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.
Taranjot Kaur
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Addressing fundamental ecological concerns is critical for the survival of our species. I am driven to examine and discern the mechanisms that might maintain ecosystem stability and persistence.
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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.
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.
Alaina Stockdill
PhD Student
Applied Math
I am a first year Applied Math PhD student and am generally interested in applying mathematical methods to ecological and biological models.
Lauren Mossman
PhD Student
Applied Math
I am a first-year PhD student in the Graduate Group for Applied Mathematics. As I continue to explore my research interests under the umbrella of mathematical biology, I am excited by the applications in ecology ranging from climate change to network modeling.
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
Paul Glaum
Environmental Consultant
Waterborne Environmental
Joseph Hartert
Graduated with a BS in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Michigan
Christopher Yun
Graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences
University of California, Davis
Fernanda Arao
Graduated with a BS in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of California, Davis
Sophia Pelletier
Graduated with a BS in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology and Oceanography
University of California, Davis
Valdovinos Lab, Winter 2018
Marco Ruiz
PhD Student
Applied Math
I am a Ph.D. student in the Applied Math department at UC Davis. I am interested in theoretical ecology and would like to explore plant-pollinator systems, especially through dynamical system theory, network theory, and machine learning. My drive to understand these systems lies in their relevance to climate change.
