BLaST Celebrates Scientist of the Month for April

Todd Brinkman was named the BLaST Scientist of the Month for April 2021.

Brinkman is a UAF faculty mentor from the Department of Biology and Wildlife. Originally from western South Dakota, he spent some time in Minnesota, and ended up in Alaska about 20 years ago. He has a B.S. double-degree in biology and environmental science from Minnesota State University, a M.S. in wildlife science from South Dakota State University, and a Ph.D. in biology with an emphasis in wildlife ecology from UAF. Aside from teaching, he enjoys hunting, fishing, growing his own food, and tinkering with tools. He shares, “being out on the land with my family keeps me grounded and healthy.”

Brinkman’s focus on wildlife ecology has led him to work with many rural villages and tribal organizations on the North Slope, Interior, and Southeast Alaska, concentrating on large mammals such as deer, moose, caribou, and bears. One research partnership with the northern community of Nuiqsut quantified aircraft disturbance in areas important for caribou hunting.

“It’s important to work with tribes of Alaska. I have had the privilege to partner with ten to 15 communities in the last four or five years on research priorities identified by each community,” Brinkman said. 

Currently, he is working with Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), an Interior Alaska tribal organization. “In my opinion, the science we conduct is stronger and more impactful when local knowledge is integrated with our instrument and field-based data,” he said.

Brinkman has mentored several BLaST Scholars. He often caters his philosophy and strategies to the mentees’ needs. He factors in the strengths and weaknesses of each, and accounts for what excites them and what they need to facilitate the next chapter of their scientific career.

“Because of the talent and hard work of BLaST Scholars, my job has been fun and easy. I provide guidance and nudge BLaST students in a productive direction. After that, I get to watch them demonstrate their abilities and deliver great products,”he said.

Brinkman worked with Gwen Quigley (BLaST Scholar 2018-2019 and UAF 2019 graduate) on developing her rapid assessment tool for studying vegetation regeneration in wildfire fuel breaks using drones. Shelby McCahon (BLaST Scholar 2019-2020 and UAF 2020 graduate) used a novel approach to complete a study exploring winter trail use by different user groups at Creamer’s Wildlife Refuge in Fairbanks and is continuing her work with Brinkman, analyzing her data to develop a technique for quantifying trail user encounter rates. 

Now, Brinkman is co-mentoring Michelle Quillin (BLaST Scholar 2020-2021 and graduating UAF senior) with Dr. Dana Brown (Institute of Arctic Biology Postdoc). Quillin is using satellite data to assess changes in moose hunting opportunities around her home community of Hughes. The results of each of these projects will help land managers and local interest groups plan and adapt. 

Brinkman teaches WLF (Wildlife) 322, Principles and Techniques of Wildlife Management, WLF 470/670, Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management, and has taught WLF 101, Introduction to Wildlife Science. These courses provide education and training on how to foster wildlife conservation and sustainably enhance positive and mitigate negative human-wildlife interactions.