My research addresses broadly the structure and dynamics of ecological systems. The major question of my research program is how can we use modeling to scale-up microecological mechanisms related to individual traits and physical processes to predict macroecological outcomes such as population persistence, community organization, ecosystem function, biogeographic patterns and climate change impacts. Some of the tools I use include individual-based modeling, wavelet-based time series analysis and hierarchical Bayesian estimation. I collaborate broadly with empirical and experimental scientists and the majority of my students pursue field studies. We have worked in a variety of environments including Madagascar, Brazil, Southern Africa, Fiji, Micronesia, China, Taiwan, Baja California, Veracruz and Texas.

I am a Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology.