Rachel Santymire
In 2000, Rachel began pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science and Policy at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Her research focused on improving the sperm cryopreservation technique for the management and conservation of the endangered black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes. In addition, Rachel has been involved with the biomedical survey of wild black-footed ferrets, in which scientists are assessing the factors, such as health, disease, morphometrics, reproduction and genetics, affecting the survivability of this unique species. In 2005 Rachel started as the zoo’s first Endocrinologist in the Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology. In this position she will continue her research on conservation of the endangered black-footed ferret, as well as initiate new endocrinology projects within the zoo’s collection and in the field.
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Rachel Santymire received her Master’s degree in 1996 from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, in collaboration with the Riverbanks Zoological Park and Botanical Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. Her graduate work involved characterizing the reproductive physiology of the male southern black howler monkey, Alouatta caraya, focusing on reproductive hormone analysis and semen evaluation. Rachel worked as a research assistant at the National Zoological Park’s Conservation and Research Center on several endocrine projects involving exotic species, including the black-footed ferret, both Asian and African elephants, fishing cats and cheetahs.