Dr. Laura Hancock

Visiting Assistant Professor, Biology

Laura Hancock
Email
Phone
(413) 662-5157
Office
Center for Science & Innovation 225C

Education

Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst,
expected Dec. 2024

M.S., University of Massachusetts Amherst,
2020

B.S., Christopher Newport University, 2013

Courses Taught

BIOL 150: Intro to Biology I

BIOL 150L: Intro to Biology I Lab

BIOL 334: Field Botany Lecture & Lab

BIOL 395: Mammalogy & Herpetology (cotaught)

Research/Creative Interests

My research interests focus on spatiotemporal population dynamics as they relate to the ecology and
conservation of different taxa. Namely, my research focuses on utilizing population dynamics and
ecological theory to better inform management and conservation of wildlife. My work spans taxa
(plants to mammals), spatial scale (microsite to landscape), and temporal scale (intra-annual to
decadal).

Publications

Ives, R., M. Moran, L. Hancock, J. Williams, W. Gannon, and R. Sherwin. In prep. New Insights into
Patterns of Foraging Behavior and Roost Associations of Townsend’s Big-eared Bats (Corynorhinus
townsendii).

Hancock, L. and K. Stinson. 2023. Trait variation and long-term population dynamics of the invasive Alliara petiolata across three microhabitats. Biological Invasions 

Stinson, K. A., L. Carley, L. Hancock, and K. Donohue. 2019. Effects of maternal source and progeny
microhabitat on natural selection and population dynamics in Alliaria petiolata. American Journal of
Botany 106: 1-12.

Stinson, K., J. Albertine, L. Hancock, T. Seidler, and C. Rogers. 2016. Northern ragweed ecotypes flower earlier and longer in response to elevated CO2: what are you sneezing at? Oecologia

Ruane, L., L. Hancock, A. Rotzin, and C. Luce. 2013. Pollen viability and the potential for self-pollen
interference in Phlox hirsuta, an endangered species. International Journal of Plant Sciences
174:1251-1258.

Hancock, L., C. Ernst, R. Charneskie, and L. Ruane. 2012. Effects of cadmium and mycorrhizal fungi
on growth, fitness, and cadmium accumulation in flax (Linum usitatissimum; Linaceae) American
Journal of Botany 99: 1445-1452.