Kirsten Prior

Kirsten Prior is an Associate Professor in the Biological Sciences Department at Binghamton University, College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on community ecology, species interactions, and invasion ecology, exploring how species interactions shape ecosystems and influence conservation strategies. She investigates invasive species impacts, climate change effects, and restoration approaches in diverse ecosystems such as North American forests, Pacific Northwest oak savannas, and East African savannas.

Dr. Prior earned her PhD from the University of Notre Dame and a BSc from Western University. Her lab, the Prior Ecology Lab, emphasizes collaborative projects addressing anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Current initiatives include an NSF-funded study on oak gall wasp-parasitoid interactions and community science efforts like EcoBlitz events.

Research interests span

• Ecological and evolutionary dynamics of species interactions
• Invasion biology and biotic resistance mechanisms
• Climate change effects on species ranges
• Restoration of disturbed ecosystems

Her lab actively recruits students for projects combining field experiments with genomic tools, including a recent PhD position on gall wasp-parasite interactions. Recent grants include an NSF collaborative award examining parasite diversification strategies.

Outreach activities highlight biodiversity awareness, particularly through insect-focused initiatives like BUgs! events and educational graphic novels on seed dispersal. Her work bridges ecological research with practical conservation solutions.