Courses
General Ecology (BIOS 30312, Fall): Ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of species on Earth. In practice, ecologists study interactions: interactions between organisms (whether from the same or different species), and interactions between organisms and their environment. In this course we will cover the interactions that drive patterns across a vast range of scales, from single-celled algae to the global distribution of trees. Ecology is fascinating because a small number of interactions (e.g., competition, predation, and facilitation) and dynamics (e.g., population, climate, and biogeochemical cycles) are almost solely responsible for the staggering variety of species and habitats on Earth. Regardless of your academic interests and career plans, ecology is highly relevant to your life and the future of our planet. Within your lifetime, you will be faced with challenges that can only be understood and overcome through the lens of ecology: climate change, pollution, extinction, human-wildlife conflict, famine, and disease, to name a few. On the other hand, learning the basics of ecology will help you appreciate what you see every time you step outside, whether that’s a dandelion poking up through the sidewalk or the astounding diversity of the Amazon rainforest. In this class, you will gain an understanding of how individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems interact. You’ll learn how scientists understand these complex interactions through experiments, modeling, and the scientific method, and how the lessons of ecology can be applied to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.
Foundations of Community Ecology (BIOS 40XXX; beginning Spring 2025): Community ecology is the study of the direct and indirect interactions among species and the environment that determine the structure, abundance, and composition of communities. Foundational topics within the field of community ecology include: ecological and evolutionary processes that create, maintain or modify patterns of biodiversity; the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function; island biogeography; metacommunity dynamics; niche and neutral theory; species interactions (e.g., competition, predation, and mutualism) and species coexistence; and effects of natural- and human-mediated environmental change (e.g., climate change, habitat alteration, invasive species) on biodiversity. As such, central concepts and theories in community ecology have also shaped our understanding of related fields, including population, ecosystem, and evolutionary ecology. Through discussion of foundational literature and related contemporary papers, this course seeks to provide graduate and advanced undergraduate students a broad overview of the central concepts of community ecology, as well as an appreciation for how these ideas have changed over time and inspired further research.
Pedagogical Training
Teaching and Learning in the Diverse Classroom, Cornell University (2019)
• Development of inclusive classrooms and teaching strategies
Cornell University Postdoc Leadership Training Certificate (2019)
• Training in group leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and mentoring
• Development of inclusive classrooms and teaching strategies
Cornell University Postdoc Leadership Training Certificate (2019)
• Training in group leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and mentoring