Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

Maddie Betts

Ph.D. Student in Natural Resources

PRONOUNS she/her

Maddie Betts
Pronouns she/her
Alma mater(s)
  • M.S., Virginia Tech, 2023
  • B.S., Allegheny College, 2021

Areas of expertise

conservation genetics/genomics, freshwater ecology, fish behavior

BIO

Maddie is a PhD student in Natural Resources who is using landscape genomics to approach pressing questions of fish conservation including cryptic speciation, hybridization, and fishery-induced evolution. Prior to UVM, Maddie worked as a fisheries geneticist for NOAA's NWFSC, where she supported various projects ranging from forensic bycatch work to validating the use of eDNA for the management of marine fish stocks. She received her M.S. from Virginia Tech (go Hokies) where her research focused on the interspecific interactions and behavior of bluehead chubs and their nest associates. Maddie is proud of her interdisciplinary background and is committed to sharing her research with a broad audience and making science approachable. In her free time, she can be found snorkeling the local streams and lakes, painting and making pottery, and baking whatever her sweet tooth is craving that day. 

Publications

Maddie's Google Scholar

Bio

Maddie is a PhD student in Natural Resources who is using landscape genomics to approach pressing questions of fish conservation including cryptic speciation, hybridization, and fishery-induced evolution. Prior to UVM, Maddie worked as a fisheries geneticist for NOAA's NWFSC, where she supported various projects ranging from forensic bycatch work to validating the use of eDNA for the management of marine fish stocks. She received her M.S. from Virginia Tech (go Hokies) where her research focused on the interspecific interactions and behavior of bluehead chubs and their nest associates. Maddie is proud of her interdisciplinary background and is committed to sharing her research with a broad audience and making science approachable. In her free time, she can be found snorkeling the local streams and lakes, painting and making pottery, and baking whatever her sweet tooth is craving that day. 

Advisor: Thaïs Bernos