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.
Dr. Matthew Brookhouse is a Senior Lecturer at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, part of the Australian National University's Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions. With a PhD in Dendroclimatology from ANU, he specializes in using forest structural complexity and tree-ring analysis to understand climate interactions and ecological responses in Australian subalpine environments. Research Focus: Sub-alpine ecology, Dendrochronology, CO2 responsiveness in eucalypt species Teaching: First-year research methods with emphasis on statistical application, advanced modeling and field botany Projects: Leading collaborative snow-gum dieback research and dendrochronological monitoring initiatives His publications span 2006-2025 with recent emphasis on machine learning applications for forest monitoring, tropical tree-ring chronologies for climate change, and climate sensitivity in Australian alpine ecosystems. Key collaborations include institutions like Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and University of Canberra researchers. Current projects focus on snow-gum woodland dieback mechanisms, high-resolution dendrometric monitoring, and integrating dendrochronology with environmental policy frameworks. He maintains active supervision of research students and contributes to both undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum development.
Michael Z. Levy is a Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. He co-directs the University of Pennsylvania/Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Zoonotic Disease Research Laboratory in Arequipa, Peru, and holds secondary affiliations with the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Center for Public Health Initiatives, History and Sociology of Science, and Latin American and Latinx Studies. His research spans interdisciplinary domains including vector-borne diseases, computational biology, urban ecology, and social justice. Education: B.A. in Philosophy and Biology from Amherst College (1998), PhD in Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution from Emory University (2007). Levy's work focuses on urban zoonotic diseases , particularly Chagas disease and canine rabies , integrating ecology, epidemiology, and computational methods. He investigates how insect vectors interact with social systems, housing policies, and climate change, extending to pandemic modeling during the Covid-19 crisis. His research group (28 members) collaborates with Peruvian Ministry of Health to control Chagas and rabies outbreaks in Arequipa. Notable contributions include novel geospatial surveillance models , behavioral economics applications for vector control, and bed bug epidemiology linking infestations to public health challenges. Recent publications highlight 2025-2024 trends in Chagas vector dynamics , zoonotic rabies control , vaccine strategies , and genomic outbreak analysis , emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to urban disease ecology. He has participated in cluster randomized trials and behavioral design studies to improve community engagement in vector control campaigns in Peru, focusing on incentive mechanisms and surveillance equity . The Zoonotic Disease Research Lab in Arequipa employs interdisciplinary methods combining biological research , social science , and computational modeling to address urban disease transmission.
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.
Dr. Jonathan Cale is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Ecology and Management at the University of Northern British Columbia, affiliated with the NRES Graduate Program. His research program merges basic and applied approaches to investigate fungal ecology and forest pathology, focusing on how fungus-tree interactions influence forest health challenges. Specializes in forest fungi roles across disturbance stages: development, impact, and recovery Key interests: emerging forest diseases, climate change impacts on fungi, bark beetle-fungus interactions, chemical defense mechanisms Supervises graduate students in Biology and Forestry (MSc NRES) and serves as a media-contactable expert in Forest Pathology His recent publications address topics such as fungal community dynamics in disturbed forests, chemical defense responses in pines, and bark beetle-fungus coevolutionary mechanisms. No scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text.
Dr. Elemir Simko is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Saskatchewan, affiliated with Prairie Diagnostic Services. He holds a DVM from the University of Belgrade (Yugoslavia) and a DVSc from the University of Guelph, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Since 1998, he has coordinated core anatomic pathology courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His research focuses on honey bee health, agricultural sustainability, comparative pathology, and innate immunity. Recent work includes studies on honey bee pathogen dynamics, pesticide impacts, and equine septic arthritis diagnostics using biomarkers. He collaborates extensively with researchers on investigative pathology and contributes to diagnostic services. Education: DVM (University of Belgrade), DVSc (University of Guelph), ACVP Diplomate Key Research Themes: Honey bee health, infectious disease pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance, and diagnostic pathology Collaborations: Prairie Diagnostic Services, multiple veterinary and agricultural researchers Dr. Simko’s publications span veterinary pathology, honey bee health, and equine medicine. His recent articles highlight advancements in diagnostic techniques for septic arthritis in horses and interventions to mitigate honey bee colony threats. He has no listed awards but maintains active roles in teaching and applied research.
Marius Gilbert is a Full Professor at Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) since 2023, with dual administrative roles as Vice-rector of Research and Valorization (since 2020) and Vice-rector of Culture and Scientific Mediation (current mandate). He obtained his PhD in spatial epidemiology from ULB in 2001 after studying Agricultural Sciences (1995) and conducting visiting research at Oxford's Department of Zoology. Key Research Areas: Spatial epidemiology of animal diseases and invasive species Impact of agricultural and ecosystem changes on pathogen emergence Specialization in avian influenza and emerging infectious diseases Development of livestock distribution models and antimicrobial resistance tracking Scientific Contributions: His 15 most recent publications (2025-2021) focus on viral phylogeography , livestock-environment interactions , antimicrobial use forecasting , and pandemic response modeling . Notable work includes COVID-19 spatio-temporal analysis and global antibiotic resistance trends in food animals. Public Engagement: Played a central role in French-speaking media during the pandemic , authored the book "Juste un Passage au JT" , and maintains a Le Soir column on science-society intersections. Co-founded the Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL) in 2016, now led by Simon Dellicour.
Elena Anatolyevna Babushkina is a Professor at the Department of Construction and Economics of Siberian Federal University. She serves as director and scientific consultant of the Scientific and Educational Laboratory 'Dendroecology and Environmental Monitoring' . Her work spans dendrochronology, climate change impacts on tree growth, wood anatomy, and environmental monitoring in Siberian ecosystems. Doctor of Biological Sciences (2020) Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Extensive collaborations with international institutions like University of Arizona, University of Cambridge, and Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research Her research focuses on climatic reconstruction through tree rings , moisture-limited forest ecosystems , and environmental drivers of xylogenesis . Recent studies analyze earlywood/latewood dynamics, drought sensitivity, and cross-species growth patterns in Siberian larch, spruce, and Scots pine populations. Elena’s publications (100+ scientific, 10+ methodological) include 15 recent articles on tree-ring-based climate proxies , crop yield modeling , and seasonal growth regulation . Key journals include Forests , Dendrochronologia , and Scientific Reports . Notable scientific awards include the 2021 Honorary Worker of Education of the Russian Federation title and multiple Presidential and Ministerial Certificates of Appreciation . She leads national grants (RFBR, RSF) on climate-crop interactions and genetic adaptation to environmental stress .
Darrell Ross is a Professor in Entomology at the School of Natural Resource Sciences , North Dakota State University . Previously, he held professorial roles at Oregon State University in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society and served as Director of the Richardson Hall Quarantine Facility from 2006–2019. His academic journey began with a PhD in Entomology from the University of Georgia (1990), an MS in Forest Ecology from Oregon State University (1985), and a BS in Forest Science from Pennsylvania State University (1981). PhD , Entomology, University of Georgia, 1990 MS , Forest Ecology, Oregon State University, 1985 BS , Forest Science, Pennsylvania State University, 1981 Dr. Ross specializes in forest entomology, focusing on bark beetle ecology, pheromone-based management strategies, and biological control of invasive species like the hemlock woolly adelgid. His work integrates chemical ecology with forest health assessment and ecological restoration. His research emphasizes pheromone applications (e.g., MCH) for bark beetle control, predator-prey dynamics in biological control of adelgids, and habitat manipulation for pest management. Recent studies address biodegradable pheromone formulations, predator phenology for invasive species control, and post-outbreak ecological impacts on pollinators. At Oregon State University, he directed the Richardson Hall Quarantine Facility, contributing to large-scale forest protection strategies. Current work at NDSU continues his legacy in integrating chemical signaling with forest ecosystem management.
Tom Wenseleers is a Professor at KU Leuven's Department of Biology within the Faculty of Science, where he leads the Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution. His research spans theoretical and experimental approaches to evolutionary biology, with particular focus on social insect systems. Research spans social insects (ants, bees, wasps), microbes, viruses, and human systems Primary model organisms: social insects studying major evolutionary transitions Current projects examine caste determination, chemical communication, and evolutionary conflicts His research integrates theoretical modeling with experimental, behavioral, and comparative studies. Recent work combines genomic techniques and high-throughput GC/MS analysis to decipher chemical communication systems. Current trends show increasing interdisciplinary work spanning virology (SARS-CoV-2 variants), microbial ecology (antibiotic resistance), and robotics (pollinator behavior monitoring). The research demonstrates consistent application of evolutionary theory to diverse biological systems while maintaining social insects as the core model. Wenseleers actively mentors PhD students and postdocs, with recent graduates including Kamiel Debeuckelaere and Viviana Di Pietro. His lab receives substantial funding through multiple concurrent research projects, including Promotor roles on grants examining caste development in bee societies and microbial metabolite screening. The laboratory maintains strong international collaborations across Europe and South America. The lab operates within the Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation unit at KU Leuven, with physical location at Naamsestraat 59, box 2466, 3000 Leuven. The research group maintains active outreach programs including science workshops for schools and public engagement events focused on insect conservation.
Karen Abbott is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Biology at Case Western Reserve University, specializing in theoretical population and community ecology. Her research employs mathematical modeling to investigate species distributions, abundance fluctuations, and ecological pattern formation. Her primary research interests include: Theoretical Population and Community Ecology Spatial Synchrony in Forest Insect Outbreaks Plant-Herbivore Dynamics and Inducible Defenses Evolutionary Responses to Climate Change Invasive Species Spread Mechanisms Ecological Time Series Analysis Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong emphasis on spatial ecology, transient dynamics, and network theory applications. Key trends involve modeling synchrony in ecological oscillators, life history effects on consumer-resource systems, and environmental stochasticity impacts on population cycles. Her work frequently addresses how new biologically-motivated models improve understanding of unexplained ecological phenomena. Scientific awards: None mentioned in provided text. Research funding includes the eMB Collaborative Research project (2023) on mathematical approaches for spatial synchrony in ecology. While specific student advisees aren't listed, her faculty role suggests graduate and undergraduate mentoring. Her lab maintains active research in theoretical ecology as evidenced by continuous publication output. She leads the Abbott Lab (https://abbottlab480702554.wordpress.com/), which focuses on mathematical modeling of ecological systems, investigating spatial synchrony, plant-herbivore interactions, climate change effects, and transient dynamics in population cycles.
Donato Romano serves as Associate Professor at The BioRobotics Institute of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Italy, where he coordinates the Bio-Robotic Ecosystems Lab and co-founded the spin-off company HUBILIFE srl. His interdisciplinary work bridges robotics, biology, and AI to develop biohybrid systems for biodiversity preservation, sustainable environmental management, and life support in extreme scenarios including space exploration. With over 90 publications and an H-index of 27 (Scopus, March 2025), he has established significant academic leadership through editorial roles across 12+ international journals. Romano's educational foundation includes advanced degrees with honors: an M.Sc. in Agriculture Science and Technologies (2014) and a PhD in BioRobotics (2018), both from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna. His academic journey includes visiting scholar positions at Khalifa University and substantial industry-academia collaboration through HUBILIFE srl, which commercializes bioinspired devices for human daily life improvement. His research program focuses on bioinspired and biomimetic robotics with particular emphasis on animal-robot interaction, biohybrid systems, and natural intelligence. Key projects address critical global challenges: SENSORBEES develops biohybrid environmental surveillance for ecological monitoring; REGOLIFE investigates lunar soil-terrestrial organism interactions for space agriculture; and OCEAN ROBOCTO explores marine ecosystem solutions. This work demonstrates a strategic progression from fundamental behavioral studies toward applied ecological and extraterrestrial systems. Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong trends in AI-driven behavioral analysis, with deep learning increasingly applied to entomological studies and pest management. The research spans agricultural applications (precision monitoring traps, larval detection systems), ecological conservation (biodiversity surveillance), and extreme-environment adaptation (lunar regolith studies). A distinctive feature is the consistent integration of biohybrid approaches where living organisms and robotic systems create synergistic capabilities exceeding either component alone. Romano's scientific recognition includes election as Junior Fellow of the Italian Academy of Engineering and Technology (2025), the Lucani fuori dal Comune award (2024), and multiple best-thesis prizes. His editorial leadership spans high-impact journals including IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics and Pest Management Science, where he serves as Associate Editor. As principal investigator, Romano coordinates major international projects totaling over €15M in funding: HORIZON-EIC's SENSORBEES (2024-2029), ASI's REGOLIFE (2024-2027), National Geographic's OCEAN ROBOCTO (2024-2026), and PRIN's COSMIC (2023-2025). His teaching portfolio includes PhD courses in Biosystems for Biorobotics and M.Sc. instruction in Bionics Engineering at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna and University of Pisa. The Bio-Robotic Ecosystems Lab under Romano's direction pioneers biohybrid technologies where living organisms and robotic systems create integrated solutions. Current initiatives include SENSORBEES' environmental monitoring swarms, REGOLIFE's moonworm colonization systems, and HUBILIFE's commercial vector-control devices. The lab maintains active collaborations with space agencies, agricultural institutes, and conservation organizations, positioning biohybrid systems as next-generation tools for planetary-scale challenges.
Yang Kuang is Professor of Mathematics at Arizona State University's School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, with joint affiliations with the CRESMET and Mathematical Computational Modeling Sciences Center. His research bridges mathematical biology, oncology, population dynamics, and delay differential equations. His cancer modeling investigates glioblastoma growth mechanisms, tumor-immune interactions, and prostate cancer treatment optimization. Ecological work pioneers stoichiometric modeling of producer-grazer systems and virus-host-environment interactions. He directs NSF-funded projects including 'Mathematical Classification of Complexity in Population Dynamics' and 'Predictive Modeling of Pattern Formation'. Publications demonstrate recurring themes: reaction-diffusion tumor models, wastewater-based epidemiology during pandemics, and ecological stoichiometry. His textbook Introduction to Mathematical Oncology establishes core frameworks for cancer modeling.
Michelle Leishman is a Professor and Director of the Smart Green Cities Research Centre and Australian Harmony Centre for Ecosystem Futures at Macquarie University's School of Natural Sciences. Her work bridges urban ecology, plant conservation, and climate change adaptation through projects like Which Plant Where (with Hort Innovation), urban greening initiatives (with Sydney Water), and ecosystem restoration (with Botanic Gardens of Sydney). Her research focuses on urban greenspace and plant-environment interactions , particularly invasive species impacts , vegetation responses to climate change , and ecosystem restoration . She has published extensively on topics like urban tree resilience , riparian vegetation recovery , and plant-pathogen dynamics . Her recent work includes biostimulant applications for drought tolerance and myrtle rust susceptibility in Australian flora. Michelle is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering . She received the 2022 NSW Premier's Prize for Biological Sciences and the 2017 BHERT Award for Outstanding Collaboration , reflecting her leadership in applied ecological research.
Ottar Bjornstad is a Distinguished Professor of Entomology and Biology at Pennsylvania State University, holding the Huck Chair of Epidemiology. He is affiliated with multiple research centers, including the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, One Health Microbiome Center, and Center for Mathematical Biology. His research focuses on population ecology, epidemiological modeling, and the mathematical foundations of infectious disease dynamics. He investigates how climate change affects ecological systems, transmission patterns of zoonotic diseases, and the interplay between host demographics and disease spread. Recent publications highlight his work on dengue virus transmission, vaccine distribution logistics, and age-structured epidemic models. His studies span disciplines including ecology, virology, and computational epidemiology. Elected to Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters (2021) He collaborates with institutions worldwide, addressing global health challenges like Lassa virus spread and measles persistence mechanisms. His methodological contributions include statistical frameworks for epidemic analysis and spatial synchrony metrics.
