Meet the Team

Arleigh Reynolds, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN was formerly the Director of the Center for One Health at UAF. In 2023, he received his Emeritus status and retired. He attended Cornell University; as a Cornell faculty member he taught courses and conducted research in the areas of Clinical Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Metabolic Diseases of Domestic Animals, and Energy Metabolism. Reynolds has also taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania and the NYS College of Veterinary Science as well as conducting research for Purina.

Karsten Hueffer, Tierarzt (DVM equivalent), Ph.D., earned his veterinary doctorate from the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany and Ph.D. from Cornell University in Comparative Biomedical Science. Following a postdoctoral position at Yale University, Hueffer joined UAF. His research focuses on infectious diseases. He has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in research. He serves now as Dean of Veterinary Medicine, leading the professional veterinary program in collaboration with Colorado State University.

I grew up in Michigan but have lived in Alaska for the last 13 years. I completed my Ph.D. in Fisheries from UAF studying humpback whales that feed on juvenile salmon at hatchery release sites. I have participated in necropsies of humpback whales, a grey whale, a killer whale, a harbor porpoise, sea lions, and seals.  I helped to develop the virtual whale necropsy.  I love studying marine mammals and teaching about them because of our common ancestry and their fascinating adaptations to life in an alien ocean environment.  I've lived and worked in Sitka, Juneau, and Glacier Bay.  I love kayaking, softball, and traveling around the different environments and communities of Alaska.
Research Interests:  Marine mammal fishery interactions; diet, optimal foraging, prey selection and energetics; salmon aquaculture economics.
Techniques: Process modeling, stochastic modeling (regression), R, stable isotopes, bio-logging tags.

I was born in Utah and moved to Indiana when I was 14 years old. I was a Chemistry major at Indiana University and did my PhD in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University. I have taught general chemistry, introductory biology and biochemistry for almost 20 year now! I believe my education in the biomedical sciences helps me make a difference in the world. I am particularly passionate about nutrition and science communication. In my current role as a BLaST RAMP, I work on increasing student awareness and involvement in research all across the Fort Lewis College campus. I teach an Introduction to Human Disease course, and Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology Labs course. I am also an Academic Success Coach, which gives me many opportunities to work with students one-on-one. I feel incredibly fortunate to live in beautiful Durango and have the chance to work at "the Fort" where awesome things happen every day.

Logan Ito is a former UAF BLaST Scholar (2022-2023) who graduated in May, 2023 with his BS in Biological Sciences. He furthered his education by graduating in May, 2024 with his MS in One Health with a focus in Biomedical at UAF. He currently supports BLaST Scholars with his knowledge of graduate studies in competitive STEM field programs through his experience in BLaST and at UAF.

Claudia Ihl, Ph.D., is a UAF alumna receiving both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on the foraging ecology, habitat, diet, and sociality of muskoxen. Her position at the Northwest Campus relies heavily on her ability to teach in rural settings and engage rural students in her research.

David Tallmon, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Biology. Dr Tallmon completed his undergraduate work in biology at the University of California Santa Cruz and received both a M.S. and Ph.D. in Organismal Biology from the University of Montana. His research focuses on evolutionary and ecological dynamics of natural populations using demographic and genetic models, molecular genetic data, and field data.

Dr. Linda Nicholas-Figueroa is an Associate Professor of Biology and Chemistry at Ilisaġvik Tribal College in Utqiagvik, AK. Dr. Nicholas-Figueroa has taught at Ilisaġvik College since 2010. In addition, she runs several STEM-themed summer camps for students since 2011 and had been an instructor for Rural Alaska Honor’s Institute (RAHI) at UAF for 5 years. She is a UAF alumna receiving a B.S. and M.A. in Biochemistry and Chemistry, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on engaging Alaska Native youth in STEM education.

Dr. Etz has been serving as the Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs in the NIH Office of the Director for the past year, where she has primarily focused on establishing the inaugural Tribal Consultation Advisory Committee and on developing the first NIH Tribal Consultation session. During this time she has also continued in her work at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, where she serves as the Director of Native Programs and also directs three programs of research focused on: (1) American Indian and Alaska Native substance abuse epidemiological research, (2) the inter-relationships between drug use/abuse/addiction, social/physical environment factors, and human development, with emphasis on individual, social relational, and environmental mechanisms that underlie these relationships; and (3) sharing of social science substance abuse data.

Sue VandeWoude, DVM, DACLAM, received undergraduate training at California Institute of Technology, and veterinary training at Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently Associate Dean for Research, and Professor of Comparative Medicine in Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) and oversees intramural research programs for CVMBS, pre- and post-doctoral veterinary research fellowship training, and provides oversight/support for DVM-PhD training. She has mentored over 35 veterinary students and is a strong advocate for the role veterinarians can play in biomedical research, and has served on national committees and developed workshops to promote this issue.

Amelia (Amy) Ahnaughuq K. Topkok has worked at UAF since 1994 in various administrative positions and is currently the Biomedical Learning and Student Training program (BLaST) Reporting and Outreach Coordinator. She is Iñupiaq Kikiktagrumiut of Kotzebue, and her parents are from Shishmaref and Noatak, Alaska. She earned her BFA in Art in Drawing and Native Art in 1997, and her MA in Cross-Cultural Studies in 2018. Both degrees are earned from UAF. Topkok continues her research at UAF as a PhD Indigenous Studies student and hopes to concentrate her work on Inupiaq skin-sewing connected to cultural identity and community health and well-being.