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Rachel JaniaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Veterinary Radiology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
• +2 more

Rachel Jania serves as Assistant Professor of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging within the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Louisiana State University's School of Veterinary Medicine, joining the institution on September 3, 2024. Her academic foundation includes: DVM from Tufts University (2016) BS from New York University (2004) Dr. Jania's research pioneers advanced imaging applications across taxonomic boundaries, utilizing CT and ultrasonography to address diagnostic challenges in parrots, tortoises, cheetahs, dogs, and cats. Her work establishes species-specific protocols for contrast administration, quantifies body fat reserves in endangered wildlife, characterizes hepatic and nasal pathologies, and identifies gastrointestinal abnormalities. This multidisciplinary approach bridges clinical veterinary medicine with wildlife conservation through imaging innovation. Analysis of publications from 2015-2021 reveals progressive specialization in cross-species imaging, evolving from feline gastrointestinal studies toward complex wildlife diagnostics. Her research demonstrates consistent methodology development across veterinary radiology, zoo medicine, and comparative oncology with increasing collaborative scope. Professional recognition includes: Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology As an early-career investigator, Dr. Jania is developing her research program with emphasis on technical standardization and translational applications. Her collaborative publication record indicates active engagement with wildlife conservation networks and clinical veterinary teams. Prospective students would contribute to imaging protocol development while gaining expertise in species-diverse diagnostic applications. Research activities are conducted within LSU's veterinary clinical imaging facilities, leveraging institutional resources for species-spanning diagnostic innovation without a separately designated laboratory space.

Curtis J VanderWaalView profile

Professor

• Substance abuse treatment & prevention
• Social capital
• Faith-based ministries
• +5 more

Curtis J VanderWaal serves as Chair and Professor of Social Work at Andrews University, where he has taught since 1990. He also directs the Center for Community Impact Research at the Institute for Prevention of Addictions and serves on multiple community boards including Riverwood Center and Corewell Health Hospite and Palliative Care. His academic journey began with a BS from Andrews University, followed by an MSW from the University of Michigan (1987), and a PhD from Case Western Reserve University (1995). Dr. VanderWaal's research spans several interconnected areas with a focus on substance abuse treatment & prevention, social capital, faith-based ministries, program evaluation, and faith-based LGBT issues. His work frequently examines the intersection of religious communities and social issues, particularly regarding mental health and substance abuse. Recent projects have explored mental health disparities among LGBTQ+ students at faith-based universities, community impact through participatory research methods, and addressing social determinants of health for patients with chronic conditions. His research output demonstrates strong trends in community-engaged scholarship, with significant emphasis on practical applications of social work research. Many projects involve collaborations with community organizations like the United Way of Southwest Michigan, where he has led evaluations involving over 150 students since 2010. His recent publications show increasing focus on LGBTQ+ issues within conservative religious contexts, mental health outcomes, and interdisciplinary approaches to trauma-informed education. J.N. Andrews Medallion (2014) Sigfried H. Horn Scholarly Research Award (2012) Student Advising Award from Andrews University (1992) Zapara Excellence in Teaching Award (1998) Andrews University Teacher of the Year award (1999) Inducted into Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Inducted into Phi Alpha Honor Society Dr. VanderWaal has secured significant research funding throughout his career, with over 30 funded projects totaling more than $175,000 in recent United Way evaluations alone. He currently serves as Principal Investigator for multiple active grants including the United Way Turning Outward Evaluation ($14,000) and the Trauma-Informed Academic Partnership Grant ($50,000). His funding sources include prestigious organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institute of Justice, and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He has mentored over 150 students in research activities, with many becoming co-authors on presentations and publications. As Director of the Center for Community Impact Research, Dr. VanderWaal leads a team conducting program evaluations and community needs assessments. The center partners with organizations like the United Way of Southwest Michigan to evaluate programs in health, basic needs, education, and income. Recent work includes the Community Conversations project, which used focus groups and surveys to understand community priorities across 159 participants in Southwestern Michigan. The center provides valuable hands-on research experience for social work students while delivering actionable insights to community stakeholders.

• Ecosystem Services
• Environmental Economics
• Socioeconomic Valuation
• +7 more

Claudia Loreto Cerda Jimenez is a Full Professor at the Department of Forest Management and its Environment within the Faculty of Forestry Sciences and Nature Conservation at the University of Chile. She also serves as an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of the same faculty. Education: Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, University of Göttingen (2006) Master, University of Chile (2003) Forestry Engineer, University of Chile (2000) Her research focuses on ecosystem services , environmental economics , and interdisciplinary approaches to manage conflicts in ecosystem use. She has extensively studied public demand for nature conservation and payment schemes for ecosystem services, particularly in Chilean contexts like biosphere reserves and urban green spaces. Recent publications highlight her work on climate change adaptation , invasive species economics , and urban biodiversity . She has led projects funded by CONICYT and Chilean environmental institutions, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and guiding numerous students in Master's and Undergraduate programs . Teaching Roles: She instructs courses on socioeconomic valuation , forest restoration , and environmental law at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels across multiple faculties, including Forestry, Law, and Architecture.

• Remote Sensing
• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• +7 more

Nathalie Pettorelli is a Professor at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, and holds an Honorary Professor position at University College London. She leads the Environmental Monitoring and Conservation Modelling (EMCM) team at the Institute of Zoology, focusing on developing tools and methodologies for sustainable natural resource management. Her educational background includes a PhD in Ecology & Modelling from University Lyon (1999-2002), a DEA in Ecology & Modelling from University Lyon (1998-1999), and a Master in Ecology from University Paris 5 (1997-1998). Pettorelli's research centers on assessing and predicting the impacts of global environmental change on biodiversity and ecosystem services, with particular emphasis on climate change. She employs a multi-disciplinary approach integrating statistics, remote sensing, and programming to conduct internationally recognized research. Her extensive experience with remote sensing data drives her interest in promoting better integration of satellite-based data in global monitoring programs, particularly for biodiversity conservation applications. Her work spans conservation, ecology, biodiversity monitoring, and applied ecological research, with recent publications demonstrating strong focus on climate change impacts, nature-based solutions, and technological innovations in conservation. Her extensive publication record shows consistent contributions to high-impact journals including Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal of Applied Ecology, and Trends in Ecology and Evolution, with recent work exploring the intersection of AI, remote sensing, and conservation science. Pettorelli frequently collaborates on horizon scanning exercises to identify emerging conservation issues and has contributed to several book chapters on seabird conservation. Pettorelli has progressed through the academic ranks at the Zoological Society of London, from Post Doctoral Research Fellow (2006-2009), to Research Fellow (2009-2017), Senior Research Fellow (2017-2022), and now Professor (2022-present). Her work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration across ecology, conservation science, remote sensing, and policy development. She leads the Environmental Monitoring and Conservation Modelling team, which develops innovative approaches to environmental monitoring and conservation planning. Her research group works at the intersection of technology and ecology, developing new methods for biodiversity assessment and conservation decision-making under global environmental change.

• Biodiversity conservation
• Climate change impacts
• Ethnobotany
• +7 more

Dr. Andrés Gerique is a Professor in the Department of Geography and Geosciences at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, where he conducts research on biodiversity conservation, climate change impacts, and sustainable resource management. His work spans multiple institutional contexts through collaborations with DFG Research Units, FLACSO Ecuador, and various international working groups including the German Society for Geography and the German Latin American Research Association. Dr. Gerique's research focuses on political ecology of conservation, particularly examining biosphere reserves governance, nature conservation conflicts, and indigenous knowledge systems. His regional expertise centers on Latin America, with extensive fieldwork in the Andean region, Western Amazon, Patagonia, and the Galapagos Islands, supplemented by research in Spain and Tanzania. His current Volkswagen Stiftung-funded project (2025-2029) investigates philanthropy and ecotourism in the Global South. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical conservation challenges combined with theoretical contributions to human geography and political ecology. His work consistently addresses the complex interplay between human societies and environmental systems, particularly focusing on power dynamics in conservation, indigenous rights, and sustainable development pathways in vulnerable regions. Dr. Gerique has supervised over 50 theses across diverse topics including biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, tourism impacts, and land use conflicts. His supervision approach appears to emphasize critical thinking, field-based research, and engagement with real-world conservation challenges, particularly in Latin American contexts. His research program demonstrates significant funding success through DFG, DAAD, Volkswagen Stiftung, and other sources, supporting both individual scholarship and collaborative international research teams focused on pressing environmental challenges in the Global South.

• Restoration Ecology
• Plant Community Assembly
• Biodiversity-Ecosystem Function
• +4 more

Erin J. Questad is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (College of Science). Her research program centers on restoration ecology, with emphasis on endangered plant communities, invasive species management, and biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships. She employs multidisciplinary approaches including ecological field experiments, plant functional trait analysis, and remote sensing technologies. Research Focus: Dr. Questad investigates: 1) Community assembly mechanisms in restored ecosystems, 2) Biodiversity-agriculture feedbacks in heterogeneous landscapes, 3) Remote sensing tools for post-fire recovery, and 4) Restoration of invaded Hawaiian and Californian ecosystems. Her work bridges theoretical ecology and practical conservation solutions. Recent Publication Trends (2014-2022): Analysis of 15 recent articles reveals dominant themes: Restoration efficacy in drylands (42%), invasive species impacts (25%), remote sensing applications (17%), and biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships (16%). Studies frequently integrate field data with landscape-scale technologies and emphasize management applications. Students & Collaborations: Currently advising three Master's candidates Leading a 2024 postdoctoral hiring initiative Active collaborations with: The Nature Conservancy, UCANR, UC Santa Barbara, and CSU Long Beach

• Applied Mathematics
• Calculus of Variations
• Optimal Control
• +6 more

Worku Bitew is Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematics at Farmingdale State College. His research applies mathematical analysis to environmental, economic, and resource management challenges, with focuses on optimal control, sustainable fisheries, and aquaculture. He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Temple University (2008). Research Interests: His work bridges calculus of variations, optimal resource allocation, and environmental systems. Key areas include coastal ecosystem remediation, bioeconomic modeling of fisheries, dynamic optimization in business, and mathematical methods for sustainability. Awards: SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship & Creative Activities CSTEP Award for Mentoring (recognizing student project leadership) Teaching & Advising: He oversees a broad curriculum spanning foundational to advanced mathematics, including operations research and applied seminars. Mentored students have won state-level research competitions.

• Aquatic Morphology
• River Ecology
• Environmental Changes
• +6 more

Prof. Dr. Jochen Kubiniok is a Professor and Chair Holder at Saarland University's Physical Geography and Environmental Research department, located at the Dudweiler campus. His academic leadership position oversees research and teaching focused on the critical intersection of physical geography and environmental science, with particular emphasis on aquatic systems and landscape processes in the Saarland region and beyond. Prof. Kubiniok's research interests span multiple environmental disciplines, with primary focus on aquatic morphology and river ecology . His work examines environmental changes under climate change and anthropogenic activities , with methodological expertise in environmental analysis , applied geoinformatics , soil science , geomorphology , and remote sensing . His publications reveal a strong commitment to understanding landscape processes, water systems, and human-environment interactions, particularly in the Saarland region. Analysis of Prof. Kubiniok's recent publications (2013-2022) shows a consistent research trajectory focused on environmental systems, with particular emphasis on water quality, soil-landscape relationships, and anthropogenic impacts. His work frequently examines nitrate and pesticide pollution in spring waters and headwater streams, soil erosion processes, and the connections between land use practices and water quality . There is also significant research on forest ecology , primary forest degradation in Southeast Asia, and the potential of renewable energy in mountain regions. His methodological approach combines field observations with geospatial analysis to address complex environmental questions. Prof. Kubiniok maintains extensive collaborations with various organizations, including ministries, state agencies, environmental protection organizations, engineering firms, and the European Cultural Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim. These partnerships facilitate the integration of research and teaching, ensuring a practice-oriented program of study that addresses real-world environmental challenges. His cross-border cooperation with French institutions through the European Cultural Park Bliesbruck-Reinheim demonstrates his commitment to international environmental research and management approaches.

Melissa Jane RemisView profile

Professor

• Biological Anthropology
• Primate Ecology
• Human Ecology
• +9 more

Dr. Melissa Jane Remis is a Professor of Anthropology and the current Department Head of the Department of Anthropology at Purdue University's College of Liberal Arts. She joined Purdue University in 1996 and has held various leadership positions including Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education (2015-2018) and Interim Department Head (2014-2015). Dr. Remis received her Ph.D. from Yale University in 1994, following an M.Phil. from Yale in 1990 and a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1986. Her academic journey has focused on the intersection of biological and cultural anthropology in Central African contexts. Dr. Remis specializes in biological anthropology with a focus on primate ecology, human ecology, nutrition, conservation biology, and hunter-gatherer societies. Her research centers on human-animal relationships, particularly with great apes, in sub-Saharan Africa. She has conducted extensive field research in the Central African Republic, initially focusing on western gorilla behavioral ecology and later expanding to examine the interrelated human and wildlife ecologies, diet, health, and social impacts of extractive industry and conservation. Dr. Remis employs both field and laboratory approaches, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods to address wildlife and human dimensions of ecosystem change. Her research program has evolved from studying gorilla feeding ecology to examining multispecies relationships in conservation zones, diet and food security among hunter-gatherers transitioning to market economies, and the impacts of human disturbance on mammal populations. She has also designed experimentally based research on the evolution of feeding strategies among African apes, including work with captive apes in zoological facilities to improve dietary health. 2020: Received Purdue's Violet Haas Award 2016: Named to the African Primate Section of the International Union of Conservation 2003: Named to the editorial board of the International Journal of Primatology Dr. Remis has served as a reviewer and board panel member for granting agencies including NSF and Wenner-Gren, and has been actively involved with academic journals in physical anthropology, primatology, ecology and conservation. She has trained numerous US and Central African graduate students in African field research and undergraduates in zoo-based research. She leads the Remis Research Group which focuses on human-wildlife relationships in Central Africa, with ongoing projects in Dzanga-Sangha Forest Reserve in the Central African Republic, Korup National Park in Cameroon, and Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Her collaborative work often involves cultural anthropologist Dr. Rebecca Hardin of University of Michigan and former PhD students Carolyn A. Jost Robinson and Dr. Lesley Daspit.

• Systematic Botany
• Marine Botany
• Algal Systematics
• +11 more

Dr. Marina Morabito is an Associate Professor in Systematic Botany at the Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina (UniME), Italy, where she has served since 2018. She coordinates the Marine and Terrestrial Environmental Sciences degree program and is affiliated with the National Consortium Interuniversity for Marine Sciences (Co.NISMa.). Her academic journey began with a Degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Messina in 1997 (110/110 cum laude), followed by a PhD in Algae Biology from the same institution in 2001. Her research focuses on the biology and systematics of macroalgae, particularly Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta, with expertise in systematics and molecular phylogenetics, DNA barcoding, non-indigenous species, algal cultivation and cryopreservation, extraction of bioactive compounds, and morphogenesis studies. She serves as curator of the Phycological Lab Herbarium (PhL) and coordinator of the Laboratory of Molecular Phylogenetics at UniME. Dr. Morabito's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on Mediterranean marine ecosystems, DNA barcoding applications, forensic botany, and the biotechnological potential of algae. Her work spans fundamental research on algal taxonomy and systematics to applied studies on bioremediation, environmental protection, and sustainable resource utilization. A notable trend is her increasing integration of molecular techniques with ecological and forensic applications. Government of Canada Research Fellowship (2005) Premio Società Botanica Italiana for outstanding PhD thesis in Botany (2003) As an educator, Dr. Morabito teaches Systematic Botany, Plant Biology, and related courses across multiple degree programs. She has directed numerous theses for triennial, master's, and PhD students since 2006 and serves on various doctoral school committees. Her research collaborations span institutions in Canada, France, Spain, Denmark, Russia, Morocco, and the United States. She has secured funding for multiple research projects related to fish pathology, aquaculture innovation, and algal biodiversity assessment. Her laboratory work focuses on molecular phylogenetics, phycology, and the curation of algal specimens in the Phycological Lab Herbarium.

Jovanka SpiricView profile

Researcher

• Environmental Governance
• REDD+
• Sustainable Agriculture
• +4 more

Dr. Jovanka Spiric serves as a Researcher C at the Center for Research in Environmental Geography (CIGA), part of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), specializing in multi-scalar environmental governance, REDD+ policy implementation, and sustainable land-use systems in Mexico and the Balkans. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy applications in environmental justice and territorial management. Education PhD in Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Master's in Environmental Studies, Erasmus Mundus Programme (JEMES) Bachelor's in Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade Her research centers on environmental governance frameworks , particularly REDD+ implementation since 2010, with critical analysis of indigenous consultation processes in forest policy. She pioneers work on agricultural-forestry frontiers and silvopastoral systems as sustainable livestock solutions, while documenting transnational environmental conflicts through the EJAtlas project. Her methodology integrates political ecology with multi-scalar policy analysis to address deforestation drivers and community-based conservation. Scientific Recognition National System of Researchers Level I (SNII I) certification Dr. Spiric actively mentors students in UNAM's Bachelor's Program in Environmental Sciences (ENES Morelia) and CIGA's Master's Program, supervising multiple theses on environmental policy. She led CONACYT-funded research on forest degradation (2019-2022) following her CIGA postdoctoral fellowship (2017-2019), demonstrating sustained research leadership. Her current projects examine power dynamics in environmental history and territory management. She contributes to applied environmental governance as a member of Jalisco's Technical Committee for REDD+ (CTC-REDD+ Jalisco) and the Scientific Sub-Council of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, directly influencing regional conservation strategies and climate policy implementation.