Lab Members
Meet our lab members! Hailing from the University of California, Davis and University of Michigan, our research group combines a wealth of knowledge from different specialties.
Fernanda Valdovinos
I am a theoretical ecologists and network scientist studying the structure and dynamics of ecosystems facing anthropogenic perturbations. I focus on the mechanisms empirical research has shown to be important for the dynamics of ecological systems. I integrate those mechanisms into mathematical models of ecological networks that I interrogate using computers, mathematical analysis and biological intuition, and whose predictions I test with empirical data.
Paul Glaum
Post-doctoral Researcher
I am a quantitative ecologist and environmental data scientist using a blend of mathematical, statistical, and computational techniques.
Kayla Hale
PhD Student
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
I study how mechanisms of different types of species interactions (especially carnivory, herbivory, and pollination and seed dispersal mutualisms) affect the dynamics of populations, communities, and ecosystems. I’m particularly interested in how different types of interactions are interconnected into “multiplex” ecological networks and how these interconnections affect ecosystem structure and function
Sophia Simon
PhD Student
Graduate Group in Ecology
I am a PhD student in the Graduate Group in Ecology and a Sustainable Oceans NRT Trainee. I am interested in applying mathematical models to a variety of interdisciplinary, use-inspired research questions spanning marine networks, population dynamics, and epidemiology/microbiology. My work is currently focused on applying theory to understanding the sustainability of complex systems.
Rebecca Nelson
PhD Student
Graduate Group in Ecology
Co-advised by Susan Harrison and Fernanda Valdovinos my research interests span the empirical and theoretical facets of plant-pollinator networks and global change ecology.
Appilineni Kushal
PhD Student
Applied Mathematics
I'm working broadly on integrating economic drivers of change in ecological models of food webs. My focus is on fisheries, where socioeconomic drivers like cost of harvested species, fishermen's allocation of efforts in multiple fisheries, policies etc., could cause irreversible changes in the associated food webs.
Casey Duckwall
PhD Student
Applied Mathematics
I am a student in the Applied Math graduate program. My research interests lie in dynamical systems, network theory, and statistical programming and in applications of these tools to various biological systems ranging in scale from intracellular reaction networks up to population dynamics, ecological risk assessment, and epidemiology. I am currently focused on extending population dynamics models to incorporate empirical data on oceanographic drivers. Additional interests include math education, teaching, and increasing the accessibility of math resources to more students.
Margaret Knight
PhD Student
Applied Mathematics
I am a first-year PhD student in the Graduate Group for Applied Math (GGAM). I am generally interested in mathematical modeling with applications in ecology and epidemiology, and I have an interest in dynamical systems.
Sabine Dritz
Junior Specialist
My work revolves around the statistical and computational methods of ecological network theory. I am currently studying the dynamics of plant-pollinator system to address topics of species invasions, community assembly, and conservation strategy.
Sophia Pelletier
Undergraduate Student
I am a 4th year undergraduate at UC Davis studying Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology and Oceanography. I was drawn to this lab because I have a broad interest in marine ecology and how ecosystems respond to change
Previous Members
Alva Curtsdotter
Postdoctoral Researcher in Ecological Networks
University of New England, Armidale, Australia
Maria Isidora Avila
Postdoctoral Researcher
Catholic University, Santiago, Chile
Jonno Morris
PhD student in Natural Resources and Environment
University of Michigan
Daniel Maes
PhD in Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics
University of Michigan
Valentin Cocco
M.S. student in Public Policy Analysis: Public Policies and Actions for Sustainable Development
École des Ponts ParisTech, Paris, France
Joseph Hartert
Graduated with a BS in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Michigan
Valdovinos Lab, Winter 2018
Fernanda Arao
Undergraduate Student
I am a senior Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major who loves invertebrates! I'm helping with the Bodega Marine Laboratory network project because I am interested in the methodology of mapping interactions in community ecology -- and the animals that participate in these interactions, or course. The lab has been a wonderful learning experience!
Christopher Yun
Undergraduate Student
I'm an undergraduate biological sciences major in my 4th year at UC Davis. I joined the lab because I've always liked marine life as well as exploring the ecological side of biology