Oliver Fahrner

Oliver was born and raised in San José, California, and earned his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. After graduating, Oliver spent two years working in native habitat restoration at UCSB’s Cheadle Center, helping to create and monitor habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species. Oliver served in the Peace Corps as a Youth Development Volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 2022-2024. 

He is pursuing a Master’s of Science in Wildlife Conservation and Management at the University of Arizona, studying the genetics of Sonora sucker (Catostomus insignis) and desert sucker (Catostomus clarkii) fish populations from various sample sites across Arizona. This research tests for potential hybridization, genetic divergence, and genetic diversity of sampled populations, to help inform management decisions for their conservation. 

Oliver receives funding from the Lovejoy Center and the Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship, through which he is partnering with the non-profit Sky Island Alliance. 

New to Tucson, he has already come to appreciate the Sky Islands for their cooler temperatures and impressive biodiversity. Inspired by John Muir's quote, “the mountains are calling, and I must go," Oliver spends his free time exploring the outdoors, most often while hiking, skiing, camping, or climbing.