Sandra Lavorel

Sandra Lavorel is a Senior Research Scientist (Directeur de Recherche) at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), working at the Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine in Grenoble, France. She leads the research group 'Functional traits and dynamics of alpine ecosystems' which includes 12 permanent staff (9 scientists, 3 technical), 6 postdocs, and 12 PhD students. Since 2008, she has been the funder and co-coordinator of the French Alpine Long Term Socio-Ecological Research Site.

Dr. Lavorel's educational background includes:

• Diplôme d'Ingénieur Agronome from the Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon (1984-1987)
• Master's Degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc (1987)
• PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc (1991)
• Habilitation in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc (1999)

Her research focuses on:

• Dynamics of biodiversity
• Functional ecology - plant functional trait responses to environment and impacts on ecosystem functioning
• Global change: climate, land use and biodiversity including invasions
• Interdisciplinary research on ecosystem services

Dr. Lavorel has received numerous scientific awards for her work:

• CNRS Bronze Medal (1998)
• Foulon Prize in Biology, French Academy of Sciences (2006)
• Zayed International Prize for the Environment (2006)
• Cozzarelli Prize of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. (2008)
• Sustainability Science Award of the Ecological Society of America (2009)
• Jean Dufrenoy Prize of the French Academy of Agriculture (2009)
• Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, French government (2012)

She has supervised 20 PhD students (6 as single supervisor, 6 as main supervisor, and 8 as co-supervisor), 20 Master's students, and 9 postdocs. Dr. Lavorel teaches graduate courses in Ecology and at European schools.

Dr. Lavorel has held significant leadership positions including:

• Member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Global Land Project (2008-present)
• Co-coordinator of the TRY international network (2007-present)
• Coordinator of CNRS international research projects on global change with Australia, South Africa, Argentina, and EU countries
• Member of the scientific advisory committee to the Environment Minister on biodiversity and natural resources (2010-present)