They/Them or She/Her

My background is biochemistry & neuroscience, I have a Master of Science and over a decade experience in biochemistry / biotechnology, initially working in antibody and ELISA design, and later in neurobiology specifically neuralgia. I absolutely love nature and always wanted to be a field biologist, I just never had the chance when I was younger. In 2010 I became a caver and so of course I wished to learn more about all cave science topics. This lead me to entomology, doing some work in caves in the UK with a friend and later in Spain as a part of the Matienzo Caves Project (you can follow us on twitter @karstentomology). I live in the TAG caving region however, and thus found Dr. Matthew Niemiller at UAH and now participate in karst biology research here as well.

I'm one of the few people bio-surveying in Jackson Co. above ground as well; I just know the area very well from caving. I report butterfly finds to Alabama Butterfly Atlas, fireflies to Dr Faust, and I've assisted some fungi research as well. If you are interesting in looking for something, let me know I'll keep a specific eye out for it! I may also have ideas for you on where to look if you can tell me the type of habitat you wish to find, so please feel free to message me. If you want me to collect for you, please ensure I am listed on your permit (Alabama requires permits for almost every taxon), and provide a copy of written permission from the landowner.

I also have over a decade of Cave/High Angle/Wilderness search & rescue experience; currently my Australian Shepherd and I are a NASAR certified Wilderness Area search team. So, I am happy being in the middle of nowhere, above and below ground :)

My local day job is taking all that applied science background and using it in dog training, I am CPDT-KA and enjoy transforming people’s relationships with their dogs into a lovely mutual partnership based in kindness, respect, and trust. You can find me at Island Dog Training in Alabama.

IG @sunguramy
www.sunguramy.com
Mastodon: @sunguramy@flippingrocks