Rebecca Senior

Dr. Rebecca Senior is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University, specializing in conservation science and microclimate ecology. Her research focuses on leveraging quantitative tools and technology to address biodiversity loss, with emphasis on tropical ecosystems and climate change impacts. She holds a PhD in Ecology & Conservation from the University of Sheffield (2018) and a BA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (2013).

Her research interests include conservation strategies, microclimate dynamics, and the application of spatial analysis and R programming to ecological challenges. She has contributed to global initiatives such as the PREDICTS project, analyzing biodiversity responses to human impacts. Her work frequently intersects with policy, emphasizing actionable solutions for species recovery and ecosystem resilience.

Dr. Senior has supervised multiple PhD students (Andrew Clelland, Cameron Goodhead, Jack Marchant) and has secured grants supporting her research. Her publications span high-impact journals like Nature, Global Change Biology, and Science Advances, addressing topics such as conservation action effectiveness, microclimate guidelines, and thermal buffering in tropical forests.

She has also engaged in professional development activities, including postdoctoral research at Princeton University (2019–2021) and visiting roles at the University of Florida. Her contributions include open-source tools like the ThermStats R package and the SoilTemp database, advancing global environmental monitoring efforts.