معرفی
Danielle N. Lee is an American assistant professor of biology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, renowned for her science blogging and outreach efforts focused on increasing minority participation in STEM fields. Her work bridges behavioral ecology, urban ecology, and mammalogy with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in science.
Education:
- B.S. in Biology from Tennessee Technological University (1996)
- M.S. from University of Memphis (2000)
- Ph.D. in Biology from University of Missouri-St. Louis (2010)
Dr. Lee's research focuses on the connections between ecology and evolution and their contribution to animal behavior, with special emphasis on rodent behavior in both urban and rural settings. Her current research examines behavioral differences in African giant pouched rats and small rodents across urban gradients in the St. Louis Metropolitan region. A significant portion of her work explores how urban environments shape animal behavior and the ecological implications of these adaptations. Her research has taken her to Tanzania to study landmine-sniffing African giant pouched rats as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer.
Lee's publication record reveals a strong trajectory combining traditional ecological research with innovative approaches to science communication and diversity in STEM. Her recent work increasingly integrates social justice perspectives with ecological research, as evidenced by publications like "Recreating Wakanda by promoting Black excellence in ecology and evolution" and "Diversity and inclusion activisms in animal behaviour." Her scholarly output demonstrates a growing emphasis on the intersection of science communication, diversity initiatives, and traditional ecological research.
Scientific Awards and Honors:
- White House Champions of Change – STEM Access & Diversity
- Diversity Scholar, American Institute of Biological Sciences (2009)
- EBONY POWER 100 – Social Media Influencer (2014)
- The Grio 100's Class of 2014 - Science & Technology Leader
- TED Fellow (2015)
- National Geographic Emerging Explorers (2017)
- Plenary Speaker at annual British Ecological Society meeting (2018)
Dr. Lee has been a dedicated mentor and science communicator, founding initiatives like the National Science and Technology News Service to increase STEM interest in the African-American community. Through her blogs "Urban Science Adventures!" and "The Urban Scientist" on Scientific American, she has connected scientific concepts with underrepresented communities, particularly African-American youth. She actively participated in the #ShutDownSTEM and #ShutDownAcademia initiative in 2020, advocating for racial justice in academic spaces. Her mentorship extends beyond traditional academic advising to include community outreach, social media engagement, and creating platforms for underrepresented voices in science.
Dr. Lee has been involved with research teams studying rodent behavior across urban gradients in the St. Louis area and has collaborated with international teams researching African giant pouched rats in Tanzania. Her work with the "Wild Life of Our Homes" project has connected her with interdisciplinary teams examining urban ecology and animal behavior in human-dominated landscapes.
