Brief Biography: Braxton (they/them) is from Thomasville, GA, where they first grew to love the natural world. Their first exposures to veterinary medicine were with livestock on their family farm, though they did not decide to pursue veterinary training until later in their undergraduate training at Washington University in St. Louis. Their research experiences prior to joining the combined degree program were varied, spanning the fields of oncology, field ecology, animal behavior, and diagnostics. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, they worked as a necropsy technician at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. Their application to the combined degree program was driven by a love for research that bridges gaps between scientific theory and practice.

Research Interests: Braxton is interested in adapting ecological theory to management techniques, particularly those related to infectious diseases. They are particularly interested in addressing the difficulties associated with studying free-ranging wildlife and their pathogens, though they are equally intrigued by work at the livestock-wildlife interface. At the same time, they hope to ground their work in generating management solutions that work for rural and Indigenous communities.