Indigenous Graduate Student Research Symposium

Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas

PhD Candidate

Cornell University

Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas (Onʌyoteˀa·ka· & Onöndowa:ga:’) is a third-year PhD candidate in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. Her current research explores how contrasting fire regimes shape insect biodiversity, with a particular focus on Cultural Fire and agency-led prescribed fire. Through community-engaged research, Reuben-Thomas generates a holistic understanding of insect responses to distinct land management practices and is deeply committed to translating research into practice and regularly supports self-determination of local communities through leading workshops focused on Indigenous Data Sovereignty. She aims to emphasize the importance of Indigenous Knowledge-Practice Systems to better inform conservation policy, supporting more equitable land management decision-making processes.

Crystal Fowler

PhD Candidate

Cornell University

Crystal is Navajo, Ute, and Zuni and is from Southern Utah. She is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Biological and Environmental Engineering. Her research focuses on fluid dynamic application in agricultural systems. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering from Utah State University, where she also minored in Computer Science and Agronomy. As an undergraduate, she pursued internships with NASA, USDA, and Mayo Clinic, which shaped her path toward graduate school. At Cornell, she is an NSF-NRT fellow, Dean’s Scholar, and CALS Stadtman Fellow. Her non-academic interests include playing intramural basketball, hiking around Ithaca, and spending time with her beta fish, Crush.

Kailtin Diggins

PhD Candidate

Cornell University

Kaitlin is a fourth-year PhD candidate in plant pathology at Cornell University, where she studies integrated pest management strategies for organic and sustainable specialty crop systems. Her research focuses on reducing reliance on chemical inputs and increasing resilience in diversified production systems in New York. She evaluates how these management strategies respond to increasing climate variability and shifting pest and disease pressures. Kaitlin’s work is applied and grower-oriented, emphasizing practical, accessible solutions for small-scale and historically underrepresented farming communities.