Who’s in the lab
Elizabeth M Wolkovich
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FOREST AND CONSERVATION SCIENCES
I am interested in how communities assemble and dis-assemble with global change. I draw on theory from temporal community ecology with perspectives from population and ecosystem ecology, evolutionary biology, and climatology. Though I tend to address fundamental questions with hypotheses informed by theory and models, my research generally has strong applied angles. In particular much of my work to date has examined causes and consequences of plant invasion and the effect of climate change on the temporal assembly of plant communities.
Deirdre Loughnan
GRADUATE STUDENT
I am interested in how communities are shaped by variation in abiotic and biotic environments and using functional traits to identify the drivers of species coexistence and performance. In completing my Master’s degree at UBC, I used functional traits to study the biogeography of plant-insect herbivore interactions on Garry oak across its latitudinal range. Working in the interior forests of BC, my doctoral research will focus on the relationship between and relative importance of functional traits and plant phenology as drivers of plant performance under our changing climate.
Frederik Baumgarten
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
How do tree species adjust and adapt their phenology in response to changing climatic conditions? This is one of the many questions that drives my passion as an ecologist. I am fascinated by how plants have evolved mechanisms to survive and thrive, and I enjoy spending time in nature to observe and discover some of the solutions that nature has come up with. That’s why my hikes often take longer than expected without getting very far. To obtain causally linked and relevant data, I prioritize using a combination of plant responses from both natural and artificial experimental settings.
Dajeong Kim
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate student studing Electrical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Joining the Temporal Ecology Lab has given me the opportunity to work in the intersection of multidisciplinary research and contribute to the efforts of studying the effects of global changes on ecological systems.
Adam Fong
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate student studying Environmental Science at the University of British Columbia. As a student research assistant, I am interested in phenological data collection and data visualization through graphics. From this opportunity, I seek to understand the logistics involved with research and how findings are effectively communicated to peers and the public.
Sandy Zhang
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate computer science student from the faculty of science at the University of British Columbia. I am interested in the application of data analysis and visualization in climate and agricultural science. I hope that the opportunity of being an undergraduate assistant for the lab provides an opportunity to better understand how data can be used in a research setting and strategies for fruit growth around climate change.
Selena Shew
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
As an undergraduate student majoring in Integrated Sciences and specializing in Data Science and Environmental Science, I am keenly interested in the examination of data and information towards analyzing challenges and solutions for environmental issues. By joining this lab, I am excited to learn more about how climate change is affecting ecosystems and communities. In my free time, I love to go hiking or dive into a good book!
Julie Sieg
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am a biology student at the University of British Columbia. I am particularly interested in the implications of climate change on terrestrial communities and ecosystems. In the Temporal Ecology Lab, I hope to contribute to the collaborative nature of our investigations, particularly focusing on how phenological events are affected by changing climatic conditions.
Christophe Rouleau-Desrochers
NSERC USRA UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate student currently pursuing a degree in Biology at the Université du Québec à Montréal, located in Montreal. During my academic journey, I dedicated two years to studying the vital domain of the Pileated Woodpecker in Quebec’s Boreal Forest. However, as I delved deeper into my research, I discovered a stronger passion for studying tree ecology rather than focusing solely on the birds. This realization prompted a redirection of my research interests. I am eagerly determined to expand my understanding of climate change’s various impacts on plant communities.
Justin Ngo
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I’m an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia studying Biology, with a particular focus on botany. I love learning about all aspects of plant science from cellular physiology to higher level community interactions. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding of how different species assemble together through time and space to create the complex and beautiful communities we see today.
Britany Wu
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate student in the Forest Sciences program with a strong interest in the environmental impacts of global warming and anthropogenic factors. I strive to bridge the gap between different research disciplines and produce sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. Through my experience in the Temporal Ecology Lab, I hope to contribute to the lab’s collaborative efforts in understanding and mitigating global environmental changes, as well as gaining practical skills of analyzing complex issues.
Tolu Amuwo
NSERC USRA UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate student studying Environmental Science at the University of British Columbia. I am personally interested in studying global changes in terrestrial ecosystems and what that means for biodiversity and conservation as climate change progresses. Through this opportunity, I aim to develop my understanding about the scientific process and how collaboration within the research field is implemented
Hoai Huong Nguyen Phan
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
I am an undergraduate student studying Electrical Engineering (Biomedical Option) at the University of British Columbia. The opportunity to join the Temporal Ecology Lab provides me with a better understanding of the path from data science and decision-making in the real world. This experience also prepares me with transferable skills such as data analysis and communication that I can apply right away to my future pursuit in the biomedical field.