Seth Finnegan is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and affiliated with the University of California Museum of Paleontology. His research focuses on understanding the processes shaping marine ecosystems and biota from the late Neoproterozoic to the present, with a particular emphasis on the Ordovician Period and mass extinctions. He integrates field observations, laboratory data, and literature databases to study extinction selectivity, environmental proxies (e.g., stable isotopes, biomarkers), and ecosystem reconstructions. His lab, the Finnegan Lab, explores themes such as organism-environment interactions and the drivers of biodiversity changes. Finnegan’s work has been widely published in journals like Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Geology , and he collaborates with institutions globally. Despite no listed awards here, his contributions to paleontology are significant.
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.
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.
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.
Jessica Dempsey is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia , affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Biodiversity Research Centre . Her work intersects environmental politics , political ecology , and feminist political economy , focusing on biodiversity loss, capitalist logics, and conservation finance. PhD, University of British Columbia (2011) MA, University of British Columbia BSc, University of Victoria Research explores how neoliberal environmentalism , resource extraction , and international financial systems perpetuate biodiversity loss. Key themes include debt justice , gendered mining impacts , and temporal policy fixes . Supervision emphasizes community-building through regular lab meetings and interdisciplinary critique. Recent publications analyze conservation finance , extinction drivers , and policy contradictions in Antipode , Nature Ecology & Evolution , and Conservation Letters . She received the 2025 Dean of Arts Mentorship Award for her student-centered feedback style and collaborative approach.
Sean R. Connolly is a Research Professor at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama, where he leads the Connolly Lab focused on coral reef ecology and biodiversity dynamics. He joined STRI in late 2019 after approximately 20 years of research on Central Indo-Pacific coral reefs, and now directs his research toward the coral reefs of the Tropical East Pacific and Caribbean regions. Dr. Connolly's research interests center on understanding the mechanisms that maintain biodiversity in species-rich systems, particularly coral reefs. His work investigates how large numbers of species coexist despite similar resource requirements, what determines the commonness or rarity of different species, how fishing and marine reserves impact reef ecosystems, and how coral reefs respond to climate change. His approach combines empirical field studies with mathematical and statistical modeling across multiple spatial and temporal scales. His publication record demonstrates a strong focus on coral reef community dynamics, biodiversity patterns, climate change impacts, and fisheries management. Recent work increasingly addresses the effects of multiple stressors on reef ecosystems, with growing attention to the Tropical Eastern Pacific as a comparative natural laboratory. His collaborative research spans multiple institutions globally, reflecting the international nature of coral reef science. Dr. Connolly received his B.A. from Earlham College in 1994 and his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1999. His educational background provided the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach that bridges theoretical ecology with practical conservation applications. His research program currently investigates reef ecosystems on both sides of the Isthmus of Panama, taking advantage of the dramatically different reef conditions in the Tropical East Pacific (where one coral group dominates marginal reef conditions) and the Caribbean (where former community dominants have collapsed to a fraction of historical abundances). This comparative approach provides unique insights into the mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem resilience.
Professor Stephen Willis is a faculty member at Durham University , serving as Director of Research in the Department of Biosciences. His work bridges climate change ecology, conservation biology, and species distribution modeling, with extensive collaborations across academic (Universities of York, Leeds, Copenhagen) and non-academic institutions (RSPB, BirdLife International, NERC). He employs spatially explicit models, GIS, and remote-sensed data to analyze environmental change impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and range shifts in native/invasive species. Continental-scale protected area networks Trans-Saharan migratory birds Alpine ungulate population dynamics Deer-biodiversity interactions His recent research (2025-2023) focuses on wildlife hunting practices in Southeast Asia, acoustic monitoring innovations for waders, bias mitigation in ecoacoustic studies, protected area expansion for migratory birds, and systematic conservation status mapping. Earlier projects (2022-2010) examined carbon stock modeling, vulture foraging ranges, malaria risk projections, and climate-phenology mismatches. Supervision : He currently mentors PhD students in biodiversity monitoring, climate adaptation, and wildlife ecology, while past advisees completed research on topics like vulture land-use patterns, Rift Valley bird distributions, and butterfly range shifts. Collaborative networks span 15+ institutions globally.
Brian Weeks is an Associate Professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, where he joined as an Assistant Professor in 2019. His research focuses on understanding how species and communities respond to human-induced environmental changes, with particular emphasis on avian systems. Weeks leads an active research group that integrates museum specimen-based work, genomics, and field studies to investigate biodiversity responses to global change. Weeks' research interests span evolutionary ecology, climate change biology, and biodiversity conservation. His work primarily examines how bird species and communities have responded to environmental change through morphological adaptations. He combines museum-, field-, and lab-based approaches to study evolutionary processes across multiple scales, from macroevolutionary patterns in the Solomon Islands to contemporary changes in North American migratory birds. His lab has developed innovative methods like Skelevision for high-throughput measurement of functional traits from museum skeletal specimens. His publication record shows a strong focus on climate-driven morphological changes in birds, with recent work demonstrating how warming temperatures drive size reductions while simultaneously increasing wing length. His research has revealed that smaller-bodied species change at faster rates, and that migration timing shifts are decoupled from morphological changes. Weeks' lab also investigates biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships and extinction risk prediction. Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering (2022) Ecological Society of America's George Mercer Award (2022) Katma Award, American Ornithological Society ISI Highly Cited paper (2021) Weeks advises multiple PhD and Master's students, and his lab collaborates extensively with researchers across institutions. His work has received significant media attention, with coverage in Science, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, BBC News, and numerous international outlets. His research on birds shrinking due to climate change achieved an Altmetric score higher than 99.98% of papers tracked, reflecting its substantial scientific and public impact.
Professor Jarno Vanhatalo is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Helsinki, serving as vice director of the Research Center for Ecological Change. He is affiliated with both the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Science, where he leads the Environmental and Ecological Statistics Group. His work bridges advanced statistical methodology with pressing ecological and environmental challenges. His research focuses on the development and application of statistical models for ecological and environmental data. Key areas include: Bayesian statistics and hierarchical modeling Gaussian processes and spatial statistics Species distribution modeling Ecological risk assessment Climate change impact analysis Biodiversity monitoring and conservation Professor Vanhatalo's publication record shows a consistent focus on integrating sophisticated statistical methods with ecological applications. His recent work demonstrates increasing emphasis on climate change impacts on biodiversity, spatially explicit modeling of ecological processes, and the development of Bayesian methods for uncertainty quantification in environmental predictions. His research spans terrestrial and marine ecosystems, with particular attention to Nordic and Baltic regions. Among his notable contributions are advancements in: Joint species distribution modeling Bayesian calibration of environmental models Spatiotemporal survey design Model-based variance partitioning in ecological studies Statistical approaches to Arctic risk management Professor Vanhatalo has received significant research funding, including an ERC grant for "Predective Understanding of the effects" (2024-2029) and leadership roles in multiple Academy of Finland and EU-funded projects focused on biodiversity, ecological change, and risk management in polar waters. He actively contributes to the academic community through: Supervising doctoral students in Wildlife Biology and Mathematics and Statistics programs Serving on editorial boards for journals including Conservation Biology and Ecology Letters Peer reviewing for numerous statistical and ecological journals Organizing workshops on statistical methods in ecology
Dr. Fran Cabada-Blanco is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead (Post Graduate Taught) at the University of Portsmouth's Faculty of Science & Health, affiliated with the School of the Environment and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on marine biodiversity conservation, integrating ecological and socio-economic approaches. She holds a Doctorate in conservation and marine resource management, emphasizing rare species monitoring and technology-driven ecological assessments. Her teaching responsibilities include coordinating MSc courses in Applied Aquatic Biology, Science Communication, and Ecological Research Methods. She contributes to undergraduate modules in Marine Ecology, Biogeography, and Ecophysiology. Her research spans coral reef dynamics, socio-ecological systems, and endangered species conservation. Recent work includes mangrove restoration strategies, coral reef health assessments in Venezuela, and softshell turtle conservation in India. She collaborates globally, with publications in Science of the Total Environment , PLoS One , and Frontiers in Marine Science . Her contributions include over 17 peer-reviewed articles, focusing on marine biodiversity, conservation frameworks, and ecosystem resilience. She is affiliated with the Centre for Blue Governance, emphasizing interdisciplinary solutions for marine sustainability.
Martha Groom is a Professor of Ecology and Environmental Studies at the University of Washington (Bothell & Seattle campuses). She holds an Adjunct Associate Professor position in the Department of Biology at UW Seattle and serves as Associate Director in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at UW Bothell. PhD in Zoology (Conservation Biology), University of Washington, 1995 M.S. in Zoology (Tropical Conservation), University of Florida, 1989 Dual A.B. in Biology & Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, 1984 Her research integrates conservation biology, habitat fragmentation, and sustainable development, with fieldwork in tropical ecosystems and Pacific Northwest marine environments. She pioneered analyses of biofuel impacts on biodiversity and Puerto Rican avian conservation, while advancing plant population dynamics studies through her work on Clarkia concinna. Her 2008 co-authored paper on biofuel policy remains a landmark publication. Scientific awards include Outstanding Teacher and Faculty Fellowships at NC State and UW, along with National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship. She co-authored the widely adopted textbook Principles of Conservation Biology (3rd ed.) and leads innovative pedagogical projects like the Wikipedia-based teaching initiative.
Barnabas Daru is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Center Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. His research focuses on plant ecology and biogeography across ecological scales, biodiversity conservation, and the impacts of climate change on plant communities. Education: Postdoctoral, Harvard University, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (2018) PhD, University of Johannesburg, Botany (2015) Research interests center on understanding plant distributions through phylogenetics, herbarium specimen analysis, and conservation biogeography. His work addresses biodiversity conservation strategies, climate change impacts on floristic regions, and developing computational tools for biogeographic analysis. Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on biodiversity informatics, climate change impacts on ecosystems, and biogeographic regionalization. Key themes include herbarium specimen utilization, conservation prioritization, and developing global biodiversity databases. Scientific awards: Sloan Research Fellow (2025) Fellow of Linnean Society of London (2025) New Phytologist Poster Prize (2015) TBA Field Course Award (2008) Advises doctoral and postdoctoral researchers in biodiversity informatics and conservation biology. Current students include Desire Nalukwago, Andrea Nebhut, Collin Gross, Rong Liu, Joe Kesler, Paul Markley, and Lauren Puleo. Leads the Daru Lab at Stanford University, which develops computational tools like phyloregion and GreenMaps for biogeographic analysis and conservation planning.
Matt Burgess serves as an Assistant Professor in the Economics Department at the University of Wyoming's College of Business, where he conducts interdisciplinary research bridging economic theory, environmental science, and policy analysis. His work addresses critical sustainability challenges through rigorous quantitative methods and cross-institutional collaboration. Education: PhD from the University of Minnesota BSc from the University of Toronto Dr. Burgess specializes in economic growth modeling and its environmental-societal implications, political polarization around environmental issues, and mathematical modeling of human-environment systems . His research methodology integrates computational modeling, statistical analysis, and experimental approaches to tackle complex resource management problems in conservation and natural resource economics. This interdisciplinary framework enables novel insights into policy design under environmental constraints. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a dominant focus on climate policy dynamics (40% of works), economic growth projections (25%), and natural resource management (35%). His climate policy research consistently examines political polarization barriers and decarbonization challenges, while growth studies emphasize long-term slowdown risks and environmental limits. A recurring theme across all work is the identification of trade-offs in environmental management, notably demonstrated in his influential 2022 Nature Sustainability paper on the rarity of win-win solutions. Dr. Burgess actively engages in knowledge dissemination beyond academia through public speaking, podcasting, and popular writing on economic and environmental issues, demonstrating commitment to translating research into public discourse.
Ryan Cecil Jobson is the Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago, affiliated with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture, and the Center for Latin American Studies. His work focuses on energy and extractive resource development, technology and infrastructure, and racial capitalism in the Americas. He holds a PhD from Yale University (2017) and specializes in the Caribbean and the Americas, examining issues like climate change, sovereignty, and decolonization. Recent projects include a forthcoming book, *The Petro-state Masquerade: Oil, Sovereignty, and Power in Trinidad and Tobago* (2024), analyzing Trinidad and Tobago’s fossil fuel governance and its 'masquerade of permanence.' Jobson also works on a collection of essays on climate habitability in the Caribbean and a theoretical manuscript on anthropological methods amid climate extinction. His research critiques postcolonial state narratives, linking fossil fuels to political power while highlighting grassroots resistance. He has published widely on topics like petro-state dynamics, extractivism, and decolonial theory, with affiliations strengthening interdisciplinary engagement in race, culture, and global studies.
Leah B. Shaw is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the College of William and Mary, with an affiliate appointment in the Applied Science Department. Her research integrates applied mathematics, physics, and biology to model population dynamics in ecological and epidemiological systems. Education: BS in Physics and Mathematics, Virginia Tech MS in Mathematics, Virginia Tech PhD in Physics, Cornell University Her research focuses on the interplay between network structure, stochasticity, and population dynamics. She develops mathematical models to study epidemic spread, ecosystem resilience, and extinction risks. Key areas include adaptive networks, marine population dynamics (particularly oysters and blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay), and stochastic extinction pathways. Her methodological toolkit spans statistical mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, and computational simulations. The analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on epidemic modeling in complex networks, with recurring themes of adaptive behavior, multistrain interactions, and control strategies. Her work often bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world applications in public health and environmental conservation. She also explores fundamental questions in nonequilibrium systems and synchronization phenomena. Scientific Contributions: Developed models for epidemic control using behavioral adaptation and vaccination in networked populations. Studied bistability in oyster reef ecosystems, informing restoration strategies. Advanced theoretical understanding of stochastic extinction paths in finite populations. Mentored undergraduate researchers in mathematical biology projects. Published extensively in interdisciplinary journals such as Bulletin of Mathematical Biology , Physical Review E , and Journal of Theoretical Biology . Dr. Shaw mentors PhD students in Applied Science with interests in mathematical biology and welcomes undergraduate researchers, particularly those seeking summer fellowships. She emphasizes collaboration and interdisciplinary training. Her group investigates topics ranging from polio control using defective interfering particles to opinion dynamics and nonequilibrium traffic models, reflecting a broad yet cohesive research vision.
