معرفی
Professor Rachel McCrea holds a Chair in Statistics at Lancaster University's School of Mathematical Sciences and is a core member of the Data Science Institute. She actively supervises PhD students in statistical methodology development for real-world ecological and conservation challenges, with current research focusing on statistical ecology, multiple systems estimation, and illegal wildlife trade applications.
Her research program centers on:
- Advanced capture-recapture and state-space modeling for population dynamics
- Multiple systems estimation for hidden populations (wildlife trade/human trafficking)
- Integrated population modeling for conservation decision-making
- Bias correction in translocation management and extinction inference
- Bayesian methods for ecological time-series and demographic analysis
Recent publications (2021-2025) reveal strong methodological innovation in ecological statistics, with key contributions to integrated population models, multi-system estimation frameworks, and conservation applications. Her work bridges theoretical statistics with urgent biodiversity challenges, particularly in extinction risk assessment and wildlife trade monitoring.
Current research projects include 'New stochastic models to quantify illegal trade' (2023-2024), 'A transdisciplinary approach to inferring the end of political violence' (2022-2023), and 'Modelling removal and re-introduction data for improved conservation' (2022-2023). She supervises PhD student Lucas Howell through the STOR-i Centre for Doctoral Training.
Professor McCrea collaborates extensively through Lancaster's Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science, Environmental and Ecological Statistics group, Social and Economic Statistics group, and STOR-i Centre for Doctoral Training, driving interdisciplinary approaches to ecological data science.
