Two men looking at a poster.

Graduate Student Winners of the 2026  Annual Poster Presentation Session 

By | Apr 28, 2026 | Awards and Honors, Elyse DeFranco

On Friday, April 17th, 17 graduate students presented their research at DRI’s Reno campus for the annual poster presentation session. Organized by Kathleen Rodrigues, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Luminescence, the event offers an opportunity for DRI-affiliated graduate students to network with each other and with DRI faculty, hone their presentation skills, and showcase the research they’re working on in pursuit of their degrees.

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Tiffany is wearing a DRI hat and holding up a picture of the Las Vegas Bearpoppy to a group of volunteers.

Join DRI’s Conservation Ecology Lab in Protecting Desert Flora & Fauna

By | Feb 17, 2026 | Donor Stories, Paula Loop

The DRI Conservation Ecology Lab, led by Tiffany Pereira and Tsvetelina Stefanova, helps guide the conservation and restoration of the Southwest’s diverse flora and fauna through basic and applied ecology and collaboration with federal agencies, community non-profits, and more. Central to the Conservation Ecology Lab’s mission to protect desert ecosystems is addressing and educating the public on the detrimental effects of invasive species, particularly on rare and threatened species.

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A scientist sitting in the snow next to a frozen stream.

Meet Kelly Loria 

By | Sep 23, 2025 | Featured researchers, Elyse DeFranco

Kelly Loria, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Researcher and stream ecologist who joined DRI in July 2025. She is working with Monica Arienzo, Brittany Kruger, and Mark Hausner to study the water quality impacts of the 2024 Davis Fire in southern Reno’s Washoe Lake and surrounding streams. In the following interview, Loria shares her passion for the ecology of western mountains and increasing our knowledge of Nevada landscapes.

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Tiffany and Tsvetelina holding the seedling guide in front of a blooming desert plant with yellow flowers.

Tiffany Pereira Blends Art and Science in New Mojave Seedling Guide

By | Mar 19, 2025 | Featured projects, Elyse DeFranco

The ecologist and illustrator created a first-of-its-kind seedling guide to help land managers and community members identify native plant seeds and aid with restoration work. DRI sat down with Pereira for more information about her goals and inspiration for the project, the benefits of fusing art with science, and the miracles contained in the tiniest seeds.

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