Vanessa Rojas

Vanessa Rojas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sustainable Resources Management at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), based at the Wanakena Campus. Her work bridges wildlife ecology and geospatial technologies, with a focus on bat conservation and habitat assessment in forested landscapes.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Biology (Ecology) from Indiana State University (2018)
• MSc in Biology (Wildlife) from University of Michigan-Flint (2010)
• BSc in Environmental Studies and Applications from Michigan State University (2004)

Dr. Rojas specializes in bat ecology, employing acoustic surveys and geospatial science to study bat habitat use and conservation. Her research integrates occupancy modeling to address challenges in monitoring rare and elusive species, particularly in the context of threats like white-nose syndrome. She is also active in remote sensing and GIS applications for ecological monitoring and biodiversity assessment.

Her recent publications (2017-2024) reveal a strong focus on bat conservation, with increasing emphasis on technological solutions (e.g., mobile acoustic surveys, EchoMap initiative) and large-scale monitoring networks (e.g., Adirondack Inventory & Monitoring). Her work spans field ecology, statistical modeling, and applied conservation across northeastern and Appalachian forests.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• TRELIS Fellow (2019) in Geospatial Sciences for Training and Retaining Leaders in STEM

Dr. Rojas teaches courses such as Remote Sensing and GIS Technology, Wildlife Techniques, and Ecological Monitoring. While specific grant details are not provided, her involvement in networked projects like AIM and EchoMap suggests collaborative, interdisciplinary funding. She contributes to capacity-building in bat acoustic monitoring globally through initiatives like EchoMap.

She is associated with the Adirondack Inventory & Monitoring (AIM) Network and the EchoMap global initiative, which focus on long-term ecological research and bat conservation technology, respectively.