Dr. Jilian Fazio began her career at the Smithsonian in 2005, as a full time Animal Keeper. She worked primarily on Asia Trail and also out at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) with the carnivore team. In 2004, she traveled to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo (KKOZ) in Chonburi, Thailand, to serve as a project assistant for the Clouded Leopard Consortium. In 2008, she returned to KKOZ to perform her M.S. research thesis focused on clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) reproductive success. In 2010, she became an SCBI-GMU Doctoral Fellow and completed her degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy focused on zoological management of the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus).  She is currently a Research Fellow for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Her current work is on Asian elephant welfare and behavior, and a study evaluating how the installation of automatic feeders may affect our elephant’s habitat use, behavior and social interactions. Dr. Fazio is also the Clouded Leopard Species Survival Program® Coordinator and International Studbook Keeper and still works on research focused on felids as well. Prior to NZP, Jilian worked at Disney's Animal Kingdom (Animal Presenter Internship, 2001-2002); International Exotic Animal Sanctuary (Internship Summer 2002; Keeper, 2002-2003) and Bergen County Zoo (Animal Keeper, 2003-2004).

Article

• Fazio, Jilian M., Freeman, Elizabeth W., Bauer, Erika, Rockwood, Larry, Brown, Janine L., Hope, Katharine, Siegal-Willott, Jessica, and Parsons, E. c. m. 2020. "Longitudinal fecal hormone monitoring of adrenocortical function in zoo housed fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) during institutional transfers and breeding introductions." Plos One, 15, (3) e0230239–e0230239. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230239. 2020
• Fazio, Jilian M., Barthel, Tony, Freeman, Elizabeth W., Garlick-Ott, Kay, Scholle, Anne, and Brown, Janine L. 2020. "Utilizing Camera Traps, Closed Circuit Cameras and Behavior Observation Software to Monitor Activity Budgets, Habitat Use, and Social Interactions of Zoo-Housed Asian Elephants (Elephus maximus)." Animals, 10, (11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112026. 2020
• Fazio, Jilian M., Freeman, Elizabeth W., Bauer, Erika, Rockwood, Larry, and Parsons, Edward C. M. 2018. "Evaluation of management in North American zoos to enhance breeding success of the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) ex situ population." Zoo biology, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21465. 2018
• Stanton, Lauren Ashley, Sullivan, Matthew Stephen, and Fazio, Jilian Marie. 2015. "A Standardized Ethogram for the Felidae: A Tool for Behavioral Researchers." Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 173 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.04.001. 2015

George Mason University, Fairfax VA

            School of Integrated Studies

            Adjunct Professor, 1/2015 – present

• Conservation Behavior Course (INTS 403) taught through the College of Integrated Studies at George Mason each Fall. Develop research projects in coordination with animal care staff at the zoo to determine appropriate projects that could improve management or provide information to the staff and then teach students ethogram development, behavioral observations and analysis.

            Department of Environmental Science and Policy

            Graduate Teaching Assistant, 9/2010 – 5/2013

• Ecology 308 Ecology and Evolution– Taught, upper level undergraduate class focused on scientific writing and statistical analysis with a field component.