Ken Aho

Ken Aho is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Idaho State University, specializing in Community Ecology and Biostatistics. He has held this position since 2011 and leads the Aho Lab, focusing on foundational and applied statistical methods for biologists using R. His research integrates ecological theory with statistical rigor, addressing topics like alpine vegetation dynamics, microbial communities, and non-perennial stream networks. He developed the asbio R package and authored the textbook Foundational and Applied Statistics for Biologists Using R, emphasizing pedagogical tools for statistical education.

• Education:
  • B.S. Biology (1995), Idaho State University
  • M.S. Environmental and Ecological Statistics (2007), Montana State University
  • Ph.D. Biology (2006), Montana State University
  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2007–2011), Idaho State University (Alpine plant ecology)

Research interests span alpine ecology, biostatistical methodologies, and ecological modeling. Notable projects include studying invasive species impacts, reclamation of post-mining landscapes, and the development of the streamDAG R package for analyzing non-perennial stream networks. His work also explores microbial interactions in alpine soils and atmospheric microbial communities.

Publications emphasize statistical applications in ecology, stream ecology, and biodiversity. Current trends in his articles address stream intermittency, carbon budgets, and microbiome connectivity. He advises graduate students, including S. Warix, C. Wheeler, and C. T. Bond, and teaches courses like Advanced Data Analysis and R Programming.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed, though his contributions to statistical pedagogy and ecological research are widely recognized. His lab integrates fieldwork, computational modeling, and interdisciplinary collaborations.