Joseph Northrup

Joseph Northrup serves as a Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Research Scientist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biology at Trent University. His research program addresses critical questions related to wildlife ecology, conservation, and management, with particular focus on large mammal species.

Dr. Northrup's research interests span multiple ecological disciplines:

• Movement Ecology and Animal Space-Use in Human-Modified Landscapes
• Population Dynamics of Large Mammals
• Statistical Ecology and Hierarchical Modeling Approaches
• Integration of Genomics with Traditional Ecological Research
• Human-Wildlife Interactions and Conservation Challenges

The Northrup Lab conducts diverse research projects examining black bear population ecology in Ontario, moose population dynamics, Southern Hudson Bay polar bears, mule deer responses to natural gas development, and white-tailed deer movement and disease ecology. The lab takes a multidisciplinary approach, combining field studies with advanced quantitative techniques to address complex ecological questions with conservation relevance.

Dr. Northrup actively mentors numerous graduate students, with current and recently graduated MSc and PhD students working on various aspects of wildlife ecology. His mentoring philosophy emphasizes 'guided independence,' providing foundational support while encouraging student ownership of research projects. The lab maintains strong connections with government agencies, Indigenous communities, and academic institutions to develop comprehensive approaches to pressing wildlife conservation challenges.