Jennifer A. Rudgers

Jennifer A. Rudgers serves as a Distinguished Professor and Director of the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research program at the Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico. Her work bridges theoretical and applied ecology with a focus on environmental change resilience.

Education:

• NSF Postdoc Fellowship in Microbial Biology, Indiana University (2005)
• Ph.D. in Population Biology, University of California-Davis (2002)
• B.S. in Environmental Science, Denison University, Summa Cum Laude (1996)

Research Focus: Dr. Rudgers pioneers research on mutualistic interactions in ecosystems, challenging traditional ecological theories that prioritize abiotic factors and antagonistic relationships. Her lab investigates how plant-microbe symbiosis influences population dynamics, community structure, and evolutionary processes under climate change. By integrating microbial diversity into ecological models, her work enhances predictive accuracy and develops management solutions for ecosystem resilience. Current projects span aridland ecosystems through the Sevilleta LTER and ARID Network initiatives.

Awards:

• NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Microbial Biology

Leadership & Infrastructure: As Director of the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research program, she oversees multi-decadal studies at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Her lab operates from Castetter Hall (Rooms 252, 265, 282) and maintains field sites across New Mexico's arid ecosystems. She actively promotes inclusion through UNM's IDEA Committee and manages the arid.unm.edu research network.