Research
A common thread runs through my work: scaling ecological insight from fine-grained observations (a tree crown, a single specimen) up to the continental patterns they add up to. My two current projects are below; earlier work follows.
From tree crowns to forest patterns: scaling with remote sensing
I use fine-scale remote sensing to segment individual tree crowns and link them to forest size-abundance patterns. My work explores how local structure scales up to landscape dynamics, advancing theory in forest and landscape ecology.
Read more about this projectScaling biodiversity with beetles, big data, and AI
I study carabid beetles in the NEON Biorepository, developing AI-powered imaging pipelines to extract functional traits at scale. By linking ecology, computer vision, and biodiversity informatics, my work advances trait-based approaches to understanding ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.
Read more about this projectAdditional and earlier research
- Research network representation
- Network analysis of the U.S. Experimental Forest Research Network to identify current research capacities and gaps in coverage.
- Monitoring ecological integrity
- Recommendations for global conservation and monitoring from an interdisciplinary team.
- GEDI LiDAR in the Amazon
- Investigating GEDI accuracy and its applications to understory fire in the Amazon rainforest.
- Wildlands of the Mountain West
- Conservation, wildland loss, and conservation priority across the western United States.
- Climate change and whitebark pine
- Species distribution modeling of whitebark pine using genetic techniques that, for the first time, allow identification of seedlings.