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Finella DawlingsView profile

Research Fellow

• Conservation Biology
• Wildlife Monitoring
• Remote Sensing
• +4 more

Dr. Finella Dawlings is a Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle's School of Environmental and Life Sciences within the College of Engineering, Science and Environment. She serves as a key member of the Conservation Science Research Group, conducting fieldwork on Norfolk Island to study invasive rodent management and its impacts on threatened native species. Dr. Dawlings earned her PhD from Monash University (2020-2024) where she specialized in remote sensing applications for wildlife conservation. Her educational background includes Honours research at Monash University (2017-2018) focused on Norfolk Island Robin ecology and an undergraduate project analyzing 38 years of seabird population data in the Bonney Upwelling region. Her research expertise spans conservation biology, remote sensing technology, threatened species monitoring, and invasive species management. Dr. Dawlings has pioneered innovative approaches using thermal imaging and drone technology to monitor cryptic species in challenging environments, significantly advancing conservation methodologies for species like the Plains-wanderer and Christmas Island Frigatebird. Recent publications reveal a strong methodological focus on validating technological solutions for conservation challenges, with particular emphasis on thermal imaging for nocturnal species detection, drone operations in bird-rich environments, and understanding extinction drivers for island-endemic birds. Current PhD co-supervision: 'Acoustic Innovations: Enhancing Wildlife Monitoring across Australia's Commonwealth National Parks' (commenced 2025) Previous teaching: Monash University School of Biological Sciences (2022-2023) Professional experience: Ecological Consultant (Wildlife Unlimited, 2019-2020), Field Ecologist (Australian Wildlife Conservancy, 2018-2019) Based in Building BG-10 at the University of Newcastle with regular fieldwork on Norfolk Island, Dr. Dawlings' research was recently featured in news outlets (July 31, 2024) for tracking bird-eating rodents as part of the Resilient Landscapes Hub project.

Scott LossView profile

Professor

• Global Change Ecology
• Wildlife Management
• Climate Change
• +4 more

Scott Loss is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management at Oklahoma State University. He leads the Loss Lab, focusing on global change ecology, including climate change, invasive species, and human-wildlife interactions. His research integrates principles of conservation biology, urban ecology, and disease ecology, emphasizing birds but also studying plants and invertebrates. Education: PhD in Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota (2011) MS in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois (2007) BS in Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (2004) Research Interests: Loss's work addresses global change impacts such as climate change, invasive species (e.g., earthworms), and human-caused mortality (e.g., bird collisions with infrastructure). Current projects include studying tick-borne diseases in urban areas, wind energy impacts on birds, and CRP program effectiveness. His lab employs citizen science and interdisciplinary approaches. Grants & Collaborations: Funded by USDA, USGS, and others for projects on wetland conservation, CRP wildlife effects, and climate adaptation. Collaborates with institutions like the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and University of Arizona. Labs & Teams: The Loss Lab includes postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates working on diverse projects. Notable collaborations involve wildlife disease ecology, avian migration, and urban wildlife management.

Ashley M. LongView profile

Assistant Professor

• Wildlife Ecology
• Habitat Management
• Geospatial Analysis
• +5 more

Ashley M. Long serves as Assistant Professor and Wildlife Extension Specialist in the Department of Renewable Natural Resources at Louisiana State University's College of Agriculture, conducting research from Room 315 of the RNR Building in Baton Rouge, LA. Education: Ph.D. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University (2014) M.S. Biological Sciences, Emporia State University (2010) B.S. Biology, Northland College (2006) A.S. Highland Community College (2005) Research Focus: Dr. Long employs geospatial data, emerging technologies, and field experiments to investigate how vegetation management (understory thinning, prescribed burning), development (road construction, urbanization), and natural landscape alterations (wildfire) impact species distributions and wildlife population dynamics. Her work bridges theoretical ecology with practical conservation applications. Current projects span migratory connectivity for songbirds using light-level geolocators, habitat relationships of wintering grassland birds, radar-based reduction of bird-aircraft collisions, and coastal prairie identification through remote sensing. She also examines forest management effects on bat activity, disease ecology in wild birds, and socio-ecological barriers to prescribed fire implementation on private lands, demonstrating interdisciplinary integration across wildlife management and spatial analysis.

• Turbulence
• Unmanned Systems
• Sensors
• +5 more

Dr. Abdulghani Mohamed is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering at RMIT University, specializing in aerospace engineering with a focus on unmanned aerial systems, turbulence research, and biomimetic flight technologies. His research integrates principles from biology with engineering applications to advance drone technology and flight control systems. His research interests span Turbulence , Unmanned Systems , Sensors , Biomimetics , Aerodynamics , Experimental fluid dynamics , Computational fluid dynamics , and Energy harvesting systems . Dr. Mohamed's work demonstrates a strong connection between natural flight mechanisms observed in birds and engineered solutions for drone technology. His recent publications (2018-2024) reveal consistent research productivity with a clear trajectory toward increasingly sophisticated drone control systems, turbulence adaptation mechanisms, and biomimetic applications. The research shows a progression from fundamental aerodynamic studies toward practical implementations in urban air mobility and advanced drone systems. Open to Masters Research or PhD student supervision Active research projects in drone propeller optimization, turbulence mitigation, and biomimetic flight Dr. Mohamed maintains an active research program with numerous projects related to unmanned aerial systems and their applications in complex environments. His work bridges theoretical aerodynamics with practical engineering solutions for next-generation flight systems.

• Ornithology
• Conservation Biology
• Animal Behavior
• +5 more

Dr. Daniel Klem Jr. is a Professor of Ornithology and Conservation Biology in the Department of Biology at Muhlenberg College. His career spans over four decades with a focus on bird-human interactions, particularly bird-window collisions as a global conservation issue. B.A. in Biology from Wilkes University M.A. in Biology from Hofstra University Ph.D. in Zoology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale His research integrates animal behavior , ecology , and conservation biology , with groundbreaking work on avian mortality caused by glass structures. He has developed evidence-based mitigation strategies and contributed to comparative avian anatomy studies through his Acopian Center for Ornithology. Key publication trends include: bird-window collision analysis (1982-2024), avian anatomical research , and conservation policy development . Recent works emphasize compassionate conservation frameworks. Lindback Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence Pennsylvania Ornithological Society Conservation Award Rosalie Edge Conservation Award Honorary Doctor of Science from Wilkes University Dr. Klem has mentored over 100 students in field/laboratory research, with co-authorships on peer-reviewed publications. His work has been supported by government agencies , nonprofit organizations , and private industry grants .

Bradley CosentinoView profile

Professor

• Wildlife Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Conservation Biology
• +7 more

Bradley Cosentino is a Professor of Biology at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, where he has been a faculty member since 2012. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois and a B.A. from Augustana College (IL). His academic work is centered in the Department of Biology within the broader institutional framework of the college. Ph.D., University of Illinois B.A., Augustana College (IL) Dr. Cosentino's research focuses on wildlife ecology and evolution, particularly how environmental change influences wildlife populations. His key research themes include conservation biology, urban ecology, and the evolutionary responses of species to anthropogenic disturbances. He investigates topics such as coat color variation in gray squirrels, the long-term ecological impacts of agriculture, biodiversity recovery in restored grasslands, and amphibian and reptile responses to climate and land-use change in New York state. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on landscape ecology, population genetics, and conservation. He frequently employs citizen science data and continent-wide analyses to understand large-scale ecological patterns, especially in fragmented and urbanized environments. His work bridges empirical field studies with genetic and behavioral analyses, contributing significantly to understanding how species adapt in rapidly changing ecosystems. Wildlife Ecology Evolutionary Biology Conservation Biology Urban Ecology Climate Change Biology Population Genetics Dr. Cosentino teaches a range of courses including Ecology, Evolutionary Genetics, Conservation Biology, Biostatistics, and a senior seminar on Human Nature. He is actively engaged in mentoring and research supervision, although specific student names are not listed in the provided text. His research has been published in leading journals such as Conservation Biology , Landscape Ecology , Molecular Ecology , and Biological Conservation .

Kelly WilliamsView profile

Associate Professor

• Avian Behavioral Ecology
• Physiological Ecology
• Movement Ecology
• +9 more

Kelly Williams is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio University, College of Arts and Sciences. She leads the Williams Avian Ecology Lab and is currently a Rush Elliott Professor (2022–2027), an honor recognizing excellence in teaching, research, and student mentoring. Her research is centered on avian ecology, with a focus on habitat use, movement, and survival in human-dominated landscapes. Her research interests include avian behavioral and physiological ecology, movement ecology, full annual cycle ecology, and conservation. She is particularly interested in how habitat structure affects resource availability and how individual behavioral and physiological variation influences reproduction and survival. Her lab investigates overwinter habitat use of sparrows, movement ecology of Henslow’s Sparrows, and bird-building collision monitoring on campus. The publications listed reflect her expertise in avian ecology, including studies on dietary behavior of migratory warblers, demographic costs of habitat occupancy, and contributions to Ohio's breeding bird atlas. These works span tropical and temperate ecosystems and employ field and analytical techniques such as telemetry, GIS, and statistical modeling. Rush Elliott Professor in Biological Sciences (2022–2027) Kelly Williams actively mentors undergraduate and master’s students in research and experiential learning. Her lab is funded by the Rush Elliott Professorship, Ohio University Research Council, Columbus Audubon, and Kirtland Bird Club, supporting student projects in avian conservation. She collaborates with the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative and uses the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network for migration studies. The Williams Avian Ecology Lab conducts field research using bird banding, automated and manual telemetry, territory mapping, and collision monitoring. The lab operates two Motus Towers in Athens County and engages in outreach through presentations and public bird-banding demonstrations.

Simon WatkinsView profile

Professor

• Aerospace Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Micro Air Vehicles (MAV)
• +7 more

Professor Simon Watkins is a faculty member at RMIT University's School of Engineering, specializing in Aerospace and Automotive Engineering. He holds the academic rank of Professor and leads the Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) Group. His roles include Program Leader for the Bachelor of Engineering (Automotive) and Visiting Professor at the University of Stuttgart. He has pioneered automotive engineering education in Australia and established RMIT Racing, which has achieved international acclaim in Formula Student competitions. His research focuses on MAV dynamics in turbulent environments, aerodynamics, and vehicle safety. Key achievements include developing fuel-saving truck aerodynamic devices, winning solar car competitions, and securing $2.649M in ARC funding. He has supervised over 20 PhD/MEng students and contributed to infrastructure like the Southern Hemisphere's largest wind tunnel. Research interests include turbulence mitigation for MAVs, bio-inspired flight systems, and urban wind dynamics. Awards include SAE International leadership roles and multiple grants. He advises on RMIT Racing and collaborates internationally, with projects funded by the USAF and industry partners.

• Quantitative Ecology
• Community Ecology
• Behavioral Ecology
• +5 more

Eric L. Walters is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolution from Florida State University (2004), an M.Sc. in Biology from the University of Victoria (1997), and a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Victoria (1990). His research integrates behavioral ecology , conservation biology , and disease dynamics , with emphasis on: Cooperative breeding systems in acorn woodpeckers Migratory bird stopover ecology and habitat use Tick-borne pathogen transmission via avian hosts Urbanization impacts on bird-window collisions Social network analysis in avian communities His publications focus on avian behavior, disease ecology, and conservation, with recurring themes of cooperative breeding dynamics, migration hazards, and host-parasite interactions. Research is frequently collaborative, involving multi-institutional teams. Honors include: Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2024) Fellow, American Ornithological Society (2018) Distinguished Research Award (2023) Early Career Research Award (2015) He leads federally funded projects like "Evolution of Cooperation in Social Woodpeckers" (NSF) and "Spatial Eco-Epidemiology of Tick-Borne Pathogens," mentoring students through ODU's research apprenticeship program. Fieldwork spans Virginia’s Eastern Shore, California oak woodlands, and collaborative sites across North America.

Robert BlairView profile

Professor

• Avian Ecology
• Urban Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• +4 more

Robert Blair is a Professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences. His research focuses on conservation biology within human-dominated landscapes, particularly avian ecology and urban ecology, with significant contributions to citizen science methodologies and environmental education. Education Ph.D. from Stanford University Blair's research centers on understanding how land use affects bird communities in urban and human-altered environments. He advocates for studying biodiversity in the 'unswimmable ocean' of human-dominated landscapes rather than pristine habitats. His work includes extensive studies on bird-building collisions, urban bird conservation, and the role of citizen science in environmental education. Recent publications reveal strong trends in urban ecology, collision mitigation strategies, and participatory science methodologies with practical applications for conservation policy. Advising and Grants Blair has advised twelve graduate students including current PhD candidates Sam Safran, Andrew Hallberg, Zonish Javed, and Lucas Rapisarda. His research is supported by diverse sponsors including the National Science Foundation, Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund, Three Rivers Parks District, U.S. Bank Stadium, Audubon-Minnesota, Fulbright Foundation, Cargill Foundation, and the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences. Labs and Teams He leads the Blair Lab, which operates through three integrated pillars: Urban Ecology (focusing on human-modified landscapes), Public Science (engaging citizens in all scientific stages), and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Key initiatives include Project BirdSafe, Minnesota Master Naturalist, Driven to Discover, and Nature for New Minnesotans. The lab actively involves undergraduate researchers, citizen scientists, and community partners in its conservation efforts.