People

Postdocs:

Amy Patterson I’m a theoretical ecologist with interests in population dynamics, eco-evolutionary dynamics, and invasive species. I use mathematical and statistical models to understand and predict how species react in a changing world. Amy’s website

Zachary Jackson I use the tools of dynamical systems and statistical physics to understand the behavior of complex biological systems. I investigate big questions in ecological dynamics through analytical, numerical, and data centered techniques. Zack is currently looking at adaptive foraging controls the effect of diversity on ecosystem stability.

James Richardson I am a theoretical ecologist with a background in math. I’m interested in understanding how the interactions species have with one another, often mediated through their impacts on their shared environment, contribute to species coexistence and ecosystem resilience.

Graduate students:

Ethan Rappaport My research uses mathematical models to investigate ecological and evolutionary dynamics in microbial systems. I’m particularly interested in the mechanisms underlying species coexistence and in developing theory to understand and steer microbial dynamics and evolution. Ethan is based in the Weitz group.

Looking for a PhD student - Join us! Position fully funded (~1/3 TA and 2/3 research assistantsip). Can focus on ecological theory (e.g., food webs, dynamic interactions, bacterial community dynamics) or modeling empirical marine population dynamics.

Undergraduate researchers:

Helia Eshaghi Helia is a biology undergraduate working on forecasting outbreak and range shifts of epidemics such as Malaria and Dengue fever with climate change using Empirical Dynamic Modelling.

Ethan Hawkes I’m an Environmental Science and Policy undergraduate focused on using climate datasets to model and forecast mosquito-borne illness and pest movement. I am interested in better understanding how a rapidly changing world will affect critical species and communities worldwide, and how we can help better adapt to these changes.

PI: Vadim Karatayev

I use a combination of math and field data (and inevitably stats) to study catastrophes and network dynamics. I love finding novel dynamics in biological complexity and then finding the simplest models that capture those novel dynamics.

Lab Alumni:

Așa Rishel Asa is a math undergraduate interested in systems of differential equations, applications of PDEs, and parametric vs. nonparametric modeling techniques. Outside of the lab, Asa’s research is delay-differential equations of COVID-19 and its effect on depression.