Martha Fischer

Martha Fischer

General Curator and Director of WildCare Institute Center for Conservation in the Horn of Africa, Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park

Primary subject(s) of interest: All Horn if Africa wildlife including Grevy's zebra, hirola, black rhino, mountain nyala, giraffe, African wild ass, and Ethiopian wolf; southeast Asian wildlife, such as banteng; local Missouri wildlife and urban biodiversity

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Horn of Africa, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somaliland

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Savanna, Grassland, Deserts, Urban areas

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Marc Fourrier

Marc Fourrier

The Jane Goodall Institute, Great Ape Conservation Director

Primary subject of interest:  Conservation biology, Tropical forest ecology, Seed dispersal ecology, Great ape conservation

Primary geographic interest:  Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Republic of Congo, Liberia, Senegal, Mali, Guinea

Kasey Fowler-Finn

Kasey Fowler-Finn

Associate Professor of Biology, Saint Louis University

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Evolutionary ecology, behavioral ecology, vibrational communication, biotremology, climate change, evolution of complex traits, animal communication

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Saint Louis, Eastern North America

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Shrubland, Grassland, Agricultural land, Urban areas

Michael Frachetti

Michael Frachetti

Professor of Archaeology, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Anthropology, Archaeology, Asia, Human Ecology, Grassland ecology, Tropical jungles

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Asia-Pacific (Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal)

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Grassland, Deserts, Urban areas, Mountains

Ashley D. Franklin

Ashley D. Franklin

Program Analyst, AZA Reproductive Management Center, Saint Louis Zoo

Primary subject(s) of interest: Reproductive biology and management, genetics, endocrinology, applied statistics, mammals (particularly felids and canids)

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Global; wild and captive populations

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Zoos and Aquariums

Gayle Fritz

Gayle Fritz

Professor Emerita of Archaeology, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Agriculture, plant domestication, archaeobotany, ethnobotany, and conservation

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Mexico, United States (Mississippi River valley, St Louis Metro area, SE and Southwest US)

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Grassland, Freshwater, Deserts, Agricultural land, Urban areas

Roy Gereau

Roy Gereau

Assistant Curator and Tanzania Program Director, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Floristics, plant taxonomy, and plant conservation

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Tanzania

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Urban areas

Theresa Gildner

Theresa Gildner

Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Human biology, parasitology, host-pathogen coevolution, immune function

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Ecuador, United States

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Agricultural land, Urban areas, Rainforest

Ashley Glenn

Ashley Glenn

Research Specialist, William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject of interest: Ethnobotany, food anthropology, refugee and immigrant cuisine

Primary geographic interest: Bosnia, United States

Shirley Graham

Shirley Graham

Curator, Lythraceae, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject(s) of interest: Flowering plant systematics, Lythraceae

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Global (Mexico & Brazil)

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Savanna, Shrubland

Jessica  Griffard

Jessica Griffard

Early Childhood and Elementary Instructor at Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary geographic area(s) of interest:: Ethnobotany, artifacts made from plants, education

Primary geographic area(s) of interest:  Global

Danelle Haake

Danelle Haake

RiverWatch Director and Stream Ecologist, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center

Primary subject(s) of interest: Anthropogenic impacts on aquatic invertebrates; ecological impacts of pavement deicers; freshwater mussel population dynamics; community science; ecological epidemiology

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: United States

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Freshwater, Urban areas

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Robbie Hart

Robbie Hart

Director, William L. Brown Center, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject(s) of interest: Climate change impacts on plant ecology and human environmental knowledge systems; ethnobotany; montane and alpine; Madagascar; community-based conservation; food plants

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Himalaya; Hengduan/Mountains of Southwest China; Pacific Northwest; Madagascar

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Shrubland, Grassland, Agricultural land

LEC Projects

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Julie Hartell-DeNardo

Julie Hartell-DeNardo

Kevin Beckmann Curator of Carnivores and WildCare Center for Polar Bear Conservation Director, Saint Louis Zoo

Primary subject(s) of interest: Carnivore conservation, Carnidae, Felidae, Ursidae, Canidea, Pinnipedia

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Africa (Namibia, Somaliland, Tanzania, Kenya), Alaska

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Marine, Agricultural land

Heidi Hellmuth

Heidi Hellmuth

Curator of Primates, Saint Louis Zoo

Primary subject(s) of interest: Primate conservation, animal welfare, animal behavior and behavior management (enrichment and training)

Primary geographic area(s) of interest:  Malaysia (orangutan), Republic of Congo (chimpanzee and gorilla); I am the program coordinator for our partnerships with HUTAN in Malaysian Borneo and with the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project in Republic of Congo

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Zoos

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Keith Hengen

Keith Hengen

Assistant Professor of Biology, WashU

Primary subject of interest:  Neuroscience

Primary geographic interest:  United States

Erik Herzog

Erik Herzog

Professor of Biology and Neuroscience, Viktor Hamburger Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Circadian rhythms, light pollution, preterm birth, brain cancer

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: United States

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Grassland, Deserts, Urban areas

Paul Hime

Paul Hime

Instructor in Genetics, Department of Genetics and McDonnell Genome Institute, WashU School of Medicine

Primary subject of interest:  Genomics, Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Phylogenetics

Primary geographic interest:  Global

Peter Hoch

Peter Hoch

Curator Emeritus, Research, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject of interest: Plant evolution, impacts of human-influenced environmental changes

Primary geographic area of interest: United States

Derek Hoeferlin

Derek Hoeferlin

Professor and Chair of Landscape Architecture, Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Trans-boundary river basin management, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: United States (Mississippi River Basin), China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (Mekong River Basin), Netherlands, France, Germany, Switzerland (Rhine River Basin)

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Sarah Holaday

Sarah Holaday

Director of Animal Care & Conservation, Endangered Wolf Center

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Conservation

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Agricultural land

Douglas Holland

Douglas Holland

Library Director, Peter H. Raven Library, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject of interest: Biodiversity literature

Primary geographic area of interest: United States

Rose Hores

Rose Hores

Lecturer in Biological Anthropology, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Primatology, community ecology, conservation biology, human-wildlife interface, global health

Primary geographic interest:  Peru

Lora Iannotti

Lora Iannotti

Lauren and Lee Fixel Distinguished Professor, WashU School of Public Health

Primary subject of interest:  Animal source foods and small livestock and fisheries development; child growth and development, maternal and young child nutrition and nutrient deficiencies (zinc, iron, vitamin A, B12, choline, and fatty acids)

Primary geographic area of interest: Ecuador, Haiti, Madagascar, United States (St. Louis)

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Nathan Jacobs

Nathan Jacobs

Professor, Computer Science & Engineering, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Computer Vision, Remote Sensing, Species Distribution Modeling

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Deserts, Agricultural land, Urban areas

Ben Jellen

Ben Jellen

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy

Primary subject(s) of interest: The ecology, physiology, behavior, learning, and conservation of amphibians, reptiles and birds

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Central and eastern Missouri and central and southern Illinois

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Grassland, Freshwater, Urban areas

Iván Jiménez

Iván Jiménez

Associate Scientist, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject of interest: Andes, Neotropics

Primary geographic interest: Global

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Nisa Karimi

Nisa Karimi

Assistant Scientist, Science and Conservation Division, Africa and Madagascar Program, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject(s) of interest: Plant ecology & evolution, pollination biology, conservation

Primary geographic area(s) of interest:  Madagascar, Tanzania, South Africa

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Deserts

Andrew Kaul

Andrew Kaul

Restoration Scientist, Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject(s) of interest: Restoration, Herbaceous plant communities, Invasion biology, Land management

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: USA

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Grassland, Urban Areas

Andreas (Andi) Kautt

Andreas (Andi) Kautt

Assistant Professor, Biology Department, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Evolutionary Genomics, Adaptation & Speciation, Animal Behavior

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Shrubland, Grassland, Freshwater

Elizabeth (Lisa) Kelley

Elizabeth (Lisa) Kelley

Executive Director-WildCare, Director-Center for Conservation in Madagascar, Saint Louis Zoo

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Coordinating wildlife programs and evaluation, wildlife conservation, anthropology, primatology, lemurs

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Madagascar, global

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savana, Deserts

LEC Projects

Elizabeth Kellogg

Elizabeth Kellogg

Member and Robert E. King Distinguished Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Evolution of development, phylogenetics, grass diversity

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Warm places globally: Africa ,Asia, Australia, North America, South America

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Grassland

Tristram R. Kidder

Tristram R. Kidder

Professor of Anthropology, Professor of Environmental Studies, WashU

Primary subject of interestAnthropological Archaeology, Paleoecology, Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction, Climate Change, Geoarchaeology, The Formation of Hierarchical Social Systems, The Emergence of Social Complexity, Complex Hunter-Gatherer History, Historical Ecology

Jason Knouft

Jason Knouft

Professor of Biology, Saint Louis University; Director, Freshwater Policy Institute, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center

Primary subject(s) of interest: Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology, Environmental Change

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: North America

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Freshwater

LEC Seed Grant Projects
Bronwen  Konecky

Bronwen Konecky

Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, WashU

Primary subject of interest: Tropical cilmate and paleoclimate, climate-ecosystem feedbacks, plant biomarkers

Primary geographic interest: Africa, Asia, South America, tropical Pacific. Currently working in Peruvian Andes, Botswana, Uganda, Indonesia, Galapagos Islands

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Corinne Kozlowski

Corinne Kozlowski

Endocrinologist, Saint Louis Zoo

Primary subject of interest: Endocrinology, physiology, conservation

Primary geographic interest: Global

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Kyra N.  Krakos

Kyra N. Krakos

Professor of Biology, Maryville University

Primary subject of interest: Ecology and evolution of plant reproduction, ethnobotany, sustainability
Doug Ladd

Doug Ladd

Senior Lecturer, Sam Fox School, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Lichen taxonomy

Primary geographic area(s) of interest:  North America (Interior Highlands, Great Plains, Central Tallgrass Prairie, Great Lakes)

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Grassland, Urban areas

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Jalene LaMontagne

Jalene LaMontagne

E. Desmond Lee Professor in Botanical Studies, Department of Biology, University of Missouri-Saint Louis

Primary subject(s) of interest: Population ecology, macrosystems biology, mast seeding, consumer-resource dynamics, synchrony, synthesis

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: North America, Global

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Urban Areas

Michael Landis

Michael Landis

Assistant Professor of Biology, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Evolution, phylogenetics, biogeography, epidemiology

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Kelly Lane-deGraaf

Kelly Lane-deGraaf

Associate Professor of Epidemiology, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Disease ecology, environmental racism, population genetics

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Urban areas

Allan Larson

Allan Larson

​Professor of Biology, WashU

Primary subject of interest: Evolutionary biology, genetics, and the histories of these disciplines

Stephen Leard

Stephen Leard

Business Intelligence Analyst , Saint Louis Zoo

Primary subject of interest: Remote sensing, immersive interfaces, ecosystem services, connectivity for biosecurity

Primary geographic interest: Global

Danielle N. Lee

Danielle N. Lee

Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Animal Behavior, Mammalogy, Ethology, Urban Ecology, Science Outreach, STEM Diversity

Primary geographic area(s) of interest:  Mid-West United States (Saint Louis Metro area); Tanzania (Arusha)

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Grassland, Urban areas

Kieran Lindsey

Kieran Lindsey

Program Director, Online Master of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Urban wildlife, human-wildlife interface

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: United States, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Urban areas

Fangqiong Ling

Fangqiong Ling

Assistant Professor of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, WashU

Primary subject of interest: Microbial ecology, community assembly, built environment microbiome

Primary geographic areas of interest: United States, Switzerland, Netherland, China

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Haijun Liu

Haijun Liu

Assistant Professor, Biology Department, Saint Louis University

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Photosynthetic microbes, photosynthesis adaptation mechanisms, coral bleaching, natural light energy harvesting diversity

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: USA, global (marine, coral symbiont dinoflagellates), Mideast (Israel)

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Freshwater, Deserts, Agricultural land

Xinyi Liu

Xinyi Liu

Associate Professor of Archaeology, WashU

Primary subject(s) of interest: Archaeology of Food, Domestication, Paleoenvironment, Food Globalization

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: China, Tibetan Plateau, Kazakhstan, Central America

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Grassland, Agricultural land, High altitude environment

LEC Seed Grant Projects

Quinn Long

Quinn Long

Director, Shaw Nature Reserve, Missouri Botanical Garden

Primary subject(s) of interest:  Conservation and restoration of rare plant species and natural communities, particularly grassland, savannah, and woodlands

Primary geographic area(s) of interest: Midwestern and Southeastern United States

Habitats and Ecosystems of interest: Forest, Savanna, Grassland

Jonathan Losos

Jonathan Losos

William H. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Biology, WashU; Director, Living Earth Collaborative

Primary subject of interest: Lizard ecology and evolution

Primary geographic interest: Caribbean, Central America, and South America