Breanna Bennett

 

I am currently a Master’s student working in Dr. Robert Curry’s Lab in the Department of Biology at Villanova University, where I also completed my Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2017.

My undergraduate thesis focused on exploratory behavior (as a component of personality) in chickadees at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, a hybrid zone site in southeastern Pennsylvania.

For my Master’s thesis, I will be investigating the problem-solving ability of chickadees in the hybrid zone, and at ‘pure’ Black-capped and Carolina Chickadee sites north and south of the hybrid zone, respectively.

I am remaining open to different types of opportunities after obtaining my Master’s. In the future, I do hope to obtain my PhD and continue on the academic track, so that I may teach the next generation of scientists and make academia a more accepting place for students of all identities and backgrounds.

I am also very passionate about science communication, public outreach, and accessibility and diversity in academia. I currently run a twitter account where I talk about my research, my life as a graduate student, and many issues that I care about over at @TheTinyBirdGirl.