current lab members

In my current post-doc position, I’ll be working closely on the development of MoveApps, a code-free platform for movement data analysis. This role is perfectly aligned with my broad research interest in developing methodological innovations and statistical tools for ecological studies.

I am a PhD student in Statistics advised by Ansu Chatterjee. My research interests include classification and clustering methods, dimension reduction methods and geometric probability. As a statistician I enjoy collaborating on applied projects as well. Currently I am working with Prof. John Fieberg to develop an integrated data framework for modeling the spread of aquatic invasive species in Minnesota lakes. When not in front of a computer writing codes in LaTeX or R, I enjoy hiking, photography and playing musical instruments.

Thomas was awarded funding from the University of Minnesota's Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program to explore the effects of measurement error on estimates of movement parameters.

My research interests are broad, spanning the fields of plant ecology, evolutionary biology, quantitative ecology, science education, and environmental science. Prior to my time here, I was an Assistant Professor at Drew University, where my research lab explored and compared the reproductive habits of native and invasive species in the genus Rubus, which includes the blackberries and raspberries.

As a PhD student, I want to advance our knowledge on how to link both theoretical and practical approaches to the development of ecology. Currently, I am interested in how interactions among individuals of the same species and environmental changes affect animals’ decision-making on their dispersal patterns. I am also interested in how animal movement determines individual fates, which may allow populations to adapt to environmental changes. I am always willing to work with a variety of scientists who are interested in quantitative ecology and animal movement!

In my PhD research, I will work on a project to improve wildlife management by addressing coupled human and natural systems in the Colombian Orinoquia Region. I will collect satellite telemetry and vegetation data that can be used to parameterize models of animal movement and habitat selection, to better understand the impact of habitat loss and future land use changes on large terrestrial mammals.

I am a PhD student co-advised by John Fieberg and David Andersen (MN Coop Unit). My research interests include investigating the drivers of animal movement and applying quantitative methods to inform wildlife management and conservation. My current grad research looks at multiple aspects of trumpeter swan movement ecology, genetics, and ecotoxicology. For more information on the swan project go to: https://trumpeterswan.netlify.app/.