Jim Beasley

James “Jim” Beasley is an assistant professor at the Savannah River Ecology Lab and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. His professional interests are largely focused on understanding the effects of human activities on wildlife populations.

 

Currently, Beasley is conducting research on carnivore ecology, wild pig management, radioecology, wildlife disease ecology, spatial ecology and population dynamics of wildlife, and scavenging ecology. In addition, over the last several years he has been conducting studies in collaboration with an international group of scientists at Chernobyl in Ukraine and Fukushima in Japan focused on the ecology, population dynamics and health of wildlife living within the exclusion zones. This research has led to the discovery of abundant populations of large mammals at Chernobyl as well as the development of a new GPS monitoring tool that allows for the collection of near real-time information on radiation exposures experienced by wildlife.

 

Beasley also currently serves as the International Atomic Energy Association’s wildlife adviser to the Fukushima Prefecture Government in Japan. Over the last nine years he has published nearly 60 peer reviewed articles and book chapters on his research as well as several extension products. His research has been featured by numerous media organizations, including the New York Times, Animal Planet, Fast Company, NPR, CNN, BBC, National Geographic, Nature, and other major media outlets.

Beasley is a certified wildlife biologist with The Wildlife Society. He earned an Associate of Applied Science in pre-professional forestry from Paul Smith’s College, a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science from State University of New York, and a Master of Science and a doctorate in wildlife ecology from Purdue University.