Marcelo Jorge

Marcelo Jorge, PhD, serves as Assistant Professor of Wildlife Habitat Management at the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. His research integrates wildlife disease dynamics, habitat management, and predator-prey ecology to develop practical conservation strategies for land managers and stakeholders.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Wildlife, University of Georgia, 2025
• M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, 2019
• B.S. in Zoology, Miami University, 2012
• B.A. in Psychology, Miami University, 2012

Dr. Jorge's research program centers on wildlife disease impacts, fire-mediated habitat management, and species population dynamics. Using both passive monitoring and active field experiments, he investigates how chronic wasting disease affects deer populations and how prescribed fire influences biodiversity across taxa. His applied framework directly translates ecological findings into wildlife management protocols.

Publication trends reveal consistent focus on fire-wildlife interactions across seven recent studies, with particular emphasis on bat winter ecology, avian biodiversity responses to pyrodiversity, and predator community dynamics in managed forests. His work bridges theoretical ecology with actionable conservation outcomes through frequent collaborations with state and federal agencies.

Scientific Recognition:

• E. L. Cheatum Award, University of Georgia (2025)
• Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, Southeast Deer Study Group (2025, 2023)
• Maher/Zouhary Undergrad Research Award, Miami University (2012)

Dr. Jorge actively mentors undergraduate researchers and secures external funding for field studies, including National Park Service contracts for pre-White-nose Syndrome bat surveys. His technical reports demonstrate strong partnerships with federal land management agencies.

He leads research initiatives through the Deer Lab and collaborates with the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, conducting fieldwork in pyric landscapes across the southeastern United States to address emerging wildlife health challenges.