Caleb Hughes
“Being a Graduate Research Assistant at BRI refined me personally and professionally. It gave me opportunities to learn new skills, embrace changes, bear responsibilities, and overcome challenges alongside the attentive support of the faculty and staff at BRI. They provide an atmosphere of both positivity and challenge that has made me a better professional and a better human.”
“I was once asked to help a fellow student complete vegetation surveys for their project at Nine Point Mesa Ranch. Students that individually study vegetation, game birds, big game, and hydrology worked together to complete over 100 large plots of vegetation sampling, and there was not a bad attitude in sight. The work was full of good fellowship, and our spirits were kept high by scenic views, monsoon rains, and the sounds of bugling elk. It was great people doing great things in a great place.”
“Prior to working at BRI, I was somewhat phobic of technical skills we use in research, such as statistics and programming. Working at BRI immersed me into these disciplines in a way that replaced my fears with newfound interest and enjoyment. I have since gained confidence in both programming and statistics, and my current job as a GIS Specialist requires me to apply both in managing datasets and answering research questions.”
“Through my time at BRI, I’ve learned that successfully applied natural resource science does not occur in a vacuum. It must be cooperative with and considerate of all relevant stakeholders. Funders, landowners, land managers, state and federal agencies, and scientists all play a role in keeping wild things in wild places. Anytime a conservation initiative succeeds, it is a testament to the power of teamwork.”
“BRI is set apart by the unique combination of the places and people it connects you to. Far West Texas contains some of the wildest, untrammeled places in the state, and studying them is made all the more special by the people at BRI. The faculty and staff care for students both professionally and personally, while the camaraderie within the student cohort feels more like a family than a workplace. The opportunity to experience truly wild places and outstanding professional relationships is what makes BRI special.”
“Working at BRI will challenge you educationally, enhance you professionally, and impact you personally. It will steer a pivotal season of your career through Texas’ wildest places and do so alongside great people.”
