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Michael Pashkevich ‘17

WHERE

2017 Gates Cambridge Scholar starting Ph.D. research in zoology at the University of Cambridge focusing on the functional role of spiders in Southeast Asian oil palm plantations and how plantation management techniques affect overall spider biodiversity; will be a member of the Insect Ecology Group in the Department of Zoology

HOW HE GOT THERE

Received the Ignatian scholarship; joined the Honors program and gained hands-on experience as a member of the Aimée Thomas Lab; became interested in the effects of certain species on the diversity and species richness of spider communities; learned the field and laboratory skills needed to work toward his goal of being a tropical community ecologist; won a 2016 Goldwater Scholarship; made national waves with his research

"My Jesuit education instilled in me the need to link my research to environmental and social justice. I know that this, in particular, contributed to me successfully obtaining a Gates Cambridge Scholarship."