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Student Success Story: In the Field & Behind the Lens

How UNC Asheville biology student Phoebe Carnes is advancing wildlife research through dual projects in the field

By UNC Asheville

March 23^rd, 2026

Phoebe Carnes, a senior studying biology at the University of North Carolina Asheville, balances multiple research projects that explore aspects of wildlife. Her first, an examination of elk population genetics, digs into the science of a herd she has known her whole life. The second, Tapestry of America, is a multimedia initiative capturing and elevating wildlife through photography.

“Getting the opportunity to come here and actually do that in these two really cool ways. One of them research-based, and the other being able to connect the public, which will hopefully get the public to see places the way I see them,” Carnes said.

Carnes gives credit to Graham Reynolds, a biology professor at UNC Asheville, as a mentor through her research journey. She says his guidance has helped her move closer to her goals, offering expertise not only in genetics but also in science communication. These skills have shaped both her elk research and her creative work with Tapestry.

“Dr. Reynolds has been an incredible mentor, an incredible help. I came in here, not knowing anything about genetics, and that's what he does in his lab,” Carnes said.

Phoebe Carnes, a senior biology major student at UNC Asheville.

While Reynolds has served as a mentor along the way, Carnes has brought her own deep knowledge of elk by growing up near the herd that lives in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Even though Reynolds admits that elk are not a research focus for him, he was struck by Phoebe's expertise. "Phoebe knew so much about elk, and having grown up near the herd in the Smokies, she knew them all by name,” Reynolds said.

Student Success Story: In the Field & Behind the Lens

“Being able to collaborate with scientists in a place like UNC Asheville is a really incredible thing.”

A major inspiration for Carne's research came from recognizing the access she has at UNC Asheville, resources that may not always be available at National Parks. This includes technology, academic support, and education Carnes has gained in the Biology Department.

“Being able to collaborate with scientists in a place like UNC Asheville is a really incredible thing. That’s why I want to be that connection point for them,” Carnes said.

Her elk genetics research goals extend beyond publication. Carnes hopes her findings will provide valuable data to park services and contribute to wildlife management and conservation efforts.

“That’s why I started it in the first place, because I wanted to help them out,” said Carnes.

Phoebe Carnes always knew knew that she wanted to pursue biology. She credits the Appalachian’s wide range of wildlife and landscapes as inspiration..

Through her second project, Tapestry of America, Carnes shifts from the lab to the lens, aiming to highlight the wonders of wildlife and encourage the public to understand more about the natural world.

“There’s also some really cool animals that I think people don’t always know about or don’t always appreciate, kind of in the way that I think they should,” Carnes said.

She says UNC Asheville's liberal arts core has been incredibly beneficial to her tapestry project because the University embraces both science and arts departments on campus.

“It would be much harder at a larger school that maybe does not have that liberal arts concentration where interdisciplinary studies is very appreciated or lifted up, and supportive in that way,” said Carnes.

She knew before college that she wanted to pursue biology, while also recognizing the Appalachian’s provide a wide range of wildlife and landscapes.

“For something like Tapestry of America, it is honestly something I work on every single day of my life. There’s a lot of moving parts to it,” Carnes said. “It is not something that is going to stop once I walk across the stage.”

Like many research projects, her work has come with challenges. During elk DNA extraction, she discovered the current tool was not giving the amount of DNA needed for a certain analysis. This led her to have to pause, to wait for the new ones to come in.

“Which is the beauty of science — you run into some obstacles, and then you have to figure out a way to get over that,” she said.

According to Reynolds, research projects are started early on in the undergraduate program, allowing students to have time to explore their interests and complete meaningful projects.

”Most students who are doing serious research projects, they’ll start talking to us in their second year or sophomore year, and then get started in junior year,” Reynolds said.

Phoebe Carnes assists with elk DNA extraction.

One of her most memorable moments for Tapestry came while capturing photos of a grizzly bear mama, named Grizzly 1063, in the Grand Teton National Park. The mama bear had three cubs, but a tragic event took place where Carnes and her peers thought all the cubs had passed away due to a male bear.

“The unfortunate part about bear biologies is that male bears will kill cubs that are not their own, and this third cub was missing; we presumed that something similar happened,” said Carnes.

Then a miracle happened. Carnes stood by watching as the mama grizzly emerged from the forest with one of the missing cubs that had somehow survived.

It was exactly the kind of moment Tapestry of America was inspired by. After witnessing them for the first time, she decided she would try to find them again to capture photos for the project. Two days later, she did.

Grizzly 1063 with her surviving cub in the Grand Teton National Park. Image captured by Phoebe Carnes for Tapestry of America.

Footnotes

Story by Pearl Powell. Pearl is a senior studying Mass Communication with a concentration in Journalism at UNC Asheville. She has been working as an intern in the University’s Communication and Marketing Department since Jan. 2026.

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