Alayna G. Mackiewicz
PhD Candidate
Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Behavior Program
Department of Biology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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@AGMackiewicz
WELCOME! I'M
Alayna
Mackiewicz
About Me
I am a graduate student in the Lohmann Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Department of Biology. My research is focused on sensory biology, neurobiology, and animal behavior. Specifically, how animals detect and use Earth's magnetic field to navigate and migrate. My dissertation titled: "Mechanisms and neural processing of magnetic sensing in vertebrates" uses both behavioral and neural techniques to understand how animals can sense magnetic stimuli.
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I received my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) in 2018. At UMD I was an undergraduate research assistant in the Mensinger Lab and studied fish physiology and behavior in both marine and freshwater species.
l grew up in Minnesota, surrounded by the 10,000 lakes and the outdoors which is where my love of animals, nature, and science sparked from.
Career Goals
Following my doctoral graduation (anticipated spring 2025), I will be seeking a post-doctoral research position. For my post-doc, I am broadly interested in researching sensory systems, spatial cognition and learning, and the neural circuitry and hormones underlying behavior. During this position, I hope to gain more experience with neural and hormonal techniques. Following a post-doc, I intend to apply for faculty positions to start my own research lab and teach. Science IS for everyone - this leading principle guides my practices as a scientist, mentor, and educator.