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Radhika GovindrajanView profile

Associate Professor

• Multispecies Ethnography
• Environmental Anthropology
• Gender and Sexuality
• +11 more

Radhika Govindrajan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Director of the South Asia Center at the University of Washington's Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. A cultural anthropologist, her work spans multispecies ethnography, environmental anthropology, political anthropology, and South Asian studies. Education: Ph.D., Anthropology, Yale University (2013) M.A., Modern History, Jawaharlal Nehru University (2006) B.A., History, Delhi University Her research investigates how human relationships with nonhumans in South Asia intersect with religious nationalism, gender politics, conservation efforts, and caste dynamics. Current projects examine democratic politics through more-than-human sociality, rural subjectivity through scandals, and electoral practices in Himalayan communities. Scientific recognition includes: 2017 AIIS Edward Cameron Dimock Prize 2019 Gregory Bateson Prize 2021 Diana Forsythe Prize Honorable Mention 2020 Green Lit Fest Honour 2016 General Anthropology Division Award 2016 Anthropology and Environment Society Junior Scholar Award ACL and Fulbright fellowships for field research She teaches courses on animal studies, ethnography, and South Asian agrarian and religious transformations. Her 2018 book Animal Intimacies challenges human exceptionalism in Himalayan ethnography.

Owen LewisView profile

Professor

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Tropical Biodiversity
• +4 more

Professor Owen Lewis is a Professor of Ecology and Tutorial Fellow at Brasenose College, University of Oxford. His research focuses on community ecology and conservation biology, particularly in tropical rainforests, emphasizing biodiversity maintenance, species interactions, and climate change impacts. He holds an MA (Oxford) and PhD (Leeds) and has led the Ecology and Conservation Section in the Department of Biology since 2007. His teaching includes ecology, entomology, and conservation biology across undergraduate years, alongside supervising fourth-year research projects. Lewis organizes annual tropical field courses in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. His research explores insect-driven ecosystems, invasive species, and human-ecosystem interactions. Notable contributions include studies on parasitoid communities under climate change, ant invasion dynamics, and seed predation in tropical forests. He leads the Community Ecology Research Group, collaborating internationally on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. His work integrates field experiments, molecular analyses, and ecological modeling to address global environmental challenges. Education: MA in Biological Sciences, St. Hugh's College, Oxford PhD in Population Ecology of Butterflies, University of Leeds Research Interests: Tropical biodiversity, insect-plant interactions, climate change effects, and conservation strategies in modified ecosystems. He prioritizes functional and community-level approaches to understand ecosystem resilience. Publications: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with recent focus on experimental climate impacts, food web structures, and invasive species effects. His work bridges theoretical and applied ecology, influencing conservation policies. Awards & Grants: Not explicitly listed, but his leadership roles and extensive publications suggest recognition in ecological research. Advising & Grants: Supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students, coordinates field courses, and secures grants for tropical research. Collaborates with institutions like the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Natural History Museum (London). Labs & Teams: Heads the Community Ecology Research Group, focusing on tropical forest biodiversity, functional ecology, and conservation biology. The group’s website highlights ongoing projects and international collaborations.

Kate LaskowskiView profile

Associate Professor

• Behavioral Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Animal Behavior
• +4 more

Kate Laskowski is an Associate Professor in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at University of California, Davis , focusing on behavioral diversity and plasticity. Her research explores how evolutionary processes shape developmental mechanisms generating individual variation. Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences (2006, UMBC), Ph.D. in Integrative Biology (2013, University of Illinois) Her work integrates ultimate and proximate perspectives to analyze how genetic, parental, and experiential cues build phenotypes. Recent research emphasizes clonal fish models to study non-genetic origins of behavior, eco-evolutionary dynamics, and collective behavior across scales. Publications from 2023-2025 highlight themes in behavioral repeatability , predation risk responses , genetic life-history trade-offs , and social conformity vs. individuality . Her methods combine experimental studies with statistical modeling and meta-analytic frameworks. Scientific Awards: Sloan Fellow (2023) Kate collaborates with the Center for Population Biology and advises in the Animal Behavior and Population Biology graduate programs. Her lab investigates behavioral individuality in clonal systems, with applications to conservation and evolutionary theory.

• Animal Communication
• Social Cognition
• Anthropogenic Impacts on Animal Behavior
• +3 more

Çağlar Akçay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Life Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He holds a PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of Washington, alongside an MA in Cognition and Perception and a BS in Biology and Psychology from Middle East Technical University. His research focuses on behavioral ecology, particularly the evolution of animal communication and social cognition in songbirds. He investigates how animals adapt to anthropogenic environments, including effects of urbanization on signaling and aggression. Key research areas include animal communication systems, social interactions mediated by vocal signals, and the impact of environmental changes on behavior. He leads the Bird Lab, studying the interplay between communication and social behavior in birds, with projects on Darwin’s finches and song sparrow territorial dynamics. His work emphasizes field studies combined with experimental approaches, such as acoustic manipulations and observational tracking. Member of the Behavioral Ecology Research Group Recipient of Turkish Science Academy Early Career Fellowship (2019-2021) Teaching responsibilities include BSc programs in Animal Behaviour and Zoology, and an MSc in Animal Behaviour Applications for Conservation Recent publications highlight topics like survival processing effects in memory, avian behavioral plasticity in urban settings, and the role of acoustic signals in territorial disputes. His interdisciplinary work bridges ecology, cognition, and conservation, with a focus on translating findings into wildlife management strategies.

Boris WormView profile

Professor

• Marine Conservation Biology
• Biodiversity Science
• Community Ecology
• +3 more

Dr. Boris Worm is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. His academic journey includes a MSc (University of Kiel, 1996) and PhD (University of Kiel, 2000), followed by postdoctoral research at Dalhousie University and the Leibniz Institute for Marine Science. He specializes in marine conservation biology, biodiversity science, community ecology, and macroecology. His research focuses on global marine biodiversity trends, ecosystem functioning, and conservation solutions. He teaches Biology 2060: Introductory Ecology and BIOL 3065: Conservation Biology , emphasizing quantitative methods and policy implications. His lab (wormlab.biology.dal.ca) explores topics like phytoplankton dynamics, fisheries impacts, and climate adaptation. Recent work addresses bycatch mitigation, climate risk indices, and fisheries governance. Collaborations include Ocean School (oceanschool.nfb.ca), promoting ocean literacy. He advises PhD and MSc students researching fish population dynamics, elasmobranch bycatch, and open-ocean ecosystems. Education: MSc, University of Kiel, Germany (1996) PhD, University of Kiel, Germany (2000) Postdoc, Dalhousie University (2000–2003) Postdoc, Leibniz Institute (2003–2004) Labs & Teams: Worm Lab (marine conservation and biodiversity)

Frances StewartView profile

Assistant Professor

• Wildlife Biology
• Conservation and Management
• Ecological Forecasting
• +3 more

Frances Stewart is an Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Northern Wildlife Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Science, Department of Biology. She leads the WILDlab research group focusing on applied wildlife biology in northern regions through field projects, modeling, and community collaboration. She holds a PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria, and BScH and MSc degrees in Ecology from the University of Guelph. Her research specializes in quantifying wildlife responses to landscape changes using camera trapping, ecological forecasting, and spatial modeling. Current projects investigate species co-occurrence, habitat selection, and biodiversity conservation in Canada's rapidly changing northern ecosystems, with emphasis on integrating Indigenous knowledge. Publications (2019-2024) demonstrate strong focus on wildlife conservation, climate change impacts, and ecological modeling. Dominant themes include boreal caribou conservation, landscape connectivity, anthropogenic disturbance effects, and predictive ecology frameworks. Methodologically, her work combines field data with advanced statistical approaches to inform conservation decisions. Awards and Honors: Canada Research Chair in Northern Wildlife Biology Wilburforce Leader in Conservation Science Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution Conference Presentation Award (2018) Advising and Grants: Supervises 2 postdoctoral fellows, 3 PhD candidates, and 4 MSc students Secured funding from NSERC, Weston Foundation, POLAR, and MITACS Emphasizes professional development through conference attendance and publication support Lab and Team: Leads the WILDlab (Wildlife Integration for Land use Decisions Lab) with active field projects across northern Canada. The team collaborates with government agencies (Natural Resources Canada), Indigenous communities, and international researchers to address wildlife management challenges in changing northern ecosystems.

• Marine Ecology
• Global Change Biology
• Fisheries Management
• +12 more

Professor Brendan Kelaher is a marine biologist with over 20 years of experience at Southern Cross University , where he serves as Chief Remote Pilot and Chair of the Animal Care and Ethics Committee. His work integrates drone technology with marine ecology to address critical challenges in coastal ecosystems and climate change adaptation. With a BSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Sydney , his research spans marine wildlife monitoring , 4D habitat mapping , fisheries biology , and cloud brightening to prevent coral bleaching. He teaches Marine Megafauna and Drone Technology units in the Bachelor of Science program. His recent publications highlight advancements in drone-based marine monitoring , plastic pollution impacts on macroalgal decomposition, and climate engineering for reef preservation. Thematic keywords include Marine Ecology , Climate Change Mitigation , and Drone Technology , with sub_fields like Shark Behavior Analysis and Plastic-Biodegradation Interactions . Outstanding Teaching Award (2021) Senior Researcher Award for Research Excellence (2022) Outstanding Teaching Excellence Award (2023) He supervises students in marine wildlife monitoring , drone habitat mapping , and climate change adaptation research. His affiliations include the National Marine Science Centre and Faculty of Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University.

Peter HudsonView profile

Professor

• Epidemiology
• Wildlife Disease Dynamics
• Zoonotic Disease Control
• +3 more

Peter Hudson is the Verne M. Willaman Professor of Biology at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the Eberly College of Science. His research focuses on disease dynamics in wildlife systems, particularly exploring epidemiology, pathogen interactions, and zoonotic disease control. Former Director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, he leads projects addressing ecological and evolutionary drivers of infectious diseases. Notable contributions include studies on Hendra virus in bats, SARS-CoV-2 in deer, and wolf population dynamics linked to canine distemper outbreaks. His work integrates field studies with mathematical modeling, emphasizing landscape immunity and conservation strategies to mitigate pandemics. Hudson's research has been supported through grants including a $4.5M USDA initiative to study SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife. He collaborates internationally on bat-borne zoonoses and has published extensively in high-impact journals like Science , Nature , and PNAS . His interdisciplinary approach bridges ecology, epidemiology, and policy to address global health challenges. Key affiliations: Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State's Institute for Energy and the Environment Expertise: Wildlife epidemiology, disease ecology, conservation medicine Recent work highlights include identifying weather patterns influencing Nipah virus risk in Bangladesh and demonstrating how disease outbreaks drive evolutionary changes in wolf coat color and mating behavior. He advocates for ecologically based biosecurity measures to prevent future pandemics through landscape restoration and biodiversity conservation.

• Animal Behaviour
• Social Behaviour
• Fish Ecology
• +3 more

Professor Ashley Ward is a Professor of Animal Behaviour at the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on social behaviour, collective animal behaviour, and the ecology of fish, particularly in group-living species. He leads the Animal Behaviour Lab and has authored influential books like Sociality: The Behaviour of Group-Living Animals (2016) and Questions and Answers on Aquarium Fishes (2007–2008). His work integrates experimental and theoretical approaches to understand how animals make decisions in groups, navigate risks, and adapt to environmental challenges. Research interests include predator-prey dynamics, immune system effects on social behavior, and the role of social context in camouflage. Notable grants include 'Understanding animals through movement' (2018) and 'Advancing fauna conservation in post-fire landscapes' (2021). His recent studies explore collective decision-making, immune-challenge responses in fish, and the impact of environmental cues on shoaling behavior. Awards and recognitions are not explicitly listed, but his contributions to fish behavior research are widely cited. He advises on grants and collaborates internationally, with over 100 peer-reviewed articles and books. His lab emphasizes field and laboratory experiments, combining behavioral observations with computational modeling to uncover principles of collective behavior and social organization.

James BellinghamView profile

Professor

• Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)
• Marine Robotics
• Ocean Observing Systems
• +3 more

James Bellingham is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of exploration robotics at Johns Hopkins University, holding primary appointments in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Applied Physics Laboratory's Asymmetric Operations Sector. He serves as executive director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy and is a member of the Data Science and AI Institute. With over 30 years of expertise, Bellingham pioneered small, high-performance autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), leading global expeditions across polar and oceanic regions. His work bridges robotics innovation with environmental monitoring, including oil spill response, Arctic exploration, and NASA collaborations for extraterrestrial oceanic exploration. Bellingham's educational background includes BS, MS, and PhD in physics from MIT. He previously led Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Marine Robotics Consortium, creating advanced prototyping facilities and fostering entrepreneurship in robotics. His leadership roles span institutional boards such as the Naval Studies Board and OceanX. His research focuses on advancing AUV capabilities for adaptive sampling, fault detection, and interdisciplinary oceanography. Over 50 publications demonstrate his technical contributions, including AUV design, environmental hazard mapping, and collaborative robotic systems. Awards include National Academy of Engineering induction and military honors for public service.

• Environmental Economics
• Natural Resource Management
• Policy Design
• +6 more

Rick Horan is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University (MSU), part of the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. He holds a Ph.D., M.A. from Pennsylvania State University, and dual B.S. degrees from Appalachian State University. His research focuses on environmental and natural resource economics, particularly the interplay between economic and ecological systems. Key areas include endangered species management, invasive species control, wildlife disease dynamics, and agricultural pollution policy. He has published in top journals like PNAS, American Economic Review, and the American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Horan has served as Managing Editor of Resource and Energy Economics (2010–13), Associate Editor roles for American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Natural Resource Modeling , and contributed to a National Academy of Sciences report on environmental policy. His teaching includes Advanced Natural Resource Economics and Microeconomic Theory analysis. Research highlights include modeling ecological thresholds, bioeconomic approaches to species management, and integrating human behavior into epidemiological models. His work has been featured in media outlets like The Economist and Forbes. Horan’s advising and grants focus on interdisciplinary solutions for environmental challenges. His labs and research teams address complex issues like agri-environmental service coordination and sustainable land-use strategies. Current research explores policy mechanisms for balancing economic activities with ecosystem preservation.

• Climate Change
• Ecology
• Evolution
• +4 more

Dag Olav Hessen is a Professor at the University of Oslo , leading the Center for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene (CBA) . The center integrates expertise from the Department of Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Chemistry to investigate climate-carbon-ecosystem interactions in northern latitudes. Research Focus: Climate change impacts on freshwater and marine ecosystems Key Areas: Ecological stoichiometry, genome size, pelagic food webs, permafrost thaw Methodology: Interdisciplinary approaches combining fieldwork, lab experiments, and modeling His recent publications address critical issues like greenhouse gas dynamics in thawing permafrost , tipping points in lake ecosystems , and global change effects on zooplankton communities . Collaborative work spans Arctic char vulnerability, DOM-contaminant interactions, and climate governance frameworks.

Molly CummingsView profile

Professor

• Evolution of Conspicuous Signals
• Mechanisms of Crypsis
• Neural Mechanisms of Mate Choice
• +4 more

Molly Cummings is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and the Center for Perceptual Systems. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on the evolution of animal communication systems, visual ecology, and sensory-driven diversification in lower vertebrates, particularly poeciliids and poison frogs. Research interests include understanding how environmental constraints shape visual signaling, sensory biases, and mate choice mechanisms. Techniques employed involve field measurements of light environments, electrophysiological recordings, computational modeling, and neuro-ethological experiments. Current projects explore species-level divergence in visual processing and neural pathways influencing decision-making. Key themes include the interplay between natural/sexual selection and communication signal evolution, crypsis mechanisms, and the cognitive basis of sexual conflict. Recent work examines plasticity in stress responses, cognitive-behavioral profiles, and the genomic underpinnings of preference behavior in fish. Collaborative projects involve polarization vision in marine organisms and the ecological consequences of anthropogenic light pollution. Her lab advises graduate and undergraduate students in experimental design and fieldwork, with a focus on integrative approaches bridging ecology, neurobiology, and evolutionary biology. Cummings has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed articles since 2006, emphasizing mechanistic insights into sensory ecology and organismal adaptation.

Jennifer M MullinaxView profile

Associate Professor

• Wildlife Ecology
• Habitat Modeling
• Zoonotic Disease Dynamics
• +3 more

Dr. Jennifer M. Mullinax is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science & Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park, within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She leads the Applied Spatial Wildlife Ecology Lab (ASWEL), focusing on understanding wildlife movement dynamics and their interactions with zoonotic disease transmission in human-wildlife interfaces. Her research integrates spatial ecology, epidemiology, and conservation biology to address critical issues such as avian influenza surveillance, habitat modeling for black bears, and urban wildlife management. Her expertise spans Wildlife Ecology , Habitat Modeling , and Zoonotic Disease Dynamics . Recent projects include assessing SARS-CoV-2 in wild cervidae, analyzing avian influenza spillover risks, and modeling deer movement in suburban environments. She emphasizes practical decision tools for wildlife disease management and habitat conservation, particularly in fragmented and urbanized landscapes. Dr. Mullinax’s work often addresses spatial epidemiology, such as studying tick-borne pathogens in white-tailed deer and evaluating historical park designs’ impacts on urban bird diversity. Her lab collaborates on conservation challenges like Louisiana black bear habitat prioritization and elk population viability analyses in Tennessee. Her research outputs highlight interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity conservation, integrating ecological, social, and technological factors. Despite no listed awards, her contributions to wildlife health and spatial modeling are notable in environmental science circles.

• Ladybird Ecology
• Invasive Species
• Citizen Science
• +7 more

Peter Brown is an Associate Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Faculty of Science and Engineering. His research focuses on ladybird ecology, invasive species, and citizen science, with strong collaborations across the UK (especially the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and University of Hull), Europe, and Chile. Education: PhD: The spread of the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Europe and its effects on native ladybirds – Anglia Ruskin University (2010) BSc (Hons) Ecology and Conservation – Anglia Ruskin University (2004) Peter's research interests include ladybird ecology, the impacts of non-native species on native biodiversity, intraguild predation among arthropods using molecular tools, and the use of citizen science in ecological research, particularly through the UK Ladybird Survey and COST Action CA17122. He investigates the global spread and ecological effects of the harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) and evaluates the benefits and risks of exotic biological control agents. As director of the Citizen Science Research Group and member of the Applied Ecology Research Group, he emphasizes public engagement in science. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on citizen science, invasive species monitoring, and conservation biology. Themes include volunteer motivations, digital tools for data collection, policy implications of alien species, and recovery strategies for native ladybirds. This body of work demonstrates a strong integration of field ecology, molecular techniques, and public participation. Scientific Awards and Memberships: Fellow, Royal Entomological Society Honorary Fellow, British Naturalists' Association Co-leader, UK Ladybird Survey Editorial board, Nature in Cambridgeshire Member, British Ecological Society Peter supervises postgraduate research in ladybird and insect ecology and welcomes PhD applications. He has secured collaborative research opportunities and leads projects involving citizen science data. He has also contributed to policy and management frameworks for invasive species in Europe. Peter leads the undergraduate module 'Invertebrate Biology' and postgraduate modules in conservation and biodiversity, including field-based learning. He directs the Citizen Science Research Group and is actively involved in public outreach, having appeared on BBC programs such as The One Show, Countryfile Diaries, and The Today Programme, enhancing public understanding of ecology and invasive species.