Bio

Dr. Weaver received her B.Sc. in Biology in 2009, and her M.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology in 2012 from Texas State University. While completing her degrees, she conducted undergraduate research on Western Kingbirds in San Marcos, Texas, and her thesis research was focused on overwintering populations of Brazilian free-tailed bats in central Texas. From 2012 to 2017, she worked as an ecologist for a global environmental consulting firm, AECOM (formerly URS). In this position, she conducted wildlife habitat evaluations, avian and bat activity studies for wind energy facilities, wetland delineations, federally endangered species monitoring for the Houston toad and Golden-cheeked Warbler, impact assessments for a variety of development projects such as solar facilities, TxDOT roadways, and oil and gas pipelines, as well as authored natural resources sections for Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements.

In 2015, Sara returned to Texas State University to pursue a PhD in Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology. Her dissertation research focused on wind energy impacts to bats and impact reduction strategies. Her work in this area has received international attention and numerous accolades, including 1^st place in the Clarence Cottam Award Competition at the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society in February 2019, and 2^nd place overall for student presentations at the national chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting in Cleveland, Ohio in October 2018, to name a few. She completed her degree in August of 2019. 

Sara is currently a full-time Biology Lecturer at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, teaching a variety of wildlife, ecology, biology related courses. Her goal is to establish a wildlife population ecology and conservation lab aimed at studying wildlife species of greatest conservation need in Texas and the U.S. She also aims to continue her dissertation line of research studying wind energy impacts to bats in the U.S. In addition to teaching at the university, she is a Senior Ecologist and Project Manager for Bowman Consulting Group in San Marcos, Texas

Education

Texas State University, August 2019

Doctor of Philosophy, Aquatic Resources and Integrative Biology (Major Advisor: Ivan Castro-Arellano, PhD)

Dissertation Title: Understanding Wind Energy Impacts to Bats and Reduction Strategies in South Texas

Texas State University, August 2012

Master of Science, Wildlife Ecology (Major Advisor: T. Randy Simpson, PhD)

Thesis Title: Baseline Population Estimates and Microclimate Habitat Analysis of Overwintering Brazilian Free-tailed Bats in Central Texas

Texas State University, December 2009

Bachelor of Science, Biology − Wildlife Specialization GPA: 4.0

Courses Taught

• Integrative Biology Seminar Lecturer, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2018)
• Ecology Lecturer, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2017-present)
• Ecology Lab Instructor, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2017-present)
• Wildlife Management Lecturer, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2016-present)
• Wildlife Management Lab Instructor, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2016-present)
• General Biology II Lecturer, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2016-present)
• General Biology II Lab Instructor, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2016-present)
• General Biology I Lab Instructor, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2016-present)
• Life Sciences II Lecturer, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2016-present)
• Ornithology Lecturer, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2013-present)
• Ornithology Lab Instructor, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2013-present)
• Wildlife Management Lab Instructor, Texas State University (2015)
• Evolutionary Theory Lecturer, Texas A&M University, San Antonio (2015)

Selected Publications

• Weaver, S. P., A. K. Jones, C. D. Hein, and I. Castro-Arellano. In Revision. Estimating bat fatalities at a Texas wind energy facility: implications transcending the U.S.-Mexico border. Invited publication: Journal of Mammalogy
• Jones, A. K., and S. P. Weaver. 2018. Big free-tailed bat discovered at a wind energy facility in Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 63(1): 75–76.
• Weaver, S. P., M. R. J. Forstner, and N. Durish. 2016. Geographic distribution: USA, Texas, Eastland Co.: Hemidactylus tursicus (Mediterranean Gecko). Herpetological Review 47:424.
• Weaver, S. P., T. R. Simpson, J. T. Baccus, and F. W. Weckerly. 2015. Baseline population estimates and microclimate data for newly established overwintering Brazilian free-tailed bat colonies in central Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 60(2-3): 151-157
• Weaver, S. P., and F. W. Weckerly. 2011. Sex ratio estimates of Roosevelt elk using Bowden’s estimator. California Fish and Game 97(3):130-137.

Popular Articles and Media

• KRGV News Story
• Importance of Bats Video
• Mongabay Article
• Deterrent Article