Dr. Justin French is the Big Game Specialist and post-doctoral Research Scientist at Borderlands Research Institute. His research focuses on the spatial ecology of pronghorn, mule deer, and bighorn sheep in the Trans-Pecos in order to bolster ongoing restoration efforts for all three species.

Prior to his position with BRI, he graduated in 2012 with a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. During his undergraduate career, Justin was employed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, where he began his research career evaluating field methods for vegetation sampling. He earned his MS degree from Sul Ross State University in Natural Resource Management in 2015, studying pronghorn foraging ecology. His thesis research examined seasonal diets and nutritional demands of pronghorn in the Trans-Pecos. He completed his PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University in 2019. His dissertation focused on coyote movement ecology, linking their territorial behavior to population dynamics. This project sheds light on how coyote life history interacts with predator management efforts. His research program seeks to link basic science with practical application in order to develop more robust management strategies. He has a strong interest in movement and population ecology, statistical methods, and applied wildlife management.

French, J. F., H. H. Wang, W. E. Grant, and J. M. Tomecek. 2019. Dynamics of animal joint space use: a novel application of a time-series approach. Movement Ecology. 7:38.

French, J. F. 2019. Movement and behavioral ecology of coyotes in southern Texas. Dissertation. Texas A&M University. College Station, TX.

French J. F., R. O’Shaughnessy, L. A. Harveson, B. J. Warnock, and S. S. Gray. 2018. Selection of ecological sites by pronghorn in the Trans-Pecos, Texas. Southwestern Naturalist. 63:96-101.