameras to track population demographics. Partnering with federal and state agencies, the project aims to support conservation efforts, with Hinkley also securing a grant to produce a documentary highlighting the challenges facing Colorado’s bighorn sheep.

 October 23, 2024

Student-led Bighorn Sheep study in Gunnison receives nearly $40,000 grant

KJCT 8 News

A new student-led study at Western aims to assess the health of the Black Canyon Bighorn Sheep Herd in Gunnison County, backed by a $37,677 grant from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Graduate student Cody Hinkley and program director Madelon van de Kerk plan to utilize camera traps, radio collars, and ear tags to gather crucial data on the herd’s size and health over the next five years.
With the Anthracite mountains seen in the background, a student walks down a dirt road sweeping with a butterfly net.

Wet Meadow Insect Diversity & Abundance

Sophia Reggiani

Sophia is investigating how insect communities differ between restored and unrestored sagebrush wet meadows in the Gunnison Basin. This two-year project not only provides valuable post-restoration monitoring data but also sheds light on the invertebrate biodiversity within these critical habitats.

Supporting Gunnison Sage-Grouse Survival

These wet meadows are essential brood-rearing areas for the federally threatened Gunnison sage-grouse. Chicks depend on abundant insect life in their first few weeks of life, making Sophia’s work key to understanding and supporting their survival.

  • A student sweeps using a bug net in a wet meadow restoration area.
  • Using clippers, a student holds a moth she caught.
  • With the Anthracite mountains seen in the background, a student walks down a dirt road sweeping with a butterfly net.
  • A student sets up a bug net to collect data on insect populations in a wet meadow restoration area.
  • A student sets up a bug net to collect data on insect populations in a wet meadow restoration area.
  • A student smiles as she sets up a bug net to collect data on insect populations in a wet meadow restoration area.

Fellowships, Grants, and Scholarships

Western offers a range of opportunities to support graduate research and academic success.
Learn More
A field of fireweed wildflowers.

Ready to Conduct Impactful Research?

Western’s Master of Science in Ecology is the ideal setting to bring your ideas into action. Design your own thesis, work alongside faculty and local partners, and tackle complex challenges across the Gunnison Valley and beyond.

Master of Science in Ecology