Josie Pickar
Josie Pickar (she/her)
Bio:
I grew up in the town of Cloquet, Minnesota, near the great Lake Superior. I earned my bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Superior, completing my final year at the University of Alaska Anchorage. During my undergraduate studies, I interned with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, where my passion for plants truly blossomed (pun intended)!
Post graduation, I held various technician positions with the American Conservation Experience, the Bureau of Land Management, University of Minnesota, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. From these positions I gained a variety of skills such as: AIM surveys, waterfowl surveys, native and invasive plant surveys, invasive plant treatment, GIS mapping, and more. However, I always knew I wanted to further my education, which is why I’m currently pursuing my M.S. in Conservation Biology at NDSU. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, running, thrifting, and spending time with my two cats.
Research:
My research focuses on looking at potential constraints on the reproductive success of the federally threatened western prairie fringed orchid, Platanthera praeclara. I'm interested in studying what influences pollination services to this species and other factors that may influence fruit production in this plant. Potential factors I’m interested in include: population size, density, number of flowers, soil characteristics, and surrounding land cover.