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Mark LewisView profile

Professor

• Mathematical Biology
• Spatial Ecology
• Animal Movement Modelling
• +7 more

Mark Lewis is the Kennedy Chair in Mathematical Biology at the University of Victoria, holding joint appointments in the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Biology. His research focuses on spatial ecology and mathematical modeling, addressing ecological challenges such as animal movement, invasive species, and disease dynamics. Lewis earned his D.Phil. in Mathematical Biology from the University of Oxford and has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society UK. His work integrates mathematical analysis, field studies, and interdisciplinary approaches to solve ecological problems. Current projects include modeling polar bear populations, cyanobacteria dynamics, and the impact of climate change on wildlife. Lewis supervises students across both UVic and his former University of Alberta lab. Education: D.Phil. in Mathematics (Mathematical Biology), University of Oxford Awards: Royal Society Fellowship, CRM-Fields-PIMS Prize, and Okubo Prize Key Research Areas: Animal movement modeling, aquatic ecology, wildlife disease, and invasive species management Publications highlight his contributions to understanding disease spread, parasite dynamics, and ecological responses to environmental changes. Lewis collaborates widely, applying mathematical tools to real-world conservation and health challenges.

Giulia DonatiView profile

Researcher

• Biodiversity Conservation
• Environmental Management
• Social-Ecological Systems
• +3 more

Dr. Giulia Donati is a Researcher at Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Social Sciences. She holds a PhD from ETH Zürich and has extensive experience in conservation biology, inter/transdisciplinary research, and project management. Her work focuses on social-ecological systems, ecological connectivity, and biodiversity conservation in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Education: PhD (2016–2020, ETH Zürich), MSc (2013–2015, University of Lausanne), BSc (2010–2013, University of Lausanne). Notable roles include postdoctoral research on BlueGreenNet (2021–2024) and Connect-HDL (2020), and leadership in the Save Our Seas Foundation project (2019–2020). Research emphasizes social-ecological networks, blue-green infrastructure, and amphibian connectivity in human-dominated landscapes. Projects like BlueGreenNet and Connect-HDL integrate ecological modeling with stakeholder collaboration to enhance biodiversity. Her work bridges ecology, policy, and urban planning to address global conservation challenges. Publications span topics from clownfish genetics to urban biodiversity frameworks, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches. Active in science communication and policy-relevant research, she collaborates across sectors to foster sustainable solutions. Current affiliations include Eawag’s PEGO research group and the Department of Environmental Social Sciences.

Taylor PerronView profile

Professor

• Geomorphology
• Landscape Evolution
• Planetary Surfaces
• +7 more

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.

Rachel SearyView profile

Lecturer

• Marine Conservation
• Social-Ecological Systems
• Sustainable Fisheries Management
• +5 more

Dr. Rachel Seary is a Lecturer in Marine Conservation at the University of Kent's Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE). She holds an MSc from the University of St Andrews and a PhD in Geography from the University of Cambridge. Her work focuses on applied marine conservation solutions that balance ecological preservation with community needs, particularly in coastal and fishing communities. Key areas include dynamic ocean management, mangrove-fisheries interactions, and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in fisheries. Professional Roles: Member of PICES Working Group 51, Editorial Board Member for Frontiers in Marine Science and Bulletin of Marine Science . Education: PhD in Geography, University of Cambridge (2019) MSc in Ecosystem-based Management of Marine Systems, University of St Andrews Research Interests: Social-ecological systems, sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas, and participatory conservation approaches. Her research spans global contexts including California, Indonesia, Cambodia, Greece, and the UK. Notable projects include studying whale-fishery interactions on the US West Coast and assessing mangrove-fisheries in South-East Asia. She advocates for interdisciplinary solutions to ensure biodiversity goals align with human well-being under climate and regulatory changes. Teaching includes modules on environmental sustainability, the Anthropocene, conservation policy, and climate change impacts. She supervises postgraduate research in marine conservation and resource management topics.

Michael AlfaroView profile

Professor

• Evolutionary Biology
• Marine Fishes
• Phylogenetics
• +3 more

Dr. Michael Alfaro is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA, where he leads the UCLA Alfaro Lab. His research focuses on understanding evolutionary dynamics of organismal diversification, particularly in marine fishes. He employs interdisciplinary approaches combining evolutionary morphology, molecular phylogenetics, and theoretical evolution to explore patterns and mechanisms of morphological and functional diversity. Education: Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago (2000) M.A. in Biology, Humboldt State University (1995) B.A. in Dramatic Arts, University of California, Davis (1989) Research interests emphasize the interplay between morphological diversity and ecological/functional dynamics. Notable themes include the drivers of diversification in marine lineages, the role of physiological traits in lineage success, and the integration of computational tools for large-scale phenotypic analysis. Alfaro has contributed to advancements in phylogenetic methodology and genomic resources for studying fish evolution. His work bridges macroevolutionary theory with empirical data, often leveraging crowdsourced phenotypic data and bioinformatics tools like Sashimi and Charisma for high-throughput analysis. The lab actively engages in collaborative projects addressing biodiversity patterns and evolutionary mechanisms across marine and terrestrial systems. Grants and advising activities are central to his academic contributions, though specific details are not detailed in the provided text. The UCLA Alfaro Lab collaborates internationally, emphasizing both basic research and applied conservation contexts.

• Macroevolution
• Speciation
• Herpetology
• +5 more

Daniel Rabosky is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan, where he also serves as Curator at the Museum of Zoology. His research program spans macroevolution, speciation dynamics, and phylogenetic comparative methods, with particular expertise in Australian reptiles and squamate evolution. Rabosky maintains an active laboratory and is currently seeking new graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to join his research team. Rabosky's research interests focus on macroevolutionary patterns and processes, particularly the connections between microevolutionary dynamics and large-scale biodiversity patterns. His work integrates phylogenetic comparative methods with ecological and morphological data to understand speciation processes, adaptive radiations, and the evolutionary dynamics of reptile communities, especially Australian skinks. He has made significant contributions to methodological developments in evolutionary biology through software tools like BAMM (Bayesian Analysis of Macroevolutionary Mixtures) and BAMMtools for analyzing evolutionary rate heterogeneity across phylogenetic trees. Analysis of Rabosky's recent publication record reveals a strong focus on evolutionary theory, methodological development, and empirical studies of reptile diversification. His work spans theoretical macroevolution, phylogenetic comparative methods, Australian herpetology, and the connections between population-level processes and macroevolutionary patterns. The research demonstrates increasing integration of genomic data with traditional morphological and ecological approaches, reflecting broader trends in evolutionary biology. Rabosky actively mentors graduate students including Matheus Januário and Tristan Schramer, and supervises postdoctoral fellows Michael Harvey, Jonathan Mitchell, Sonal Singhal, and Rudolf von May. His laboratory receives research funding supporting multiple projects in macroevolutionary dynamics, with recent grants likely supporting work on the connections between metapopulation ecology and speciation rates, as evidenced by his 2025 Ecology Letters paper. The Rabosky Lab maintains a strong presence in both theoretical and empirical evolutionary biology, with particular strengths in phylogenetic methods development, squamate reptile evolution, and the interface between micro- and macroevolution. The lab actively collaborates with researchers across institutions and contributes to major initiatives like the openVertebrate project for 3D imaging of museum specimens.

• Multiple stressors
• Environmental condition assessment
• Ecosystem services
• +4 more

Dr. Sebastian Birk is an environmental scientist and researcher at the Aquatic Ecology department within the Faculty of Biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. His work focuses on the science-policy interface for aquatic ecosystems in Europe, emphasizing large-scale bioassessment and management under multiple stressors. He served as coordinator for the EU project MARS (2014-2018) and currently manages freshwater science initiatives at the European Topic Centre for Inland, Coastal and Marine Waters (ETC-ICM) supporting the European Environment Agency (EEA). Research Interests : Multiple stressors, ecosystem services, restoration ecology, environmental policy assessment, bioassessment methods, and climate change impacts. Teaching : Scientific writing, surface water ecology, taxonomic identification, and fieldwork in river/lake systems. Recent publications highlight integrated frameworks for freshwater restoration, stressor interactions, and policy-driven water management. Key themes include agricultural land use effects on rivers, diversification of restoration funding, and challenges in harmonizing ecological assessment across Europe. His work bridges ecological theory with practical implementation for sustainable water resource management. Projects like MARS and MERLIN reflect his leadership in addressing complex environmental issues through collaborative science and stakeholder engagement. Dr. Birk's role in the Water Framework Directive intercalibration exercises underscores his technical expertise in standardizing ecological assessment across national borders.

• Coastal and ocean governance
• Marine social-ecological systems
• Seagrass ecology and management
• +5 more

Maricela De la Torre Castro is a Professor of Natural Resource Management at Stockholm University , affiliated with the Department of Physical Geography . Her research focuses on coastal and ocean governance through a social-ecological systems lens, emphasizing gender dynamics , seagrass conservation , and climate change adaptation in tropical coastal communities. BSc in Oceanology (Universidad Autonoma de Baja California) MSc, PhD, and Docent in Natural Resource Management (Stockholm University) Her work examines seagrass ecosystem services , small-scale fisheries governance , and gendered impacts of marine protected areas . Recent studies analyze: 2025: Habitat loss risks from seaweed cultivation 2024: Gender-poverty dynamics in Zanzibar MPAs 2022: Adaptive capacity differences between genders 2021: Blue Justice frameworks for fisheries governance Active projects include SEAgender (Swedish Research Council) analyzing gendered effects of MPAs . She supervises PhD candidates in tropical marine systems and has extensive experience with EU Erasmus programs and UNDP collaborations . Research emphasizes hybrid methods , cultural value mapping , and interdisciplinary monitoring of coastal initiatives.

Yong ChenView profile

Professor

• Fisheries Ecology
• Stock Assessment
• Population and Ecosystem Dynamics
• +3 more

Yong Chen is a Professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), Stony Brook University. He specializes in fisheries ecology, stock assessment, and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. His research focuses on optimizing monitoring programs, evaluating fisheries management strategies, and understanding ecosystem dynamics under climate change. Education: Ph.D. from the University of Toronto (1995) Research Interests: Dr. Chen’s work addresses critical challenges in fisheries management, including stock assessment methodologies, climate-driven shifts in species distribution, and the integration of ecological and socio-economic factors into conservation strategies. His studies often involve advanced modeling techniques such as Ecopath with Ecosim and habitat suitability analysis. Key Themes in Publications: Recent articles highlight his focus on hybrid management strategies for mixed fisheries, climate impacts on species phenology and connectivity, and the efficacy of marine protected areas. He emphasizes data integration challenges and the development of decision support tools for sustainable fisheries. Grants and Advising: No specific grants or advisees are listed here. However, his research has likely involved collaborations with international fisheries organizations and government agencies. Labs/Teams: A lab site is referenced in his profile, though the specific team structure or ongoing projects are not detailed in the provided text.

Sven WürtzView profile

Researcher

• Aquaculture
• Reproductive biology
• Stress physiology
• +7 more

Sven Würtz is a Research Group Leader in the Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin. He leads the Molecular Fish Physiology research group, focusing on sustainable aquaculture, reproductive biology, stress, and nutritional physiology in fish. His research interests include Aquaculture Reproductive biology Stress physiology Nutritional physiology Molecular fish physiology Animal welfare in aquaculture Conservation of endangered fish species His recent publications reflect a strong trend in molecular and physiological research applied to aquaculture species such as sturgeon, pikeperch, tilapia, and turbot. Key themes include genomics of sex determination, stress responses, nutritional interventions (probiotics, creatine, carotenoids), animal welfare in RAS and crustacean farming, and responses to environmental stressors like algal toxins and nitrate. His work combines laboratory experimentation with field applications and policy-relevant outputs. Scientific contributions and projects include: Lead author on studies on shrimp and fish welfare Co-leader of the STURGEoNOMICS and CrustaWohl projects Contributor to IGB fact sheets on the Oder River environmental disaster Extensive collaboration with national and international researchers He mentors junior researchers and collaborates on projects involving grants and interdisciplinary teams. His work is often applied, aiming to improve aquaculture practices and conservation efforts. He is actively involved in research groups focusing on molecular mechanisms in fish and ecosystem resilience.

• Environmental Economics
• Fisheries Management
• Climate Change
• +4 more

Andries Richter is an Associate Professor in Environmental Economics and Natural Resources at Wageningen University. His research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to environmental and resource management, particularly in fisheries, climate change, and ecosystem services. He actively supervises PhD candidates and leads projects addressing marine conservation, sustainable agriculture, and policy design in regions like Indonesia and China. Education: Not explicitly mentioned in the provided texts. Key Research Areas: Fisheries management, climate change impacts, ecosystem service valuation, and behavioral economics applications in resource governance. Richter’s work emphasizes practical solutions for sustainable resource use, combining theoretical models with empirical field experiments. His recent studies explore stakeholder perspectives in agricultural landscapes (North China Plain), behavioral dynamics in threshold games (Cambodia), and the economic-trade-offs of mesopelagic fishing. He has contributed to media discussions on illegal fishing practices and marine conservation strategies. Current projects include financing tourism for marine protected areas and institutional frameworks for nutrient emissions control in the Netherlands. Grants/Projects: Innovative spatial planning mechanisms for nutrient emissions control Understanding Raja Ampat Marine Protected Area via system dynamics Marine conservation and food security in West Papua, Indonesia Richter collaborates internationally, with notable contributions to the valuation of ecosystem services and adaptive management strategies under climate change.

Martin TaylorView profile

Associate Professor

• Molecular Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Conservation Genetics
• +4 more

Dr. Martin Taylor is an Associate Professor in Molecular Ecology at the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences. He has held academic positions since 2013, including Senior Lecturer roles at Bangor University and postdoctoral research experience in Belgium. His primary research focuses on molecular ecology, evolution, and conservation of marine and freshwater fishes, with an emphasis on genetic methods like microsatellite markers and next-generation sequencing. Key interests include polyploidy in Corydoras catfishes, fisheries-induced evolution, and traceability of fish populations. Taylor leads projects on lobster ageing via DNA methylation and collaborates internationally on studies of biodiversity and conservation genetics. Education: BSc (Animal and Plant Biology) from the University of Leeds (1990–1993) and PhD from the University of Aberdeen/Southampton (1993–1996), studying speciation in African cichlids. Research projects include Woodland impacts on pollinator diversity Genetic basis of catfish venoms Development of novel ageing methods for European lobsters His work bridges fundamental and applied research, addressing challenges in fisheries management, conservation, and ecological sustainability. Taylor serves as an Associate Editor for Marine Biology and maintains an active lab group at UEA. Key contributions include advancing DNA-based methods for ecological and conservation applications, such as detecting jellyfish predation and tracking fish populations via genetic markers.

Jonathan van SentenView profile

Associate Professor

• Aquaculture Economics
• Regulatory Policy Analysis
• Aquaponics Economics
• +3 more

Jonathan van Senten is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, based at the Virginia Seafood AREC in Hampton, VA. His work focuses on aquaculture economics, particularly analyzing regulatory impacts on farm-level operations across species like baitfish, trout, shellfish, and tilapia. He also explores emerging species, aquaponics, live feed production, and financial benchmarking. His Extension program addresses industry needs in economics, business planning, and strategic marketing through workshops, webinars, and technical publications. Education: Ph.D. Aquaculture/Fisheries, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2016) M.P.S., Marine Affairs & Policy: Aquaculture, University of Miami (2012) B.S. Marine Biology, Barry University (2010) Research Interests: Quantifying regulatory costs and farm efficiency Feasibility of emerging aquaculture species Economic impacts of dietary formulations Ornamental aquaculture business development Financial benchmarking for aquaculture sectors Intensive production of live feeds Publications & Awards: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles, extension publications, and infographics analyzing aquaculture regulations, economics, and industry trends. Recipient of the Distinguished Early Career Award (2020) and Best Dissertation Award (2017). Grants & Industry Impact: Collaborates with federal and state agencies to assess aquaculture viability and policy implications. Leads studies on pandemic impacts, disease economics (e.g., Edwardsiellosis), and offshore wind-aquaculture co-location. Labs/Teams: Virginia Seafood AREC serves as a hub for collaborative research and Extension activities, focusing on applied solutions for Virginia’s aquaculture sector.

Catherine BadgleyView profile

Professor

• Paleoecology
• Biogeography
• Sustainable Agriculture
• +4 more

Catherine Badgley is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. She serves as a Research Scientist at the Museum of Paleontology and the Residential College, with a career spanning over four decades since joining as a Michigan Fellow in 1982. Her work bridges paleoecology, biogeography, and sustainable agriculture, focusing on biodiversity responses to global change across deep time scales. Ph.D. in Geology from Yale (1982) MFS from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (1974) B.A. in Geology from Radcliffe College (Harvard) Her research integrates four major themes: Paleoecology: Quantitative analysis of fossil assemblages, taphonomy, and Cenozoic mammal community dynamics Climate Change: Using mammal databases to link modern ecological patterns with paleoclimatic inference Spatiotemporal Biodiversity: Tracking mammal-plant co-evolution since the Last Glacial Maximum using isotopic and morphological proxies Agricultural Sustainability: Pioneering studies demonstrating organic agriculture's capacity to meet global food demands Recent publications reveal trends combining 4D geodynamic modeling , C3/C4 vegetation transitions , and functional morphology across Neogene records in Pakistan, Spain, and North America. Her fieldwork spans the Siwalik sequence, Mojave Desert, and Great Basin regions. She leads the NSF-funded NARLEE (North American Rodent Landscapes Evolution & Ecology) Research Coordination Network and teaches courses like EEB 318/319 on Food Systems and EEB 445 Biogeography, featuring immersive fieldwork and interdisciplinary analysis of agricultural impacts on biodiversity.

• Agricultural Ecology
• Sustainable Food Production
• Evidence Synthesis
• +4 more

Professor Nicola Randall is a Professor of Evidence Synthesis and Agroecology at Harper Adams University, where she leads the Centre for Evidence-Based Agriculture (CEBA) and the Agroecology for Sustainable Agri-food (AFS) research group. She holds a BSc (Hons), PhD, and a CertTHE in higher education. Her research focuses on agricultural ecology, sustainable food systems, and evidence-based decision-making in environmental and agricultural policies. She chairs the EU-NESA Network (CA23107 2024-2028) and serves on advisory boards for organizations such as the Food Standards Agency and Ceres2030. Her work emphasizes systematic reviews, evidence synthesis methodologies, and bridging gaps between research and policy. She has secured over £1 million in research funding, collaborating with bodies like BBSRC, DEFRA, and EU H2020. Education: BSc (Hons), PhD, CertTHE Teaching Roles: Course leader for Agroecology MSc, module leader for Fundamentals of Agroecology and International Agroecology Professional Memberships: British Ecological Society (Agroecology Committee), Society for Conservation Biology Her research spans topics like regenerative agriculture, pollinator ecology, and humane slaughter practices. She advises on international projects, including FAO initiatives and smallholder farming interventions in Africa. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications for sustainable agriculture and environmental governance.