2025 Internship Project Overview

For nine weeks, we worked under the supervision of Dr. Talia Borofsky in the Levin Lab to develop computer models of wolf pack hunting behavior in the context of sheep herds. Due to successful conservation efforts, wolf populations across the United States have been rising, which has led to more and more wolves entering into human-occupied areas, killing livestock and creating tension between farmers and conservationists. Our project aims to improve the modeling of wolf hunting behavior to eventually identify the most promising livestock protection methods that can help mitigate rising human-wolf conflict. In addition, Melody explored how social learning affects predator-prey population dynamics, and Hellen aided in the design of a scoping review of current literature regarding cooperative breeding and hunting in carnivore species.

ORGANIZATION/RESEARCH GROUP

Levin Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

LOCATION

Princeton, New Jersey

 

Interns

Melody Cui ’27
Major: Computer Science
Minor(s): Applied Math, Creative Writing
"I liked working independently while receiving guidance from our advisor. I really enjoyed the research process. I've always liked applied math, but the idea of doing research in the field had intimidated me. I now feel much better equipped to take that on."
Hellen Ding ’27
Major: Economics
Minor(s): Computer Science, Musical Theatre
"I began this internship hoping to strengthen my computing and mathematical modeling skills, while exploring my long-standing curiosity about animal behavior and biology—areas I haven’t had the chance to study formally within my major. What I found most rewarding was the creative freedom and opportunity to see how mathematical principles could be applied in an intuitive, biological context."

 

Simon Levin
James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Mentors

  • Talia Borofsky, Postdoctoral Research Associate, High Meadows Environmental Institute