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Olivia CopeView profile

Assistant Professor

• Plant-Herbivore Interactions
• Population and Community Ecology
• Intraspecific Plant Diversity
• +3 more

Olivia Cope is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Whitworth University, specializing in plant-herbivore interactions and ecology. She holds a B.S. in Genetics and Plant Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Previously, she served as an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Wetzel Lab at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on intraspecific plant diversity, global change impacts, and the timing of species interactions, particularly in foundation tree species like trembling aspen. She investigates how plant ontogeny, competition, and environmental factors shape defense mechanisms and ecological outcomes. Her educational background includes a strong foundation in genetics and plant biology, complemented by advanced studies in integrative biology. Her work bridges ecological and evolutionary perspectives, addressing questions about trait plasticity, defense trade-offs, and the consequences of climate change on plant-insect dynamics. Cope’s research publications emphasize themes such as growth-defense trade-offs in forest trees, competitive responses, and the role of timing in plant defense strategies. Her studies use both field and lab-based approaches, often leveraging long-term datasets to analyze decadal-scale ecological patterns. She has presented her findings at major conferences like the Ecological Society of America Meeting and the Entomological Society of America Meeting. As a faculty member, she contributes to Whitworth University’s biology department, mentoring students and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Her lab engages in innovative research on ecological resilience and plant-insect interactions, with ongoing projects exploring the impacts of heatwaves on milkweed and arthropod communities.

Mark MangerView profile

Professor

• Political Economy
• Sovereign Debt
• Exchange Rate Policy
• +3 more

Mark Manger is a Professor at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and Department of Political Science, with an affiliation to the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies. He directs the Global Economic Policy Lab and focuses on the political economy of sovereign debt, exchange rate policy, and trade agreements. His work bridges theoretical insights with policy relevance, advising governments on trade agreements like the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. Key contributions include Investing in Protection (Cambridge UP, 2009) and influential articles in World Politics and Comparative Political Studies . Research emphasizes North-South trade dynamics, PTA formation, and the political dimensions of economic policy. Awards include recognition from the Canadian Political Science Association and LASA. Media engagements address contemporary issues such as sanctions efficacy and Russia-Ukraine economic relations. Grants and advisory roles reflect his dual focus on academia and policy impact. Labs/Teams: Director of the Global Economic Policy Lab, collaborating on projects related to sovereign debt, trade policy, and global financial governance.

Helen BoswellView profile

Associate Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Stem Cell Research
• +3 more

Helen Boswell serves as an Associate Professor in the Biology Department of the College of Science and Engineering at Southern Utah University (SUU), where she has taught for nearly two decades. Her instructional portfolio includes General Biology I/II, Evolution, and undergraduate research courses, emphasizing real-world applications of biological principles across all living systems. Dr. Boswell earned both her bachelor's and doctorate degrees in biological studies from the University of Buffalo. Her academic journey began with teaching assistantships during undergraduate studies, where she supported introductory biology courses and co-taught labs with graduate students. Her research interests focus on the interconnectedness of biological systems, spanning Evolutionary Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Stem Cell Research, Cancer Research, Biomedical Sciences, and Evolutionary Medicine. She actively demonstrates how concepts like coevolution apply to disease mechanisms and medicine, and how marine biology models inform stem cell research. This holistic approach helps students contextualize biological knowledge within everyday life and future careers. Dr. Boswell has mentored undergraduate students through research courses (BIO 4850), cooperative education (BIO 4840), and internships (BIO 4890). She takes particular pride in her students' graduations and subsequent professional achievements, valuing SUU's supportive academic environment and student-centered culture.

• Microbiology
• Parasitology
• Genomics
• +3 more

Dr Eva Heinz is a Research Fellow at Newcastle University specializing in the molecular and evolutionary biology of obligate intracellular parasites. Her work focuses on microsporidia and chlamydiae, investigating genomic reduction, host exploitation mechanisms, and metabolic adaptations through interdisciplinary approaches combining genomics, proteomics, and biochemistry. Her primary research areas include: Microbiology and Bacteriology Parasitology of microsporidia and chlamydiae Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics Host-pathogen interaction mechanisms Mitochondrial remnant organelle evolution Nutrient acquisition in intracellular pathogens Analysis of her publication record (2010-2021) reveals sustained investigation into reductive genome evolution across parasite lineages. Her work demonstrates how microsporidia and chlamydiae maintain essential functions through streamlined genomes while evolving sophisticated host exploitation strategies, particularly in membrane transport and metabolic pathway adaptation. Key methodological approaches include comparative genomics, proteomic characterization, and in vitro reconstitution of biochemical pathways. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. Dr Heinz maintains an active collaborative research program with Newcastle University colleagues including Dr Paul Dean, Dr Tom Williams, and Professor Waldemar Vollmer. Her publication pattern indicates consistent grant funding for parasite genomics research, though specific grants are not detailed in the source material. She appears to work within a multidisciplinary microbial evolution research group. Her laboratory environment emphasizes genomic and proteomic analyses of intracellular pathogens, with strong focus on microsporidian biology since 2012. Current research directions likely extend her work on host-pathogen metabolic interfaces and evolutionary genomics of reduced-pathogen genomes.

Christina Hansen WheatView profile

Assistant Professor

• Animal Behaviour
• Behavioural Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• +7 more

Christina Hansen Wheat is an Assistant Professor in Animal Behaviour at Linköping University, Sweden, affiliated with the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) and the Biology division. Her research focuses on how behaviour develops and evolves, particularly in the context of domestication, using dogs and wolves as model species. She employs integrative, collaborative approaches grounded in Tinbergen’s Four Questions framework. PhD from Stockholm University Postdoctoral training at Lund University Recipient of a 4-year Early Career Grant from FORMAS Active mentor for PhD and Master’s students Her research interests span animal behaviour, behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, domestication, and behavioural ontogeny . She investigates how social environment, physiology, climate, and habitat influence behaviour across species, with a long-standing focus on canids. Her integrative methodology emphasizes comparative studies and developmental perspectives. Christina’s recent publications highlight trends in dog-wolf behavioural comparisons, domestication theory, attachment behaviour, and the ecological potential of dogs in anthropogenic environments . Her work combines experimental design, field observations, and theoretical critique, often challenging misconceptions in the field. She also contributes to conservation science, notably through advocacy against the culling of Swedish wolves. The unfulfilled potential of dogs in behavioural ecology (2025) Attachment behaviour in wolves (2022) Point-following cognition (2023) Domestication syndrome decoupling (2019) Wolf population conservation (2022) She has received significant recognition, including: FORMAS Early Career Grant Swedish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship Christina actively supervises graduate students and is currently recruiting a PhD student in animal behaviour. Her research is supported by external funding and international collaborations, particularly with Clive D.L. Wynne and Wouter van der Bijl. She leads a research group focused on behavioural ontogeny in dogs, with strong ties to broader ethology and evolutionary biology networks. She is also a vocal advocate for scientific integrity and open discourse in science.

Shengxiang YangView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Computation
• Swarm Intelligence
• Meta-heuristics
• +7 more

Shengxiang Yang is Professor of Computational Intelligence and Director of the Centre for Computational Intelligence (CCI) at De Montfort University, within the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media and the School of Computer Science and Informatics. He is actively involved in research, supervision, and teaching, and leads a vibrant research group in computational intelligence. Education: BSc in Automatic Control, Northeastern University, China (1993) MSc in Automatic Control, Northeastern University, China (1996) PhD in Systems Engineering, Northeastern University, China (1999) His primary research interests lie in evolutionary computation , especially in dynamic and uncertain environments . He has made significant contributions to swarm intelligence, meta-heuristics, multi-objective and constrained optimization. His work extends to real-world applications in communication networks, logistics, transportation, and manufacturing systems. His teaching includes research methods and modules in AI, networks, programming, and software engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in dynamic optimization , multi-objective problems , and knowledge transfer in evolutionary algorithms. There is increasing integration of machine learning (e.g., LSTM, Q-learning) with evolutionary techniques, and a focus on hybrid and memetic algorithms for complex scheduling and real-world problems. Scientific Awards and Honors: Winner of the 2014 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation Best Student Paper Award Nominee for Best Paper Awards at EvoApplications 2016, GECCO 2015, and GECCO 2005 Visiting Professor at Xiangtan University (2012–2014, 2016–2018) and Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (2011–2017) Supervision and Funding: Professor Yang has supervised numerous PhD students, both as first and second supervisor, and has secured substantial research funding from EPSRC, EU Horizon 2020, State Key Laboratory of China, and internal DMU sources. He has led projects on evolutionary computation for dynamic optimization in networks, constrained problems, rail travel, and airport scheduling. He has also coordinated multiple BSc final year projects across institutions. Professional Leadership: He has held leadership roles in IEEE CIS, including Chair of the Task Force on Evolutionary Computation in Dynamic and Uncertain Environments and Founding Chair of the Task Force on Intelligent Network Systems. He serves on the editorial boards of top journals such as Information Sciences , IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics , and Evolutionary Computation .

Dominic CramView profile

Lecturer

• Behavioural Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Evolutionary Ecology
• +14 more

Dominic Cram is a Lecturer in Ecology and Conservation at the University of East Anglia, School of Biological Sciences, and a member of the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. He joined UEA in July 2024, after a brief position at Edinburgh Napier University. His research focuses on behavioural ecology, particularly cooperation and conflict in social animals, including Kalahari meerkats and human-honeyguide mutualisms. University: University of East Anglia School: School of Biological Sciences Position: Lecturer in Ecology and Conservation Email: D.Cram@uea.ac.uk ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8790-8294 His research is centered on understanding cooperation and conflict across biological levels, with key interests in interspecies cooperation, cooperative breeding, intergroup conflict, life-history trade-offs, and human-wildlife cooperation. He co-founded an international consortium on human-wildlife cooperation and leads research on the human-honeyguide mutualism with Prof. Claire Spottiswoode. His work integrates field studies, physiological assays, and evolutionary theory. His recent publications span topics in molecular ecology, behavioural biology, and conservation, with a strong focus on telomere dynamics, oxidative stress, social dominance, and mutualism stability. Trends in his research show a consistent emphasis on the physiological and evolutionary underpinnings of social behaviour in wild populations, particularly in arid-zone species. He frequently publishes in high-impact journals such as Proceedings of the Royal Society B , Molecular Ecology , and PLoS Biology . Scientific contributions include: Defining and conserving human-wildlife cooperation as a global phenomenon Revealing that dominant meerkats age faster but live longer due to reduced extra-group risks Investigating how meerkat pups’ early-life conditions affect telomere length and survival Exploring oxidative costs of reproduction and cognition in wild animals Dominic Cram actively mentors students and welcomes PhD applicants. He teaches field ecology and has been involved in postdoctoral training and collaborative grant applications, including Leverhulme and Marie Curie fellowships. He has no listed formal awards in the provided text, but his work has been widely disseminated through popular science outlets like The Conversation , New Scientist , and National Geographic . He is involved with the Kalahari Meerkat Project and has contributed to long-term datasets on meerkat behaviour and physiology. His interdisciplinary approach combines ecology, evolution, physiology, and conservation, with strong international collaborations across Africa and Europe.

Giacomo SpiglerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Deep Learning
• Deep Reinforcement Learning
• Meta-Learning
• +6 more

Dr. Giacomo Spigler is a Tenured Assistant Professor at Tilburg University's Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence (TSHD). He co-directs the AI for Robotics Lab (AIR-Lab) and the MindLabs Robotics & Avatars Lab. His research focuses on deep reinforcement learning for robotics, meta-learning, and evolutionary robotics, with applications in human-robot interaction and autonomous systems. Education: Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield (2018) M.Sc. Cognitive Science (Computational Neuroscience), University of Edinburgh (2014) B.Sc. Computer Engineering, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and University of Pisa (2012) Research Interests: Spigler explores artificial general intelligence, continual learning, and biohybrid systems. He develops algorithms for robotics that bridge simulation and real-world deployment, emphasizing embodied cognition and intuitive engineering principles. Key Projects: Co-PI of the STEADFAST project (Swarm Technology for Military/First Responder Operations) Developed the Tilburg Hand robot platform for reinforcement learning research Teaching: Courses include Deep Reinforcement Learning (MSc), Calculus (BSc), and Elements of Machine Learning (BSc AI Minor), with a focus on hands-on robotics applications.

• Aquaculture
• Parasitology
• Evolutionary Biology
• +3 more

Dr. Andrew Coates is a Researcher at Curtin University's School of Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS), part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. His work is focused on evolutionary biology, parasitology, and aquaculture, with a particular emphasis on understanding and mitigating parasite resistance in marine environments. He is affiliated with the Office of the Provost and has published extensively on topics such as salmon louse management, genetic technologies in aquaculture, and invasive species ecology. His research interests revolve around the interplay between parasite evolution, aquaculture practices, and ecological systems. Key areas include modeling parasite resistance dynamics, evaluating gene-editing applications for disease control, and addressing challenges posed by invasive species. Dr. Coates has contributed to global analyses of aquaculture farm technologies and their environmental impacts. His publications highlight trends in using advanced modeling to predict parasite behavior, developing strategies to counteract treatment resistance, and exploring genetic tools to combat infectious diseases. While no specific awards are listed, his work has been published in high-impact journals such as Reviews in Aquaculture , Evolutionary Applications , and American Naturalist . No advising or grant details are provided in the available texts. His contributions span academic and applied research, bridging theoretical evolutionary biology with practical aquaculture challenges.

• zooarchaeology
• human-animal relationships
• Circumpolar North
• +2 more

Tatiana Nomokonova is a leading scholar in zooarchaeology and human-animal relationships, with a focus on the Circumpolar North and Canadian Prairies. She has held academic roles at the University of Alberta, teaching courses such as Introduction to Archaeology , Zooarchaeology , and Archaeology of Siberia . Research Areas: Collaborative archaeology, human-animal studies, zooarchaeology, Canadian Prairies, Circumpolar North Her research explores reindeer domestication practices in Arctic Siberia, ancient dog life histories, and Holocene subsistence patterns in the Lake Baikal region. She emphasizes collaborative work with Indigenous communities and multidisciplinary approaches. Recent publications analyze material culture like needles and needle cases in the Iamal-Nenets region, reindeer antler symbolism, and radiocarbon dating challenges in freshwater environments. Her work spans zooarchaeological methodologies, cultural practices, and environmental adaptations. She supervises graduate research projects, including Grace Kohut’s thesis on reindeer age estimation, Jessica Sick’s analysis of sled-pulling activity in Arctic dogs, and Alexis Hunter’s study of animal use at the Fort Carlton Fur Trade Post.

Darcy LonsdaleView profile

Professor

• Marine Zooplankton Ecology
• Copepod Physiology
• Estuarine Plankton Food Web Dynamics
• +4 more

Darcy Lonsdale is a Professor at Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences , focusing on marine zooplankton ecology and harmful algal bloom impacts. As Undergraduate Program Director , they lead educational initiatives while maintaining active interdisciplinary research collaborations. Education: Ph.D. (1979) from University of Maryland, College Park Their research explores estuarine plankton food web dynamics, emphasizing copepod population responses to environmental stressors like harmful algal blooms and temperature variations. Key projects include investigating Mercenaria mercenaria suspension feeding effects on Aureococcus anophagefferens blooms in Long Island bays through field, laboratory, and modeling approaches. Recent publications (2014-2000) demonstrate consistent contributions to understanding ctenophore-copepod interactions, nutrient cycling, and bivalve-mediated bloom control. Collaborative work with Stony Brook faculty and institutions like USC reveals cross-disciplinary influences. Labs and teams include partnerships with Robert Cerrato (SoMAS) and David Caron (USC) on coastal food web projects. Their work integrates genetic analyses of phenotypic variation with environmental factor assessments to explain zooplankton fitness patterns.

Maureen WilliamsView profile

Lecturer

• Zoology
• Parasitology
• Ecology
• +6 more

Maureen Williams, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in the Department of Biology at McDaniel College, where she brings her passion for zoology and hands-on experience into the classroom and laboratory. Her academic journey began at the University of Notre Dame and continued in Ireland with advanced studies at University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. Ph.D. in Zoology, Trinity College Dublin (2019) M.Sc. in Environmental Science, University College Dublin (2012) B.Sc. in Biology, University of Notre Dame (2011) Her research focuses on the ecological significance of parasite communities, particularly in coral reef fish and freshwater ecosystems. She explores topics such as tropical diseases, molecular ecology, and the impacts of climate change on host-parasite dynamics. Her international collaborative work spans remote Pacific islands and Japanese river systems. The articles she has published reflect a strong trend in marine and freshwater parasitology, ecological resilience, and molecular techniques. Her work integrates field biology with biostatistical modeling, emphasizing the interconnectedness of biological systems. She is deeply committed to student learning and aims to instill a sense of accomplishment and curiosity in her biology courses. While no formal scientific awards are listed, her research and educational contributions demonstrate scholarly engagement and dedication to advancing biological understanding. Active researcher in parasite ecology and molecular methods Engages students in experiential learning and biological interconnectedness Field researcher with scuba and expedition experience Promotes science education through hands-on laboratory and field instruction Outside of academia, Dr. Williams is a certified scuba instructor, SPCA volunteer, dog trainer, baseball enthusiast, and avid traveler, with notable fieldwork conducted in Iceland. These experiences enrich her teaching and research perspective.

Herbert HoiView profile

Research Fellow

• Animal Behavior
• Ornithology
• Behavioral Ecology
• +5 more

Herbert Hoi is a Research Fellow at the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology within the Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. He has maintained a continuous research position at the institute since April 1991, establishing himself as a leading expert in avian behavioral ecology and parasitology. Dr. Hoi was born on July 12, 1961, in St.Veit a.d. Glan, Austria. He completed his thesis on "Ecology and mating system of bearded tits (Panurus biarmicus)" between 1985 and 1988, followed by research assistant work in the Department of Ethology at the University of Vienna from 1989 to 1991. His primary research focuses on social, mating, and reproductive behavior of birds, investigating fundamental questions about coloniality advantages, mate attraction mechanisms through acoustic and visual communication, evolutionary basis of female mate choice, and complex dynamics of extra-pair copulation. His work bridges behavioral ecology with molecular parasitology, particularly in studying haemosporidian parasites in avian hosts. Dr. Hoi's publication record shows a significant shift toward avian parasitology in recent years, with numerous high-impact papers (2023-2025) examining tissue-stage development of Haemoproteus and other blood parasites in birds. His research employs advanced molecular techniques including RNAscope in situ hybridization to study parasite-host interactions at the tissue level. His current funded projects include: Sparkling Science Project: Chemical Defense in the Animal Kingdom Sparkling Science Project: Birds as Bioindicators FWF project P19310-B17: Maternal effects and female allocation strategies in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) FWF project: Sexual selection in the Common Toad (Bufo bufo) Grant # P19264-B17 Sparkling Science Project: Climate Change: Impact on our Birdlife Grant # SPA/01/2007/51/A/ClimateChange Dr. Hoi collaborates internationally with researchers including Prof. Andrea Pilastro from the University of Padova and Dr. Matteo Griggio. His work contributes significantly to understanding evolutionary processes, conservation biology, and the impacts of environmental change on avian populations through both behavioral and parasitological perspectives.

• Comparative Immunology
• Genetics
• Genomics
• +6 more

Si-Ming Zhang is a Research Professor at the Center for Evolutionary & Theoretical Immunology and Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico. He holds a Ph.D. from The Chinese Academy of Sciences (1998) and a B.S. from Huazhong Agricultural University. Research interests: Comparative Immunology, Genetics, Genomics, Parasitology, Vector Biology, Medical Malacology, Host-Parasite Interactions, Schistosomiasis, Fish Biology Zhang's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying snail-schistosome interactions, including immune signaling pathways in snails , genomic basis of resistance , and transcriptomic responses to parasitic infections . His work spans both freshwater snail vectors (Biomphalaria, Bulinus) and human-infecting schistosomes (S. mansoni, S. haematobium). His recent publications (2024-2025) highlight advances in haplotype-like snail genome assembly mitochondrial genomics of vector snails transcriptomic profiling of immune gene families yolk protein-mediated germline delivery in snails compatibility between snails and schistosomes evolution of immune recognition mechanisms These studies integrate genomics, transcriptomics, and functional molecular biology. Grants awarded include: NIH R21 (2025-): Fine-resolution genetic mapping of Biomphalaria glabrata NIH R01 (2022-): Genetics/genomics of schistosome resistance in snails NIH R21 (2021-2023): Yolk protein-mediated germline delivery NIH R21 (2019-2021): Genomic basis of snail resistance NIH RO1 (2007-2012): Molecular studies of immunoparasitology in snails He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on these projects.

Aaron GoldmanView profile

Associate Professor

• Molecular Evolution
• Origin of Life
• Astrobiology
• +3 more

Aaron Goldman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Oberlin College's College of Arts and Sciences, where he leads computational research on molecular evolution and the origins of cellular life. His work bridges genomics, biochemistry, and astrobiology to reconstruct ancient biological systems. His academic training includes a BA in Biology from Swarthmore College (2003), a PhD from the University of Washington (2010), and postdoctoral research at Princeton University (2010-2013). BA: Swarthmore College, 2003 PhD: University of Washington, 2010 Postdoc: Princeton University, 2010-2013 Goldman's research focuses on deciphering molecular signatures of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) through computational analysis of genomic and proteomic data. His lab investigates how early life evolved cellular organization, metabolic pathways, and protein machinery over 3.5 billion years ago. Key themes include the coevolution of cellularity and metabolism, electron transport chain origins, and the role of cofactors as molecular fossils. The work combines phylogenetic reconstruction with biophysical modeling to test hypotheses about life's earliest stages. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a concentrated effort to integrate evolutionary biology with systems-level understanding of early cellular processes. The research consistently targets the interface between prebiotic chemistry and biological complexity, using computational tools to simulate ancient molecular environments and evolutionary trajectories across diverse disciplines including astrobiology and bioenergetics. Scientific recognition includes: Zuckerkandl Prize for top research article in Journal of Molecular Evolution (2023) Goldman actively mentors undergraduate researchers, with Oberlin students co-authoring 11+ publications since 2020. His lab receives support for computational infrastructure and genomic databases, enabling large-scale evolutionary analyses. Current projects include the LUCApedia Database and development of ancestral sequence reconstruction algorithms. The lab maintains active GitHub repositories for open-science collaboration. The Goldman Lab operates as a computational research hub within Oberlin's biology department, maintaining specialized resources including the LUCApedia Database and Simmerpop GitHub repository. The team collaborates with international researchers on NASA Astrobiology Institute-related projects and contributes to open-source tools for evolutionary analysis, with recent work featured in the Oberlin Research Review and covered by 27 news outlets including Popular Mechanics.