Audrey Hall of United Tribes Technical College

Audrey Hall is a proud member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Her college story began at United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) in 2021 where she earned an AS in environmental science and research in 2023. Audrey then continued her studies to earn a BS degree in environmental science and research and a BS in wildlife biology. Today, she is pursuing a master’s degree in biology at the University of North Dakota (UND).

Audrey had been out of school for two years prior to enrolling at UTTC. She always had a passion for science but did not have the right environment that supported continuing her education. When she found the science programs at UTTC, she was met with continuous dedication and unconditional support by the faculty. Specifically, her advisors Mandy Guinn and Dr. Emily Biggane always went out of their way to ensure the students in the program had many of the best opportunities, helping them seek out what they were interested in studying. This support allowed Audrey to further her passion for science while also developing a broad range of skills including experimentation, communication, and laboratory, and field skills, which she achieved through various academic and research experiences.

During Audrey’s first semester at UTTC in 2021, she joined Dr. Biggane’s lab as a molecular and cellular research assistant where she learned cell culturing, DNA extraction, PCR, protein extraction, and much more. She has had the opportunity to present research at various conferences such as North Dakota IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence meeting, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium student conference, the National Science Foundation Research Symposium, the American Society for Cell Biology meeting, and many more. These opportunities to present and attend conferences have greatly enhanced her networking and presentation skills. The opportunities from the Environmental Science and Research Program, Wildlife Biology Program, and affiliated labs have allowed her to travel to over 10 states and internationally during her time at UTTC.

In addition to lab work, Audrey was also selected as a research student intern for the summer of 2024 under Dr. Jeremy Guinn to study elk population dynamics. During this project, she learned vital field techniques, such as using field equipment, tracking animals, collaborating with community members, and reinforcing laboratory skills by running experiments using samples of elk tissue from the project.

Audrey is currently a master’s student in the biology program at UND where she is also a part of the Schmitt and Stears Lab conducting research. Her master’s research will explore differences in diet and gut microbial communities between ungulates in African and North American ecosystems. Her career goals are centered around working in wildlife conservation, specifically in genetics. She would like to work in a position where she can do lab and field work that is connected to helping tribal communities. Audrey believes that continuing to participate in diverse learning opportunities associated with research will help her develop the skillset necessary to work in conservation.