Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology, was recently selected as a Cobell Graduate Summer Research Fellow. Administered on behalf of the Cobell Board of Trustees by Indigenous Education, Inc., Reuben-Thomas is one of five fellows for 2025 selected from a pool of over 100 graduate students.

Credit: Provided

Reuben-Thomas, a member of the Oneida and Seneca Nations, studies how Indigenous people’s ongoing accumulation of knowledge between living beings in an ecosystem, known as “traditional ecological knowledge” (TEK)-practice systems, impact insects, which can serve as a gauge of environmental health. She is comparing how different fire management practices and their applied knowledge systems impact the population structure and genetic diversity of ant species with a specific focus on cultural fire and agency-led prescribed burns.

“This fellowship supports efforts in upholding Indigenous data sovereignty within my research, allowing the communities I am working with to govern their own data,” said Reuben-Thomas. “Building and maintaining these meaningful connections with the communities I am working with is imperative to the success of my research.”

Read more on the Graduate School website.