Graduate Research Assistant
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
Kianie David is a graduate research assistant in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, pursuing a master of science in natural resource sciences with an emphasis in applied ecology. Her experience spans agroforestry to savannah woodland ecology. Like the trees she studies, Kianie is vibrant and thrives in an ever-changing environment. Her current research focuses on the regeneration dynamics of fever trees in the arid savanna wetlands of Northern Kruger National Park, South Africa, aiming to shed light on the vegetation dynamics and community ecology in these unique, culturally significant ecosystems.
Kianie’s journey has been anything but conventional. Before her dreams of becoming a research ecologist, and one day, a professor, she studied photojournalism. Her goal is to mix her creativity with science, cultivating research that will not only enhance understanding about ecosystems but also educate others through visual storytelling. From serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana to earning her Wildland Firefighter Type 2 Certification in 2022, Kianie is a passionate student who loves to write, take photos, and get her hands dirty in the field.
Her leadership is evidenced by the role she played in her fieldwork in South Africa and in the study abroad trips she has taken as a graduate student advisor to countries such as New Zealand. In January 2025, she will be traveling to Australia in hopes of collaborating with other researchers on studies about native acacia trees in Tasmania. Kianie will pursue a PhD following her graduation in Summer 2025. With a doctorate degree, she hopes to dive even deeper into research on vegetation dynamics and community ecology, contributing to biodiversity conservation and promoting sustainable natural resource management for vulnerable species and ecosystems.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM MST
