Lydia is a wildlife ecologist interested in understanding how lemurs adapt and adjust to changing and challenging conditions. Her work primarily explores patterns in lemur biogeography, behavior, nutrition, and physiology linked to natural and anthropogenic forest fragmentation, especially in the sifakas (which are most definitely the best lemurs). Lydia is also committed to student mentorship, both in the USA and in Madagascar, and really enjoys helping students think through their research questions, design projects, analyze data, and write scientifically. Lydia earned her PhD in Ecology from Duke University studying the gut microbiome of leaf-eating lemurs. She has over a decade of experience conducting research and mentoring students in Madagascar.