Karen Abbott, Professor
Ph.D. 2006 Ecology & Evolution, University of Chicago
B.S. 2001 Biology / Mathematics, Vanderbilt
Karen studies mathematical models of ecological processes to better understand how species interactions and environmental variability generate the patterns we see in nature.
Amy Patterson, Ph.D. student
B.A. 2015 Biological Sciences: Ecology & Evolution, Wash U
Amy uses models to understand stability and instability of plant community composition, invasion eco-evolutionary dynamics, and early warning signals.
Hilary Rollins, Postdoc
Ph.D. 2019 Biology, CWRU (Benard lab)
B.S. 2012 Evolution, Ecology & Biodiversity, UC-Davis
Hilary is developing metapopulation models that will be used to test theories for stochastic dynamics on networks.
Will Huffmyer, M.S. student
B.S. 2021 Mathematics / Environmental Studies, CWRU
Will is studying the effects of predator numerical responses on the dynamics of periodical cicadas.
Shadi Esmaeili, Postdoc
Ph.D. 2019 Physics, Virginia Tech
M.A. 2018 Educational Psychology, Virginia Tech
M.S. 2012 Physics, Alzahra University
B.S. 2008 Physics, K N Toosi University of Technology
Shadi is based at UC-Davis and is co-advised with Alan Hastings and Jon Machta. She is studying the statistical physics of spatially synchronous ecological dynamics.
Jessie Mutz, Postdoc
Ph.D. 2020 Biology, University of Florida
B.A. 2010 Theater, University of Florida
Jessie is based at the University of Tennessee and is co-advised with Susan Kalisz. She is currently developing consumer-resource models to explore the demographic consequences of defense plasticity in annually cropped and wild perennial plant populations.
Lab Alumni
Fang Ji, Ph.D. student 2016–2021
next: Data Scientist, Huntington Bank
Ph.D. 2021 Biology, CWRU
B.S. 2016 Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University
Plant-herbivore dynamics, and applications of machine learning to classify spatial patterns by mechanism
Alex Strang, Ph.D. student 2016–2020
next: Kruskal Postdoc, U Chicago
Ph.D. 2020 Applied Math, CWRU
B.S. 2015 Physics, CWRU
Applications of potentials and related decompositions on networks (primary advisor: Peter Thomas)
Sam Catella, Ph.D. student 2014–2019
next: Postdoc, U Pittsburgh
Ph.D. 2019 Biology, CWRU
B.S. 2010 Molecular Environmental Biology, UC-Berkeley
Abiotic drivers of spatial patterns in forb communities
Brian Lerch, M.S. student 2015–2019
next: Ph.D. program, Evolutionary Biology, UNC-Chapel Hill
M.S. 2019 Biology, CWRU
B.S. 2019 Biology (honors) / Mathematics, CWRU
Ecology and evolution of social mammals
Kristen Buse, High School student 2017–2018
next: Computer Science major, Carnegie Mellon
2018 graduate of Mentor High School
Scale-dependence of spatial patterns in herbaceous layer plant communities
Joe Wan, Gap year student 2017–2018
next: Ph.D. program, Ecology, ETH-Zurich
B.S. 2016 Computer Science / Biology, Stanford
Using community ecology theory to study nutrient and carbon cycling in forests
Gleb Zhelezov, Postdoc 2017
next: Postdoc, U. Edinburgh
Ph.D. 2017 Mathematics, U Arizona
B.S. 2011 Mathematics / Physics, Texas A&M
Stochastic spatial ecological models
Chris Stieha, Postdoc 2015–2017
next: Asst. Professor, Biology, Millersville U
Ph.D. 2012 and M.S. 2008 Ecology, U Kentucky
B.S. 2003 Chemistry, U Kentucky
Effects of plant defenses on herbivore dynamics
Chris Moore, Postdoc 2015–2017
next: Asst. Professor, Biology, Colby College
Ph.D. 2014 Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biol, U Nevada Reno
B.S. 2005 Biology, Cal State Polytechnic, Pomona
Population dynamics of mutualistic interactions
Katie Dixon, M.S. student 2015–2017
next: Ph.D. program, Ecology & Evolution, U Chicago
M.S. 2017 Biology, CWRU
B.S. 2015 Biology (honors), CWRU
Spatial models of canine distemper virus and dispersal in Galapagos sea lions
Tejas Joshi, M.S. student 2016–2017
next: Northwestern University Medical School
M.S. 2017 Applied Mathematics, CWRU
B.S. 2017 Applied Mathematics / Biology (honors), CWRU
Ecological model of the gut microbiome during C. difficile colitis
Adrienne Damicis, Honors student 2016–2017
next: M.S. program, Biostatistics in Public Health, Ohio State
B.S. 2017 Biology (honors) / B.A. Medical Anthropology, CWRU
Point pattern analysis of herbaceous plant communities
Ben Nolting, Postdoc 2014–2016
next: Asst. Professor, Mathematics, Chico State
Ph.D. 2013 and M.S. 2009 Mathematics, U Nebraska
B.S. 2006 Mathematics, U Alaska Anchorage
Stochastic processes in ecology
Sadly, we lost a lab alumnus in 2020, when Ben passed away following a long battle with a chronic disease. Ben’s research on applications of the quasi-potential to questions of ecological stability opened important new research avenues that my lab and others continue to pursue. After leaving my lab, Ben dedicated himself to educating the next generation of math students, with a particular emphasis on supporting students from underrepresented groups. A scholarship fund has been established in his name at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln; donations can be made here. As a talented researcher, inspirational teacher, and exceptionally kind and funny person, Ben is deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to have known him.
Kasey Kiesewetter, Honors student 2015–2016
next: Ph.D. program, Ecology, U Miami
B.S. 2016 Biology (honors), CWRU
Effects of climate change on ant-mediated seed dispersal (co-advised with Jean Burns)
Andrew Freedman, Undergraduate researcher 2015–2016
next: Ph.D. program, Biomathematics, NC State
B.S. 2016 Systems Biology / B.A. Evolutionary Biology, CWRU
Role of ant seed dispersal behavior of plant coexistence in a spatially-explicit model (co-advised with Jean Burns)
Ryan Rego, Undergraduate researcher 2015
next: Undergrad researcher, CWRU School of Medicine
B.A. 2017 Economics / M.P.H. Public Health, CWRU
Combining disease ecology and economics to evaluate interventions that limit disease spread post-natural disaster
Aubrie James, Undergraduate researcher & technician 2011–2013
next: Ph.D. program, Ecology, Cornell
B.S. 2012 Animal Ecology, Iowa State
Effects of climate change on migratory bird populations
Nick Fabina, Undergraduate researcher 2008–2009
next: Ph.D. program, Ecology, UC-Davis
B.S. 2009 Economics / Mathematics, U Wisconsin
Ecology and evolution of phenological shifts in plant-pollinator-herbivore systems (in Tony Ives’ lab)
Abbott Lab 