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Nikhil ChaudharyView profile

Lecturer

• Human Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology
• Evolutionary Psychiatry
• Cultural Evolution
• +5 more

Dr Nikhil Chaudhary is a Lecturer in Human Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology within the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge . He is based in the Henry Wellcome Building and is affiliated with the Evolutionary Psychiatry Group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He actively supervises PhD students and is available for consultancy. Research Overview: Chaudhary's research spans human evolutionary ecology , cultural evolution , and evolutionary psychiatry , with a particular focus on hunter-gatherer societies in Africa and East Asia. His fieldwork with the BaYaka hunter-gatherers of northern Congo has been central to understanding how social relationships influence health, mating, and fertility. He is currently pioneering work in evolutionary psychiatry , investigating whether mental disorders are 'diseases of modernity' resulting from mismatches between ancestral and modern lifestyles. Publications & Impact: His work has been published in top-tier journals such as Nature Communications , PNAS , Science , and Current Biology . His research has also received significant media attention, including features in The New York Times , BBC News , Scientific American , and NPR , highlighting the broader societal relevance of his findings on parenting, cooperation, and mental health. Teaching & Supervision: Chaudhary contributes to teaching within the Department of Archaeology and welcomes prospective PhD students interested in evolutionary anthropology, hunter-gatherer studies, and evolutionary approaches to mental health.

Tamsin O'ConnellView profile

Professor

• Biomolecular Archaeology
• Stable Isotope Analysis
• Human Palaeoecology
• +3 more

Dr. Tamsin O'Connell is a Reader in Isotopic Ecology at the Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of Trinity Hall. She is on research leave for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 academic years. Her research expertise includes Human Palaeoecology, Biomolecular Archaeology, and Stable Isotope Analysis , with a focus on reconstructing diets, migration patterns, and environmental interactions in prehistoric and historic populations. She has conducted studies across Europe, the Mediterranean, and South America . Key trends in her publications (2001–2011) include the use of stable isotopes to investigate Mesolithic–Neolithic transitions in Croatia dietary links to occupational patterns in Roman coastal communities isotopic signatures in endangered seabird populations ancient DNA analysis of historical parchment transatlantic slavery and forced migration . She supervises PhD students and is affiliated with the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and Trinity Hall .

Jennifer BurnsView profile

Professor

• Marine Mammal Physiology
• Polar Ecology
• Diving Physiology
• +2 more

Jennifer Burns serves as Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University, where she leads research on physiological adaptations of polar marine mammals to extreme environments. Her work bridges laboratory investigations with field studies in Antarctica, focusing on species like Weddell seals as models for understanding fundamental biological principles under climate change stressors. Dr. Burns' research centers on three interconnected pillars: physiological development in juvenile marine mammals, the relationship between physiological condition and diving performance, and how life history events reflect individual condition and environmental variables. Her laboratory employs multidisciplinary approaches including hormone assays, dive recorder analysis, and virological screening to unravel how polar species regulate energy allocation, thermoregulation, and foraging strategies in seasonal ecosystems. This work has direct implications for predicting ecosystem responses to habitat loss and prey shifts in the Antarctic. Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals escalating integration of physiological data with conservation frameworks, particularly through studies on habitat shifts in crabeater seals and global movement patterns of marine megafauna. A significant emerging thread involves viral ecology, with multiple papers identifying novel anelloviruses, papillomaviruses, and circoviruses in Antarctic seal populations. Methodological innovation remains strong, exemplified by tools for reconstructing historic dive traces and 3D-printed tracking devices. Dr. Burns directs externally funded projects including NSF-supported research using Weddell seals as autonomous oceanographic sensors in the Ross Sea and collaborative studies on maternal iron transfer in grey seal pups. Her laboratory operates within Texas Tech's STEM CORE initiative, facilitating fieldwork in Antarctica through partnerships with national science foundations and international polar research programs. The Burns Lab maintains active field operations in Antarctica, utilizing instrumented seals to collect hydrographic data while investigating seasonal changes in body condition, hormone profiles, and viral loads. Current projects emphasize the intersection of climate-driven habitat alterations with physiological thresholds, particularly examining how reduced sea ice affects lactation energetics and pup development in ice-dependent species.

Carly WhelanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Archaeology
• Hunter-Gatherer Studies
• California Prehistory
• +4 more

Carly Whelan is a faculty member in the Anthropology Department at California State University, Chico, where she serves as Certificate in Cultural Resource Management Co-Coordinator, Director of the Northeast Information Center (NEIC), and Director of the Archaeological Research Program (ARCH Lab). Her academic journey includes a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin (2006), followed by an M.A. (2010) and Ph.D. (2016) from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Whelan's research examines pre-contact lifeways of California's indigenous populations, with particular focus on subsistence economies, settlement patterns, and exchange networks in the central and northern Sierra Nevada. She investigates how women shaped these systems, employing economic modeling, experimental archaeology, lithic artifact analysis, and raw material sourcing. Much of her current work centers on acorn storage economies, establishing field sites in the Sierra Nevada foothills to examine shifts in storage practices over time. Her publication record reveals a consistent thematic focus on hunter-gatherer adaptation strategies, particularly food storage systems and gender dynamics in foraging societies. The 2022 collaborative work on California and Great Basin archaeology demonstrates her engagement with broader theoretical frameworks, while her influential 2013 article on women's foraging opportunity costs established her innovative approach to gender analysis in archaeological contexts. Her methodology frequently integrates experimental techniques with traditional archaeological analysis. As NEIC Director, Dr. Whelan oversees a critical resource housing records for over 40,000 archaeological sites in northeast California. She teaches a comprehensive range of anthropology courses from introductory archaeology to advanced field methods, including ANTH 112 Introduction to Archaeology, ANTH 362W California Indians, and ANTH 602 Seminar in Archaeology. Her leadership in the ARCH Lab supports hands-on archaeological research and training for students.

Maeva CremilleuxView profile

Associate Professor

• Agroecology
• Animal Science
• Dairy Systems
• +3 more

Maeva Cremilleux is an Associate Professor in Animal Science at ISARA, affiliated with the Agroecology and Environment Unit. Her work focuses on agroecological dairy systems, grassland management, and cross-disciplinary approaches to sustainable livestock systems. Her research emphasizes holistic diagnosis of farms in transition , climate change adaptation in mountain dairy sectors , and innovative grassland management . Recent projects include ADAOPT (climate adaptation for dairy PDOs) and REACTIFFS (workforce renewal in PDO/PGI sectors). The 12 publications on HAL highlight her work in Agroecological transitions Climate stress impacts on dairy systems Soil-livestock interactions Farmer-centered diagnostic tools Feed efficiency optimization Cross-reality agricultural collaboration

Ryan UtzView profile

Associate Professor

• Urban stream ecology
• Restoration ecology
• Salmonid life history
• +5 more

Ryan Utz is an Associate Professor at the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment at Chatham University, where he has been teaching since 2015. His work focuses on aquatic ecology, particularly urban stream systems, salmonid biology, and ecological restoration. Prior to joining Chatham, Dr. Utz spent four years as an aquatic ecologist at the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). Dr. Utz received his academic training at three major institutions: PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD), 2010 MSc in Ecology from West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV), 2005 BS in Biology from the University of Miami (Miami, FL), 2003 He also holds a Wilderness First Responder certification. Dr. Utz's research spans multiple areas of aquatic ecology with particular emphasis on urban stream ecosystems. His work investigates how urbanization impacts stream chemistry and biology across different ecoregions, with a special focus on freshwater salinization syndrome. He has conducted extensive research on salmonid life history and bioenergetics, examining how environmental conditions affect fish growth and survival. Dr. Utz also studies ecological restoration effectiveness, particularly in urban settings, and has investigated the impacts of invasive species on native ecosystems. His research often employs long-term monitoring approaches to detect decadal-scale changes in stream ecosystems. Analysis of Dr. Utz's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on freshwater salinization syndrome and its ecological consequences. His work spans both temperate and tropical systems, examining how human activities alter stream chemistry and subsequently affect aquatic communities. A significant portion of his research investigates the interactions between invasive species and native ecosystems, with particular attention to how these dynamics vary across spatial scales. Dr. Utz frequently collaborates with large research networks, as evidenced by his involvement with NEON and multi-institutional studies on global environmental change. Dr. Utz maintains an active research laboratory focused on freshwater ecology and restoration. His lab conducts field studies on urban stream systems, examining chemical, physical, and biological parameters. Current projects include monitoring the effects of urbanization on stream ecosystems and investigating the ecological impacts of invasive plant species. The lab utilizes both traditional field sampling methods and innovative approaches to ecological monitoring, often incorporating citizen science observations for broader spatial coverage.

• Avian Ecology
• Ecosystem Services
• Sustainable Agriculture
• +4 more

Dr. Catherine A Lindell is an Associate Professor in the Integrative Biology Department at Michigan State University, with a joint affiliation at the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations. Her research focuses on avian ecology, ecosystem services, and sustainable agricultural practices across temperate and tropical systems. Integrative Biology Department, Michigan State University Center for Global Change and Earth Observations Educator for courses in Ecology (IBIO/PLB 485) and Tropical Biology Dr. Lindell investigates bird behavior in managed ecosystems, specializing in: Avian contributions to pest management in agricultural systems Tropical forest restoration impacts on biodiversity Development of sustainable farming practices Human-wildlife interaction dynamics Ecological function enhancement in fruit production Her recent publications highlight applications of bird-based pest control in orchards, climate-smart agriculture strategies, and ecological interventions for degraded tropical landscapes. These studies span disciplines including agricultural ecology, conservation biology, and ecosystem management. Key projects include: NSF-funded research on kestrel nest boxes for bird-mediated pest control Michigan Tree Fruit Commission studies on high-density orchard management Tropical forest restoration evaluations in degraded ecosystems Development of sustainable bird management frameworks for farmers Dr. Lindell teaches ecology courses emphasizing: Population dynamics Ecosystem processes Climate change impacts Applied ecological research

• Avian Medicine
• Small Mammal Medicine
• Adrenal Tumors in Ferrets
• +5 more

Dr. Nico Schoemaker is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Utrecht University, specializing in Internal Medicine of Companion Animals . A dual-certified specialist in Avian Medicine and Small Mammal Medicine, he treats birds, ferrets, and reptiles while contributing extensively to teaching and research. Research Interests include: Adrenal tumor etiology in ferrets Feather damaging behavior in parrots Preventative care for exotic animals Emerging viral diseases in rabbits Development of species-specific medical devices Notable Research Trends across 152 publications reveal focus on comparative endocrinology, exotic animal welfare, and translational medicine. His work bridges clinical practice with laboratory research, often involving collaborations with Docsinnovent (UK) and Wageningen University. Awards : AAV Speaker(s) of the Year Award 2017 Media Engagement highlights his role as a public expert during rabbit VHD outbreaks (2015) and contributions to Science Weekend (2018). He has advised on animal welfare in national media since 2014.

• Avian Medicine
• Small Mammal Medicine
• Animal Behavior
• +4 more

Dr. Yvonne van Zeeland is an Associate Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, specializing in Internal Medicine of Companion Animals. She works at the Division of Zoological Medicine, focusing on avian and exotic animal care. EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Avian and Small Mammal Medicine PhD in Feather Damaging Behavior in Grey Parrots (2013) Board-certified Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine Co-promoter of multiple PhD studies including ferret welfare and parrot behavior Research interests include avian behavior and welfare, small mammal medicine, and environmental enrichment. Her work addresses stereotypic behaviors in captive parrots and develops medical/behavioral treatment protocols. Notable publications span topics like Feather Damaging Behavior Analysis , Foraging Enrichment , and Ferret Cardiology , reflecting her interdisciplinary focus on animal welfare and medical care. Scientific Awards: Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year (2021) Donald W Zantop Emerging Leader Award (2014) Junior Teacher Award (2012) Resident & Research Award (2005, 2006) Best of Class in Nutrition (1999) Professional Roles include Avian Scientific Chair for EAAV, Examination Committee Chair for ECZM, and Associate Editor for the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. She actively contributes to national and international veterinary conferences through lectures and committee work.

• Animal Behaviour
• Animal Welfare
• Endocrinology
• +10 more

Dr. Vivian Goerlich is an Assistant Professor in Animal Behaviour at the Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. She works within the Division of Animals in Science & Society (AISS), where she focuses on the connection between animal behavior, physiology, and welfare. Her work spans multiple species from pigeons and chickens to cows, dogs, and giraffes, with particular emphasis on how early life experiences shape animal development and welfare. Dr. Goerlich's research explores how animals adapt to environmental challenges, with special interest in prenatal and early postnatal effects on development. Her work examines how maternal hormones in eggs affect chick development, how external factors during incubation influence developing embryos, and how these early experiences create long-lasting changes in physiology and behavior that can even be transmitted across generations through epigenetic mechanisms. Her research integrates laboratory and field approaches, including endocrinology, behavioral observations, and physiological measurements. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on poultry welfare, particularly examining how light exposure during incubation affects behavioral and physiological development in chickens. She also investigates broader animal welfare concepts, developing frameworks for welfare assessment across species with different phylogenetic distances from humans. Her work demonstrates consistent integration of behavioral, physiological, and endocrine approaches to understand animal welfare comprehensively. Dr. Goerlich plays significant educational roles as Coordinator of the Master track 'Animal Welfare Management' & Risk Assessment and the FELASA Laboratory Animal Course module for 'Poultry and other birds.' She teaches physiology, animal behavior and welfare, animal communication, and systematic reviews within the Veterinary Medicine Master's program. She serves on the Master Education Research Committee (DGK) and is a board member of the Dutch Society for Behavioural Biology. Her laboratory work spans multiple environments including controlled laboratory settings for endocrine analysis, field studies with various animal species, and citizen science projects like 'Pigeons in the City' that engage school children in life sciences research. She collaborates internationally with researchers across Europe and has previously worked at institutions including Duke University, University of Bielefeld, and University of Linköping.

• Entomology
• Forensic Science
• Taxonomy
• +3 more

Martin H. Villet is a Professor at Rhodes University since 1993, specializing in entomology and forensic science . His research focuses on forensic entomology , blowfly taxonomy , and insect biodiversity , with recent studies on African blowflies, South African nose flies, and dung beetle ecology. Collaborations : Acadia University, China Agricultural University, The Natural History Museum (London), University of the Witwatersrand Research Themes : Forensic entomology, Molecular phylogenetics, Allopatric speciation, Dung beetle monitoring His publications in journals like Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution and Biodiversity Data Journal highlight his expertise in insect systematics and ecological applications. Despite no explicit awards listed, his work has garnered sponsorships from globally recognized organizations.

Ivan JaricView profile

Assistant Professor

• Species extinctions and extinction risk assessments
• Biological invasions
• Social aspects of conservation science
• +8 more

Ivan Jaric is a Junior Professor at University of Paris-Saclay (since 2022) and Researcher at the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences (since 2017). He previously served as Lecturer at University of South Bohemia (2019-2022) and held research positions at Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology in Berlin and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. His primary affiliation is with the Laboratoire Écologie, Société et Évolution – IDEEV at University Paris-Saclay. His research spans multiple interconnected fields including species extinctions and extinction risk assessments, biological invasions, conservation culturomics, iEcology, fish ecology and fisheries management. He has made significant contributions to developing novel model-based risk assessment approaches and has particular expertise in sturgeon management and conservation. His work often bridges ecological theory with practical conservation applications. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on big-data approaches to ecology, with high-impact papers in Science (2022) and Nature (2021) examining animal movement ecology and economic costs of biological invasions. His research increasingly integrates digital data sources, social media analysis, and citizen science approaches to address conservation challenges. The Award of the Czech Academy of Sciences for outstanding results in science (2022) Danubius Young Scientist Award (2015) Georg Forster Research Fellowship (2014-2017) J. E. Purkyne Fellowship (2018-2022) Dr. Jaric actively supervises doctoral and master's students including Katarina Jovicic (completed PhD), Lobsang Tsering (current PhD), and Anna Cihlova (completed MSc). He serves on editorial boards for Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment and Extinction journals, and has reviewed for numerous high-impact ecology journals including Nature Sustainability, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, and Global Change Biology. He is actively involved with the Alliance for Freshwater Life and Conservation Culturomics Working Group of the Society for Conservation Biology. His laboratory work primarily focuses on freshwater ecosystems, particularly examining fish population dynamics, extinction risk assessment, and the impacts of biological invasions. He leads collaborative research teams across multiple European institutions and has established strong connections with conservation organizations through his work on sturgeon conservation and the Danube Sturgeon Task Force.

Paul StoneView profile

Professor

• Reptile Ecology
• Turtle Conservation
• Population Demography
• +5 more

Paul Stone is a Professor of Biology at the University of Central Oklahoma, specializing in reptile ecology and conservation with a particular focus on turtles. He maintains an active research program including long-term field studies in the Peloncillo Mountains of New Mexico and Arizona, as well as investigations of freshwater turtles in Oklahoma. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Biology, University of New Mexico, 1995 MS in Zoology, Auburn University, 1990 BS in Wildlife Ecology, University of Florida, 1987 AA, Broward Community College, 1984 Stone's research primarily centers on the ecology and conservation of reptiles, particularly turtles. For over 25 years, he has conducted mark-recapture studies of Sonoran mud turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense) in the Peloncillo Mountains, examining population demography, individual movements, natural history, and conservation. His work also includes freshwater turtle studies in Oklahoma farm ponds and research on Mediterranean gecko invasions since 2004. Currently, he mentors graduate students on projects related to aquatic invertebrates, population genetics of mud turtles, road mortality effects, Western chicken turtle distribution, and radiated tortoise conservation in Madagascar. Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent focus on turtle ecology and conservation biology over three decades, with particular emphasis on Kinosternon species. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between population ecology, behavioral studies, and conservation applications. Recent publications show increasing attention to climate change impacts on turtle habitats and genetic aspects of conservation. Stone teaches multiple courses including General Biology for Majors, Environmental Biology, Conservation Biology, and Herpetology, integrating his field research into classroom instruction. His mentorship extends to numerous graduate students working on turtle-related research projects across multiple geographic regions.

Jennifer Kraft LeaveyView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Experiential Learning
• Science Education
• Sustainable Development
• +3 more

Jennifer Kraft Leavey serves as Principal Academic Professional in the School of Biological Sciences and Assistant Dean for Faculty Mentoring within the College of Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology. She directs the interdisciplinary Georgia Tech Urban Honey Bee Project and serves as faculty director for the Explore Living Learning Community, while pioneering innovative Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) including Living Building Science and STEMComm. Ph.D. in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis, Emory University B.S. in Chemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology Her research focuses on experiential learning methodologies in science education and sustainable development frameworks. Through projects like the Urban Honey Bee initiative, she examines urban habitat impacts on pollinator ecosystems while creating immersive undergraduate research opportunities. Her work bridges classroom theory with real-world applications in sustainability science, emphasizing community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration across environmental, biological, and social sciences. Analysis of her publication history reveals a distinct career evolution from foundational immunology research (2000-2007) examining T-cell mechanisms in bone loss to contemporary scholarship in sustainable development education (2016-2025). Current work emphasizes entomology, science communication pedagogy, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals implementation, demonstrating her pivot toward educational leadership while maintaining scientific rigor. No scientific awards were documented in the source materials. Dr. Leavey mentors undergraduate researchers through the Urban Honey Bee Project and VIP programs, developing curricula that integrate sustainability principles across STEM disciplines. Her faculty mentoring role involves strategic development of teaching excellence initiatives across the College of Sciences, though specific grant details remain unreported in available materials. She leads the Urban Honey Bee Project research collective studying urban apiculture dynamics, the Living Building Science team analyzing The Kendeda Building's ecological systems, and the STEMComm group producing science communication media. These initiatives form an interconnected ecosystem promoting experiential learning through campus-based environmental research and creative science dissemination.

• Macroevolution
• Phylogenetics
• Biodiversity
• +3 more

Gavin Thomas is a Professor of Macroevolution at the School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield , where he has held Royal Society Research Fellowships since 2015 and NERC Postdoctoral Fellowships earlier. His research explores how phylogenetic relationships among species inform patterns of biodiversity through time. Current affiliations : Royal Society Research Fellow, University of Sheffield Historical affiliations : NERC Postdoctoral Fellow (Sheffield, Bristol), Postdoctoral Associate (Imperial College London) Thomas’s research combines macroevolutionary modeling with extensive empirical datasets, including a citizen science project analyzing bird bill shapes and a plumage evolution study . His work integrates phylogenetic trees, trait data, and biogeographic patterns to address: How species and traits diversify over evolutionary timescales The role of tempo and mode in diversification Impacts of climate, ecology, and social behavior on avian evolution His recent publications focus on avian coloration, bill morphology, and functional trait divergence , with methodological contributions to phylogenetic software like PASTIS and MOTMOT . Key collaborations include the Natural History Museum and Royal Society -funded projects. Notable scientific awards include: Royal Society University Research Fellowship Royal Society Research Fellowship NERC Postdoctoral Fellowships Thomas has mentored over a dozen PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including current students Yichen He and Emma Hughes . His lab alumni include Jen Bright (now Assistant Professor at University of South Florida) and Mark Puttick (Royal Commission 1851 Fellow).