Ann Arbor Times

YPSILANTI — Wendy Dorman, an alum of Eastern Michigan University (EMU), has been awarded a NASA Future Investigators in Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) grant. The $150,000 award will support her research to create detailed maps of grassland habitats aimed at conserving threatened bird species.

"A publicly available grassland land cover dataset doesn’t exist at the scale researchers and decision-makers need to develop species-level management strategies," said Dorman. "Understanding the gap between what birds need and what currently exists could be a game-changer for grassland bird conservation. As a recipient of the NASA FINESST grant, I have access to invaluable resources to help guide conservation efforts to support grassland bird populations."

Currently a doctoral student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Dorman uses satellite data and remote sensing technology to fill knowledge gaps in grassland bird conservation. Her work identifies fragmented habitats that are often too small or transient for existing maps. By overlaying habitat data with bird presence information, she aims to inform strategies to protect these ecosystems.

Dorman credits EMU for shaping her career. "The education and mentorship I received at EMU taught me to think critically and tackle challenges innovatively," she said. "As a first-generation college student, experiences like studying abroad in the Galapagos and working with mentors like Gary Hannan and Renee Lajiness-O’Neill showed me I could be an ecologist and set me on my path."

After earning a master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from EMU, Dorman gained expertise that led her through roles as a GIS Analyst, remote sensing specialist at MAXAR in Ypsilanti, and biodiversity data researcher at Yale University's Map of Life project. Now pursuing her doctorate, she expresses gratitude for her experiences at EMU.

Her project aligns with NASA's goals in Earth science research by utilizing satellite data to provide comprehensive views of grasslands, opening opportunities for collaboration with land managers and conservationists.

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University serves nearly 13,000 students across various disciplines. It is recognized nationally for its excellence and commitment to applied education.