DR. RAE WYNN-GRANT is a large carnivore ecologist with an expertise in using statistical modeling to investigate how humans influence wildlife behavior and ecology. Her current field system encompasses the central coast of California, where she is studying the unique ecology of carnivores in coastal zones as well as the role of protected areas in connectivity of high-quality habitat for large carnivores – especially black bears, mountain lions and other wildlife at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve, a protected biodiversity hotspot on the California coast, home to 50 endangered and rare animal species and an important cultural heritage site for the Chumash people. Her previous research questions surrounded the ecological drivers of human-carnivore conflict with grizzly bears in the Northern Great Plains, black bears in the Western Great Basin, African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania, as well as grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Rae co-hosts NBC’s newest original series, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild.

Born: 1985

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Education: Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution

Occupation: Wildlife ecologist, conservation scientist, and public speaker

Expeditions: Ivohibory Forest, Madagascar, Loibor Siret, Tanzania, the mountains of Nevada and New York

Favorite Place: In the field making new discoveries

Best Discovery: A population of ring-tail lemurs in Madagascar that were unknown to science

Favorite Item In The Field: A bear skull I keep on my desk

Personal Heroes: The black female trailblazers in STEM that came before me

Hobbies: Hiking and bike rides

Website: www.raewynngrant.com

Advice: Don’t confuse passion with performance.