Professor Wolfgang Wüster is a Professor in Zoology (Molecular Ecology) at Bangor University's School of Environmental and Natural Sciences. His research focuses on evolutionary biology, snake systematics, and venom toxicology, using snakes as model systems. He teaches courses in zoology and herpetology, including Arizona fieldwork and advanced herpetology modules. Education: PhD in Systematics of Asian cobras from the University of Aberdeen (1990). His research interests include the evolution of venom composition, species delimitation in snake complexes, warning signals, biogeography, and conservation genomics. He supervises postgraduate students in topics like European viper conservation and snake systematics. Recent publications highlight his work on snake venoms, taxonomy, and the impacts of climate change on reptile species. He collaborates globally, contributing to antivenom efficacy studies and venom evolution research. Professor Wüster has been involved in projects such as genomic studies of adders and the phylogeography of vipers. His work bridges molecular ecology with conservation, emphasizing practical applications in biodiversity preservation.
Hélène Morlon is a Professor at the Biology Department of École normale supérieure (ENS) - PSL Research University Paris. She leads the Biodiversity Modeling team within the Center for Computational Biology, focusing on integrating ecological and evolutionary processes to explain biodiversity patterns through mathematical and bioinformatics approaches. Specializes in molecular phylogenies, speciation, extinction, and dispersal mechanisms Collaborates with mathematicians, phylogeneticists, and field ecologists Her research reveals non-equilibrium dynamics in biodiversity, challenging classical models by demonstrating speciation rate declines and climate-driven phenotypic evolution. She has developed probabilistic models applied to amphibians, mammals, birds, plants, and microorganisms. Scientific Awards: ERC Consolidator Grant (2013) Chaire d'Excellence en biologie/santé (France Innovation Santé 2030) ERC Advanced Grant (2024) for project PlankDiv Her work bridges macroecology, macroevolution, and conservation biology, with notable contributions to understanding tropical biodiversity gradients and climate impacts on evolutionary rates.
Peter Wilf is a Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University's College of Earth & Mineral Sciences. His research focuses on fossil plants as indicators of past climates, biodiversity, and environmental disturbances from the latest Cretaceous through middle Eocene (~67-45 million years ago). Wilf leads significant research projects including the Origins of Southeast Asian Rainforests from Paleobotany and Machine Learning and the Patagonia Paleofloras Project. His research interests span paleobotany, paleoclimatology, plant-insect interactions, and biogeography, with emphasis on how deep-time data illuminate modern ecosystems and their responses to anthropogenic change. Wilf's work primarily focuses on the latest Cretaceous through middle Eocene, examining global disturbances including warming and cooling events, the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, and recovery periods. His research has significant implications for understanding climate change, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem dynamics. Wilf's extensive publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact research across paleobotany, with recent work focusing on Southeast Asian rainforests, Patagonian paleofloras, and the connections between Gondwanan landmasses. His research integrates fieldwork in Patagonia and Southeast Asia with advanced analytical techniques, including machine learning applications for fossil leaf identification. Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2022 Wilson Award for Excellence in Research, Penn State College of Earth & Mineral Sciences 2022 Fellow, Paleontological Society 2017 Fellow, Geological Society of America 2016 Paul F. Robertson Research Breakthrough of the Year Award, Penn State College of Earth & Mineral Sciences 2016 George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching, Pennsylvania State University 2013 Wilf maintains an active research program with numerous NSF-funded projects and international collaborations. He leads a productive lab group conducting extensive fieldwork in Patagonia, Argentina, and Southeast Asia. His research has transformed understanding of Southern Hemisphere floras, the role of Patagonia in plant evolution, and connections between ancient and modern ecosystems across continents. Wilf's laboratory serves as a hub for paleobotanical research, bringing together students, postdocs, and international collaborators to study fossil plant collections from around the world. The lab integrates traditional paleobotanical methods with cutting-edge technologies including machine learning for fossil identification and advanced imaging techniques for detailed morphological analysis.
Natalia Rybczynski is an Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Biology at Carleton University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. Her primary research focuses on Paleobiology and Paleoenvironments of the Cenozoic High Arctic and functional morphology of vertebrate feeding and locomotion systems. She holds offices at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Gatineau and coordinates interdisciplinary projects on Arctic paleoenvironments, pinniped evolution, and vertebrate herbivore feeding mechanisms. Education: B.Sc. in Biology, Carleton University M.Sc. in Zoology, University of Toronto Ph.D. in Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University Research Interests: Reconstructing Arctic paleoenvironments during the Neogene Evolutionary transitions in marine mammals (e.g., pinnipeds) Feeding kinematics in herbivorous vertebrates like hadrosaurs Integration of field-based paleontology with biomechanical and anatomical analyses Her publications span paleoclimatology, fossil analysis, and evolutionary studies, emphasizing Arctic ecosystems and vertebrate adaptations. Collaborative work includes geoscientists to reconstruct ancient Arctic climates and anatomists to model feeding systems in extinct species. Active in field expeditions and lab-based experimental studies. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Canadian Museum of Nature researchers and international teams in Arctic paleontology projects. Engages in interdisciplinary initiatives like the PoLAR-FIT project studying Pliocene Arctic ecosystems.
Dr. Jonathan Lenoir is a CNRS Researcher at the Ecology and Dynamics of Anthropized Systems (EDYSAN) laboratory, University of Picardie Jules Verne , France. His work bridges Ecology and Biostatistics , focusing on ecological dynamics under spatial and temporal global changes, particularly biotic responses to climate change. His research spans broad-scale biodiversity patterns, species distribution modeling, and microclimate ecology, with special attention to forest systems. Dr. Lenoir leads and contributes to multiple research projects including MaCCMic (Impact of forest Management and Climate Change on understory Microclimate) and IMPRINT (Impacts of Microclimatic Processes on forest Biodiversity redistribution under macroclimaTe warming). These projects utilize advanced technologies like LiDAR and microclimate sensors to model understory temperature dynamics and predict biodiversity responses to climate change. His recent publications analyze microclimate buffering in forests ( 2024 ), species thermophilization ( 2024 ), and the application of deep learning to habitat identification ( 2024 ). His work also explores interdisciplinary connections like eco-oncology , comparing invasion dynamics in ecology and medicine. Dr. Lenoir actively mentors researchers and supervises fieldwork campaigns, emphasizing rigorous data collection ( 180 monitoring plots across French forests ) and advanced statistical analyses in R . He collaborates with European institutions and participates in large-scale initiatives like ReSurveyEurope , a database of resurveyed vegetation plots.
Russell Mittermeier is an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and Chief Conservation Officer at Re:wild. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Biological Anthropology from Harvard University and a B.A. from Dartmouth College (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa). His career spans over 45 years in biodiversity conservation, with fieldwork in 30+ countries, focusing on Amazonia, Atlantic Forest, and Madagascar. Education : Ph.D. and M.A. in Biological Anthropology (Harvard), B.A. (Dartmouth) Mittermeier's research centers on primate and herpetofauna conservation, species discovery (18 new species described), and linking biodiversity to climate change mitigation. He has authored 35 books and over 650 publications, advocating for conservation corridors and partnerships with indigenous communities. His 2015–2019 publications demonstrate interdisciplinary work across primatology, herpetology, and conservation policy, with a focus on tropical ecosystems. Recent studies include taxonomic revisions of titi monkeys, cactus extinction risks, and Amazon turtle hotspots. Scientific Awards : TIME Magazine Hero for the Planet Honorary Doctorate from SUNY Stony Brook Lifetime Honorary IUCN Member Mittermeier collaborates with global institutions like IUCN, Conservation International, and the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, emphasizing fieldwork, scientific rigor, and community engagement to protect Earth's most vulnerable ecosystems.
Dr. Silu Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo. Her research focuses on speciation, adaptation, and forest evolutionary genomics, particularly in avian species. She leads the Forest Speciation Lab, studying the genomic and ecological mechanisms underlying species divergence in North American and global forest ecosystems. Her work integrates field studies, genomic analyses, and computational modeling to address biodiversity conservation challenges under climate change. Education: BS in Behavior Genetics and Neurobiology, University of Toronto MA in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Texas, Austin PhD in Zoology, University of British Columbia Postdoctoral Research at University of California Berkeley and UC Davis Research Interests: Dr. Wang investigates how hybridization, climate adaptation, and reproductive isolation shape avian biodiversity. Her lab uses old-growth forest bird species as models to study early-stage speciation processes, including mate choice, genetic incompatibilities, and mitochondrial-nuclear interactions. Key themes include understanding organismal responses to environmental changes and developing genomic tools for conservation prioritization. Lab and Teams: The Forest Speciation Lab collaborates with institutions globally, focusing on fieldwork in temperate and tropical forests. Current projects include studies on warbler hybrid zones, tinamou speciation, and the genomic architecture of mitonuclear coevolution. Teaching: Dr. Wang teaches courses on Speciation, Tropical Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology, emphasizing hands-on research training for students.
Matthew Wills is Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath. He is affiliated with the Milner Centre for Evolution and the Centre for Mathematical Biology, where he leads research into macroevolutionary processes using fossil and molecular data. His work integrates phylogenetics, morphological disparity, and stratigraphic congruence to understand large-scale evolutionary patterns. His research interests focus on the role of fossils in building phylogenies, the evolution of morphological complexity, and the testing of macroevolutionary trends such as early high disparity and increasing complexity. He investigates how developmental shifts underpin major evolutionary transitions and how fossilization biases affect our understanding of the Tree of Life. His lab conducts projects on arthropod supertrees, molluscan ontogeny, and the phylogeny of Eumalacostraca using molecules, morphology, and fossils. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on quantifying morphological complexity, vertebral evolution in mammals, species richness in birds, and the impact of boundaries on trait evolution. These works frequently appear in high-impact journals like Nature Communications and Nature Ecology & Evolution , indicating a trend toward integrative, data-rich evolutionary analyses combining paleontological, morphological, and phylogenomic approaches. Principal Investigator, Biodiversity and The Sixth Mass Extinction (Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851) Principal Investigator, Susceptibility to Mass Extinctions: Ammonites as a Case Study (NERC) Principal Investigator, PLUTO Project (BBSRC) Principal Investigator, Arthropod Supertree of Life (BBSRC) He has supervised 17 research students and contributes to public discourse through platforms like The Conversation . His work supports UN Sustainable Development Goals related to life on land and climate action through deep-time biodiversity research.
Brian Leung is an Associate Professor at McGill University, jointly affiliated with the Department of Biology and the Bieler School of the Environment . He holds the prestigious UNESCO Chair for Dialogues on Sustainability and serves as Director of the McGill Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) , a collaborative program with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. His work bridges ecological theory, computational modeling, and environmental policy. Dr. Leung earned his PhD in Biology from Carleton University and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge and the University of Notre Dame. His academic journey at McGill began in 2004 as an Assistant Professor, advancing to Associate Professor in 2010. His research centers on predictive ecology , particularly modeling biological invasions and sustainability challenges . He develops and applies mathematical, statistical, and computational models to understand invasion dynamics across terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems. His recent work includes the Panama Research and Integrated Sustainability Model (PRISM) , a spatially explicit framework for sustainability science in the Global South. His research spans scales from local to global and integrates ecological, economic, and social factors. His recent publications show a strong focus on invasion risk assessment , species distribution modeling , economic costs of invasions , and ecological forecasting . He frequently publishes in top journals such as Nature , Ecology Letters , and Global Ecology and Biogeography , emphasizing data-driven decision-making and policy relevance. Dr. Leung has received significant recognition through invitations to contribute to major reports and has co-edited influential works on invasive species economics. While specific named awards are not listed, his leadership roles and publication record reflect high scientific esteem. He actively mentors a dynamic research group, supervising multiple Ph.D. and M.Sc. students on projects related to invasion modeling, mangrove conservation, forest pest dynamics, and urban ecology. His lab emphasizes quantitative skills and interdisciplinary collaboration. He has secured research funding to support these projects, though specific grants are not detailed in the text. He leads the Leung Lab , which focuses on predictive modeling in ecology and sustainability. The lab collaborates with institutions such as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and environmental firms like Habitat. Current projects include multi-species connectivity modeling, mangrove ecosystem services, and forecasting forest pest outbreaks.
Eric Roberts is a Professor of Geology and Geological Engineering and Director of the Potential Gas Agency at the Colorado School of Mines. His research focuses on basin analysis, energy exploration, and sedimentary geology with specializations in Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins of Gondwana and North America. He leads projects in U-Pb geochronology, critical minerals exploration, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction through vertebrate paleontology and stratigraphy studies. Roberts' work integrates advanced geochronological techniques with field-based analyses to address questions in paleobiology, resource exploration, and earth system dynamics. Key research themes include: Geochronology of sedimentary and volcanic deposits Paleoclimate reconstruction using paleosols Stratigraphic frameworks for dinosaur fossil records Resource potential of helium/hydrogen reserves Antarctic and African vertebrate paleontology His exploration of hominin burial practices in the Rising Star Cave System has provided critical insights into early human behavior. Roberts' interdisciplinary approach bridges geological, biological, and environmental sciences to advance understanding of Earth's history and resource management strategies.
Louis Du Plessis is a Lecturer at ETH Zürich's Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering in Basel, Switzerland. His research focuses on computational evolution with particular emphasis on infectious disease dynamics and genomic analysis. He maintains an active research profile with numerous high-impact publications in top-tier journals. Dr. Du Plessis completed his doctoral studies at ETH Zürich in 2016 with a thesis titled 'Understanding the spread and adaptation of infectious diseases using genomic sequencing data,' building upon his 2011 Master's work on evolutionary rate variation. His current research sits at the intersection of computational biology, epidemiology, and evolutionary genetics. His research interests span computational epidemiology, phylodynamics, viral evolution, and infectious disease modeling. He has made significant contributions to understanding pandemic dynamics, particularly regarding influenza and SARS-CoV-2, using genomic and epidemiological data integration. His methodological work includes developing computational approaches for estimating epidemic dynamics and viral transmission patterns. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on how pandemics disrupt normal viral circulation patterns, with particular attention to influenza evolution during the 2009 H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics. His work often combines phylogenetic analysis with epidemiological modeling to extract maximum information from genomic and case count data. Dr. Du Plessis has received research funding from European Commission projects including 'From Foundations of Phylodynamics to new applications in Cell Biology' (grant 101001077) and 'MOnitoring Outbreak events for Disease surveillance in a data science context' (grant 874850). He is actively involved in developing computational tools for analyzing pathogen genomic data and has contributed to several software packages used in the field. His work has significant implications for public health surveillance and pandemic preparedness.
Charles C. Davis is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and Curator of Vascular Plants in the Harvard University Herbaria. He leads the Davis Lab, focusing on plant diversity through integrative research in systematics, paleobiology, ecology, and molecular biology. His work emphasizes phylogenetic theory, biogeography, and the application of herbarium collections to address global change challenges. Davis is particularly noted for leveraging herbarium specimens to study plant responses to climate change, phenology, and biodiversity patterns. Research interests include plant-insect interactions, genome architecture evolution in parasitic plants, and the ethical use of herbarium specimens. His lab has pioneered high-throughput phylogenomic pipelines (e.g., PhyloHerb) and explored the future of herbaria in the digital age. Collaborations span global institutions, emphasizing digitization, spectral imaging, and AI-driven analysis of biodiversity data. Recent work highlights the impact of anthropogenic change on plant communities, the role of phenology in species survival, and strategies to mitigate collecting biases in herbaria. Davis teaches courses on plant systematics and evolution, and his lab actively participates in public engagement through exhibits like the HMNH’s *In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers*. His research has been featured in *Trends in Ecology & Evolution*, *Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution*, and *Current Biology*, with a focus on advancing methodologies for biodiversity science while addressing ethical challenges in specimen sampling.
Taylor Perron is the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he also serves as the EAPS Undergraduate Officer. His research program at MIT spans multiple interdisciplinary areas within Earth and planetary sciences, with strong connections to the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering. Dr. Perron's academic background includes an AB in Earth and Planetary Sciences and Archaeology from Harvard University (1999) and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley (2006), followed by postdoctoral work at Harvard. His leadership roles at MIT have included serving as chair of the Program in Geology, Geochemistry, and Geobiology, and as Associate Department Head for Education. His research focuses on three interconnected areas: Landscape Evolution, Planetary Surfaces, and the Human Landscape. Within Landscape Evolution, he investigates dynamic river networks, climate-landscape interactions, grain-scale sediment transport mechanics, and the connections between landscape evolution and biological diversification. His Planetary Surfaces research examines river systems on Mars and Titan, using spacecraft data to understand extraterrestrial hydrological processes. The Human Landscape component explores archaeological applications of geomorphology, particularly in the Amazon basin. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on comparative planetary hydrology, with significant work on Earth, Mars, and Titan. His research increasingly integrates field observations, mathematical modeling, and remote sensing to address questions about landscape evolution across different planetary environments and timescales, with growing attention to anthropogenic impacts on Earth's surface processes. Scientific Awards & Honors: MacArthur Fellowship (2021) James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (2014) Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2014) Editorial Committee Member, Annual Review of Earth & Planetary Sciences (2017-present) Dr. Perron has established a productive research group that collaborates across disciplines and institutions, including significant partnerships with WHOI, NASA missions, and archaeological teams. His work bridges fundamental questions about planetary evolution with practical implications for understanding climate change impacts on Earth's surface systems.
Dr. Justin Gerlach is a Fellow at Peterhouse College and an Academic Associate at the University Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge. He specializes in broad-spectrum ecology, integrating conservation biology, evolutionary studies, and biodiversity analysis with a focus on island ecosystems in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. His research has pioneered invertebrate reintroduction programs and revealed groundbreaking insights into giant tortoise behavior. Education: DPhil in Zoology from Oxford University Current projects: Biodiversity assessment across Cambridge colleges, Partula snail reintroduction, tortoise aging studies Research interests center on preventing species extinction through conservation, studying species interactions, and evolutionary dynamics. Key initiatives include saving island invertebrates, investigating tortoise predation, and environmental DNA applications for ecosystem reconstruction. Recent publications highlight island conservation challenges, evolutionary patterns, and ecological innovations. Themes include biodiversity preservation, species reintroduction, and interdisciplinary approaches to conservation biology.
Professor James Watson is a leading conservation scientist and biogeographer at The University of Queensland , affiliated with the Centre for Marine Science and Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science. As a Professor of Conservation Science, he specializes in biodiversity policy, climate change impacts, and species recovery strategies. PhD from University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar) Co-leader of Green Fire Science and RARES research groups Over 400 peer-reviewed publications His research focuses on ecosystem integrity , protected area effectiveness , and conservation economics , with recent work addressing mining impacts on biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and the global 30x30 initiative. He advocates for evidence-based strategies to save Australia’s rarest species. 2025-2024 research trends show expertise in tropical forest regeneration, climate-species interactions, and policy implementation gaps. Collaborative projects span scientific modeling , GIS analysis , and international conservation frameworks . International Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Task Force member Research Fellow, United Nations Environment Program Senior Technical Expert, UNDP’s Nature for Development Program Founding Chair, IUCN Climate Change Specialist Group Supervision includes 12 current PhD candidates working on topics such as night parrot conservation , ecological corridors , and urban biodiversity . Completed students have addressed threatened species recovery and climate adaptation planning . He leads lab teams at Green Fire Science (www.greenfirescience.com) and RARES (https://raresgroup.com.au), focusing on applied conservation solutions.
