Yan Jiao

Yan Jiao is a Professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech, part of the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Their research focuses on population dynamics, fisheries management, and statistical modeling, with an emphasis on aquatic species like walleye, yellow perch, and invasive blue catfish. Jiao holds a B.S. and M.S. from Ocean University of China and a Ph.D. from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Key research themes include spatial-temporal dynamics in fisheries, ecosystem modeling, and risk analysis. Recent projects involve assessing seabird bycatch in the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery and modeling the impact of invasive species in Chesapeake Bay sub-estuaries. Jiao has led numerous funded initiatives, including a 2025 project on seabird-fisheries interaction.

Publications span Bayesian hierarchical models, spatial distribution analysis, and adaptive management strategies. They advise over 15 graduate students and postdocs, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches to fisheries challenges. The Population Dynamics team, led by Jiao, addresses complex ecological and management questions through quantitative methods.