Joy O'Keefe

Joy O'Keefe is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign within the School of Integrative Biology and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences. She leads the Human-Wildlife Interactions Lab and holds additional affiliations with the Prairie Research Institute.

• Primary Affiliation: School of Integrative Biology
• Department: Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
• Institute: Prairie Research Institute

Dr. O'Keefe's research focuses on understanding bat ecology in human-altered landscapes, particularly examining:

• Roosting and foraging behaviors
• Mitigation strategies for bat conservation
• Thermal ecology of artificial roosts
• Wildlife trade impacts and solutions
• Acoustic monitoring techniques
• Effects of climate and disease on bat populations

Her recent work addresses critical conservation challenges such as:

• Ending online ornamental bat trade
• Optimizing bat box thermal conditions
• Assessing white-nose syndrome impacts
• Improving habitat suitability modeling

Dr. O'Keefe collaborates extensively with:

• USDA Forest Service
• National Park Service
• State wildlife agencies
• Private landowners