After graduation, Lile completed an internship at Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana, where he researched and trained grey wolves. Now, he’s headed for three months studying lemurs in Madagascar — an island off the coast of Africa — as a volunteer for the Omaha Zoo’s Department of Conservation Genetics. His work involves following and observing lemurs throughout the day, recording social interactions, feeding habits and behaviors.

Upon returning from Madagascar, Lile plans to complete a more advanced internship with Wolf Park to research the cognition of red and grey wolves. In the future, he would like to pursue a doctorate in primatology, behavioral ecology or a similar field.