Katie Rompf

Katherine Rompf (Katie) is an ecologist interested in the conservation and recovery of threatened ecosystems. She works at Loyola University of New Orleans as a Biology of Organisms Laboratory instructor. Katie completed her Master’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the Karubian Lab at Tulane University in 2022. She conducted her thesis research in Northwestern Ecuador on the role several small species of birds (manakins, Pipridae) have as seed dispersers of an ecologically important, fruiting shrub in heavily fragmented tropical rainforest.

Katie has lived in New Orleans since 2016 and is happy to be returning to Loyola as an alumna. During her undergraduate career, she worked with current Loyola Biology professor, Dr. Aimée Thomas, to conduct her undergraduate thesis research on invasive brown widow spiders, which are becoming increasingly prolific in the Southeastern United States. Upon nearing completion of the publication of her Master’s research, Katie aims to revisit her undergraduate manuscript with the goal of publishing  those findings as well.

Through teaching, outreach, and her own research, Katie strives to increase understanding of how human life impacts the natural world. She has engaged with local media on ecological issues, led educational workshops, and enjoys volunteer work with several local non-profits. Katie spends her free time doing wildlife photography, sketching, cooking, and spending time with her cats and parrot.