Areas of Expertise: Population genetics, Field Biology
Drew’s passion for the outdoors began in his hometown of Lexington, KY when he joined the Boy Scouts of America. This early enthusiasm led him to pursue a degree in biological science at the University of Kentucky, where he immersed himself in genetic research. His lab work involved studying model organisms such as zebrafish, sea lamprey, and axolotls. Following his studies, Drew relocated to Panama City Beach, Florida, to intern with NOAA, focusing on juvenile blacktip reef shark movement patterns in the Gulf of Mexico.
During this period, he also fell in love with diving and trained to become PADI Divemaster and Open Water Scuba Instructor. In 2019, Drew moved to Jacksonville, Florida, to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of North Florida, researching the population dynamics of a killifish hybrid zone. After graduating in 2022, he worked as a Wetlands Biologist with a local consulting firm before moving to Chattanooga, where he now serves as a natural resources specialist for the Conservation Institute.
Favorite Bad Bunny Song: “Callaita”
Hobbies: Camping, hiking, mushroom photography, beach volleyball
Education:
M.S., 2022, University of North Florida (Biological Science)
B.S., 2018, University of Kentucky (Biological Science)
Publications:
Hardy, A.L., M.R. Gaither, K.E. Lotterhos, S. Greaves, and M.R. Gilg. 2024. Asymmetrical hybridization and environmental factors influence the spatial genetic structure of a killifish hybrid zone. In Review.
Smith, J. J., N. Timoshevskaya, V. A. Timoshevskiy, M.C. Keinath, D. Hardy, and S.R. Voss. 2019. A chromosome-scale assembly of the axolotl genome. Genome Research 29(2): 317-324.