معرفی
Michele Dudash is a Professor and Department Head in the Department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University (SDSU), within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. She holds a B.A. from Millersville State University, a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and completed a postdoc at the University of Toronto. Her academic career includes roles as Emeritus Professor at the University of Maryland (2017-present), and prior positions as Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor in their Botany/Plant Biology/Biology departments from 1989–2016. She has also held visiting roles at institutions globally, including the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the University of Edinburgh.
Her research focuses on evolutionary ecology, plant mating systems, plant-pollinator interactions, and population demography, with an emphasis on inbreeding depression and conservation genetics. She has contributed to understanding the genetic management of fragmented populations and the ecological implications of pollination syndromes. Her work integrates field studies, genetic analyses, and experimental approaches to address conservation challenges.
Her articles highlight trends in plant-pollinator dynamics, population genetics, and conservation strategies. Notable topics include outcrossing rates in invasive species, bat pollinator declines, and the genetic basis of inbreeding effects. She emphasizes the application of ecological and genetic insights to inform conservation practices for threatened taxa and ecosystems.
Dr. Dudash’s professional memberships include the American Society of Naturalists, Botanical Society of America, and Ecological Society of America. Her lab, the Dudash Lab, focuses on evolutionary and conservation biology, with ongoing projects in North America and Thailand. She advocates for paradigm shifts in genetic management of fragmented populations and collaborates internationally on pollinator ecology and species conservation.
